Prisco and lifelong Panici friend Ralph Galderio, a former city employee, also testified that Panici was involved in bribery and received significantly reduced sentences in return for their testimony. Panici was accused of personally taking nearly $260,000 in bribes during his 16 years as mayor. Panici, Gliottoni and Marshall were convicted in 1993 on all charges. Panici was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Gliottoni to five years, six months and Marshall to four years. Over the next several years, other Panici allies would also head to prison. Bloom Township Supervisor Robert Grossi was sentenced to four years in prison in 1996 for misusing township funds, and former Chicago Heights Deputy Police Chief Sam Mangialardi would get a 10½ year sentence for his 1995 conviction on charges that he accepted $10,000 monthly payments to protect the city's top drug dealer. Panici was not involved in either case. After the fall Panici was released in 2001, and returned to live in Chicago Heights. He has always maintained that LoBue, who admittedly had ties to organized crime, extorted city contractors without Panici's approval or knowledge. He published a book, "From Hero to Zero: How the Feds and a Mafia Wannabe Took a Good Man Down" in 2013 detailing his version of the events leading up to his trial and imprisonment In his later years, he remained active in local politics, advising several candidates successfully. Panici died in Chicago Heights on December 20, 2017 after a lengthy illness. References Holli, Melvin and Peter A. Jones (1995). Ethnic Chicago: A Multicultural Portrait. Chicago: Erdmans. Merriner, James (2004). Grafters and Goo Goos: Corruption and Reform in Chicago, 1833–2003. Carbondale: SIU Press. O'Connor, Matt (1993). "Corrupt Mayor Gets 10-year Prison Term." Chicago Tribune. July 22. O'Connor, Matt (1993). "Panici took payoffs, 3rd of his ex-pals says." Chicago Tribune. February 11. Sloan, Paul (1995). "Chicago Heights Confronts Past, Future." Chicago Tribune. August 8. Footnotes External links Chicago Sun-Times article - April 2004 John Gliottoni obituary - October 2007 1930 births 2017 deaths People from Chicago Heights, Illinois Mayors of places in Illinois American people of Italian descent Politicians convicted of extortion under color of official right Politicians convicted of racketeering Politicians convicted of program bribery Illinois politicians convicted of crimes