Two brothers at the center of a long-simmering red-light camera scandal quietly pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court, admitting they helped steer cash from Oakbrook Terrace’s automated ticket system into the hands of the suburb’s then-mayor.
Joseph Colucci, 51, of Mokena, and his brother, James Colucci, 56, of Lisle, acknowledged they conspired to defraud the United States through payments tied to the town’s red-light cameras. Both men pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to the Chicago Tribune. Prosecutors say the scheme bought favorable treatment for a SafeSpeed contractor along with a cut of Oakbrook Terrace’s ticket revenue.
Probe Began After FBI Raids
The case traces back to a wave of FBI searches in September 2019 that zeroed in on officials and contractors tied to suburban red-light programs across the Chicago area. Those raids pulled a relatively obscure traffic-enforcement world into a broader corruption investigation. CBS Chicago has reported that the sweeps touched off a years-long look at how camera contracts were won, kept, and cashed in.
How Prosecutors Say The Money Moved
According to prosecutors, the money trail started with DSC Enterprises Inc., a company tied to Dennis Colucci. The firm was supposed to collect roughly 14 percent of the revenue from SafeSpeed cameras operating in Oakbrook Terrace. In turn, Dennis allegedly agreed to make monthly cash payments connected to that slice of the proceeds.
Patch reported that the indictment states Dennis died in January 2018, but not before instructing his stepsons, James and Joseph, to keep the payments flowing. Prosecutors say those payments continued until September 2019, even after Dennis was gone.
What Prosecutors Say They Have On Tape
The government is backing up its allegations with recordings and seized cash. Among the headline numbers: about $67,000 taken from former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Anthony Ragucci’s home during the investigation.
In one recorded conversation cited in court filings, Ragucci is reportedly heard asking for $5,000 while motioning toward a table. In the same recording, he later says, “the colucci boys are alright. they come see me every two months,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
Where SafeSpeed And Others Stand
Despite the swirl of headlines around the cameras, local coverage has repeatedly noted that SafeSpeed LLC and its CEO, Nikki Zollar, have not been accused of wrongdoing in this case. The focus instead has fallen on intermediaries and public officials.
One key player in the background has been former SafeSpeed executive Omar Maani, who reached a deferred-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors and agreed to cooperate. The Chicago Sun-Times has detailed how Maani’s cooperation helped investigators piece together the broader red-light camera probe.
What’s Next For The Colucci Brothers
The crime the brothers admitted to typically carries guideline ranges that can include roughly three years in federal prison. Their actual sentences will depend on how the court tallies the guidelines, any credit for cooperation, and their prior records.
U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold has not yet set a sentencing date. For now, both defendants remain out of custody while the court schedules the next round of filings and hearings.
Local Fallout After The Scandal
The criminal cases helped fuel a separate legal fight over whether Oakbrook Terrace could keep its lucrative cameras running at all. That battle ended with an appellate court siding with the Illinois Department of Transportation in its move to yank the city’s permit for the cameras at Route 83 and 22nd Street.
The devices did not survive the ruling. Coverage by the Daily Herald notes that the cameras were ultimately removed following the permitting fight and broader arguments over safety and fairness.
