Ex-Chicago alderman pleads guilty

CHICAGO, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors say former Chicago Alderman Edward R. Vrdolyak pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Vrdolyak, 71, entered a plea agreement amid allegations he arranged kickbacks for lawyer Stewart Levine in the sale of a $15 million property, said U.S. District Court documents.

Levine, who was expected to testify against Vrdolyak, already had pleaded guilty to fraud involving Tony Rezko, a political fundraiser in the U.S. Senate campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, said court documents.

Levine allegedly told prosecutors he was involved in several illegal deals with Vrdolyak, according to court documents.

Vrdolyak, who faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines at his sentencing Jan. 9, may best be known for leading white aldermen in a clash with Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor.

Vrdolyak, once the Chicago Democratic Party chairman, in recent years had become a Republican.