Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St. | Rich Hein/Sun-Times | Sun-Times Media

Justin Hines has been described by the feds as one of the largest agents for the massive, international gambling ring once run by Vincent “Uncle Mick” DelGiudice.

A man described by the feds as one of the largest agents for a massive, international gambling ring pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to his role in the conspiracy.

Justin Hines, 42, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall and faces sentencing Jan. 7. He is the latest person to plead guilty to allegations revolving around the ring run by Vincent “Uncle Mick” DelGiudice.

Several of the eight people charged along with Hines and DelGiudice in a February 2020 gambling indictment have already been sentenced. Charges are still pending against two defendants, Keith Benson and Vasilios Prassas.

The defendants charged in that and a handful of related cases have mostly avoided prison time. Just two of the seven sentenced so far, Chicago Police Officer Nicholas Stella and bookie Gregory Paloian, have been given time behind bars. U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow gave Paloian until August 2022 to report to prison for health reasons.

Another defendant, Mettawa Mayor Casey Urlacher, was pardoned in January by then-President Donald Trump.

DelGiudice pleaded guilty in February but has not been sentenced.

The indictment that charged Hines, DelGiudice and the others alleged that DelGiudice recruited Hines and most of their fellow defendants to work as agents for the gambling ring. DelGiudice ran it through the website unclemicksports.com, paying a company in Costa Rica $10,000 a month for use of the site.

Hines shared winnings and losses with DelGiudice on a 50/50 basis and regularly met with DelGiudice or another agent, Todd Blanken, to discuss the gambling operation and share the winnings, according to Hines’ plea agreement.

Kendall gave Blanken six months of community confinement last June.

Hines admitted in his plea agreement that he told a gambler to pay $26,000 in gambling debts in 2017 and 2018 using cashier’s checks in the name of Corvus Consulting S.A. The gambler then mailed the checks to Hines’ home. In January 2019, Hines also promised to deliver $3,000 meant for DelGiudice to Blanken, and he said he’d give another $600 to $800 to DelGiudice when they met for dinner.

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Running back David Montgomery (32) rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in the Bears’ 24-14 victory over the Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field. | Kamil Krzaczynski/AP Photos

David Montgomery’s knee injury put a damper on one of the Bears’ most productive running games of the Matt Nagy era. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed,” Nagy said. Damien Williams is likely to start if Montgomery can’t go.

Even Matt Nagy seemed to notice the difference in the Bears’ offense with Bill Lazor calling the plays.

“From the very first play of the game,” the Bears’ head coach said, “you could feel the offensive line, the tight ends, the running back — the energy; the confidence in saying, ‘You know what? We’re going to start this game off the right way.'”

Indeed, the Bears established from the outset that they planned to establish the run against the Lions. The Bears used three tight ends — Cole Kmet, Jimmy Graham and Jesse James — on their first play from scrimmage, a nine-yard run by David Montgomery.

On the next play, yet another tight end, J.P. Holtz, lined up at fullback and Montgomery ran right behind him for a four-yard gain and a first down less than one minute into the game.

That set the tone for a run-heavy game — 39 rushes for 188 yards and three rushing touchdowns. It was the fourth time in Nagy’s four seasons the Bears have rushed for three touchdowns in a game — and three of the four have come with Lazor calling the plays.

The highlight was Montgomery’s nine-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. With receivers Damiere Byrd and Darnell Mooney and tight ends Kmet and James chipping in, Montgomery ran off left tackle and bulled his way in for the final four yards — with literally every offensive player except Fields helping out.

“A couple of those touchdown runs, when you watch the tape, you can really see the finish,” Nagy said. “That’s what I love, when you put that finish on tape and you see how excited the guys are after they score — the juice, the energy, the vibe — that’s what I felt watching the tape last night. I love that part of it. I felt that, and that was important.

We’ll see how much he felt it and how important it is to Nagy when the Bears play the Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Bears have struggled to consistently establish the run — for various reasons. Sometimes they’ve come up against a better run defense. Sometimes they fall behind early. Sometimes Nagy just gets distracted.

And sometimes fate gets in the way. Montgomery suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter against the Lions. NFL Network reported that it was not a torn ACL, but it’s likely Montgomery could miss a few games. Montgomery rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries — including a 24-yard run as the Wildcat quarterback.

Nagy did not have an update and could not rule out the possibility it could be a season-ending injury. Regardless of the severity, Montgomery’s injury comes at a time when he is establishing himself as a heart-and-soul leader on and off the field — in the locker room and as a public face and voice of the franchise.

“With a lot of this offense going through him, I think a lot of you feel it, you see it — his energy; his passion, the way he runs the football,” Nagy said. “The other stuff you guys [reporters] can’t always see is how he is in practice and how focused he is and how he runs that huddle at times. You love that about him.

“So we’ll keep our fingers crossed and see where he’s at. He played a really good game [Sunday]. And he knew going into it that we were going to be leaning on him. But at the same time, it’s the next-man-up mentality. If that’s the case, we’ll get our guys ready. That’s our job as coaches to be able to game plan around that.”

Nagy said Damien Williams would replace Montgomery. Williams also was injured against the Lions, but NFL Network reported that it is a thigh bruise that should not prevent Williams from playing against the Raiders Sunday. Rookie Khalil Herbert likely would be the starter if Williams cannot play.

“Khalil has shown to us from the very first day he got here — he’s very mature, very focused,” Nagy said. “He’s a bright young man. And I think he’s got a bright future.”

Nagy recalled that when he was with the Chiefs in 2017, starting running back Spencer Ware suffered a torn PCL in his right knee in the final preseason game. Third-round rookie Kareem Hunt replaced him — and ended up leading the NFL in rushing with 1,327 yards.

“You just never know where guys are and how they go,” Nagy said. “If that’s the case, we have confidence in [Herbert].”

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Thousands flock to Soldier Field before the Chicago Bears take on the Detroit Lions on Sunday. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be mostly cloudy with scattered showers and a high near 71 degrees. Tonight will be cloudy with a chance of sprinkles and a low around 62. Tomorrow will be cloudy with a high near 68.

Top story

‘This one is going to happen’: Why move to suburbs makes sense for Bears now, after years of threats

Three months ago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot cavalierly dismissed the Bears decision to put in a bid to buy the Arlington Heights International Racecourse property as the same old negotiating ploy.

But the agreement the Bears signed last week to purchase the 326-acre racecourse site for $197.2 million makes it abundantly clear that this time, on this site, the McCaskey family is playing for keeps.

“It’s gonna take a while, but this one is going to happen,” said veteran sportswriter Lester Munson. “This is not ‘boy who cried wolf.’ This is not posturing. This is not negotiation. This is going to be a transaction that will transform the family asset.”

Chicago-based sports marketing expert Marc Ganis has advised numerous NFL teams on their stadium financing. He has closely followed the Bears stadium saga for decades, including former President Michael McCaskey’s past flirtations with sites in Gary, Indiana, Hoffman Estates, Aurora, the Near West Side and the ill-fated McDome project near McCormick Place.

Ganis ticked off a laundry list of factors that make this time different.

Read Fran Spielman’s full story for the breakdown on all of those factors.

More news you need

Chicago police shot and killed a man while answering a call of a domestic disturbance in Gresham this morning, authorities said. Police did not give any details of what led to the shooting, which is under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

A Springfield family is pleading for vaccine skeptics to get the jab after their beloved matriarch, who was vaccinated but immunocompromised, died of COVID-19 last month. Candace Ayers, 66, died after a month-long fight with the virus, which her family believes she caught while visiting a friend in Mississippi.

President Joe Biden’s trip to the Chicago area, initially planned for last month, is back on with the president now set to visit later this week. The president will be in town Thursday to tout his vaccine mandate for large employers, Lynn Sweet reports.

A man described by the feds as one of the largest agents for a massive, international gambling ring pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to his role in the conspiracy. Justin Hines became the latest person to plead guilty in the ring that also involved Casey Urlacher, another defendant who was pardoned in January by then-President Donald Trump.

Chicago Police Board President Ghian Foreman today bemoaned the us-versus-them mentality that has pitted the city’s residents against its police force. Read more on Foreman’s comments about the city’s relationship with CPD.

The final 007 film of the Daniel Craig era hits theaters in only a couple of days, and our Richard Roeper says the series sends off the best James Bond since Sean Connery with a film that’s exciting, engrossing — and way too long. Check out Roeper’s three-star review.

A bright one

$5M PepsiCo program to create job pathways for 3K young people on South, West Sides

Born and raised in Englewood, 21-year-old Joshua Barker has seen the streets snare young people who graduate high school without skills, resources or job options.

After graduating from Urban Prep Academy in 2018, Barker was fortunate to be hired by the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) — one of six organizations PepsiCo has joined with in an effort to create career pathways for 3,000 young people on the South and West Sides over the next five years.

“I was blessed to get this job. It keeps me busy. This new program is really important because a job keeps you motivated. Helping them work and put money in their pockets will keep a kid out of the street,” said Barker, a public health ambassador with SWOP.

In the Fortune 100 company’s shift to an equity-centered model of community engagement, the $5 million “PREP by PepsiCo | Stronger Together” initiative launching Monday is result of months of roundtables with Chicago community organizations on how best to uplift Black and Brown youth in disinvested areas.

Shondell Rashad Photography
Michelle Rashad is executive director of Imagine Englewood if, one of six Chicago organizations benefiting from the $5 million “PREP by PepsiCo | Stronger Together” initiative being launched Monday. “Young people can’t be what they can’t see, aspire to careers they don’t know,” she says of the effort to create career pathways for 3,000 young people on the South and West Sides.

Some 12% of African American youth ages 16-19 were neither in school nor working, compared to 8% of Latinos and 5 percent of whites in that age group, according to a December 2019 report by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, based on U.S. Census figures.

Within the age 20-24 population, 38% of African Americans were neither employed nor in school, compared with 20% of Latinos and 7% of white peers.

PREP aims to boost workforce readiness within those age groups, helping organizations now doing that work to provide skills training, career exposure, paid work experiences and career-track jobs to the young people they serve.

Besides SWOP, other program partners include Imagine Englewood if, North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC), UCAN, Chicago Jesuit Academy, and the Cubs Scholars program of Chicago Cubs Charities.

Read Maudlyne Ihejirika’s full story here.

From the press box

Bears coach Matt Nagy said this morning the team will evaluate Andy Dalton’s condition before deciding who will be the starting quarterback against the Raiders on Sunday.
Jason Lieser breaks down the film from Justin Fields’ second professional start.
After years of irrelevance, the new-look Bulls still have their doubters, but don’t count DeMar DeRozan among them: “This is an opportunity for a talented group that has a chip on their shoulders. You kind of run faster when the dog is chasing behind you.”
The White Sox won’t rush to decide Carlos Rodon’s status for the upcoming ALDS series against Houston. The lefty starter has been dealing with shoulder soreness.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said today that he let Lauri Markkanen know after the season that he would have an important role if he stayed, but the damage was done and the 7-footer wanted a fresh start.

Your daily question ?

In honor of “No Time To Die” coming out this week, what’s your favorite James Bond movie?

Send us an email at [email protected] and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

On Friday, we asked you: You’ve just been made an alderperson for the day — what’s the first thing you’ll do for your ward? Here’s what some of you said…

“Education, after school programs, cut property taxes, hire more police, take our streets back from criminals. Only wishful thinking.” — Carlos J. Beltran

“Go door-to-door, like our aldermen did when I was young, asking for input. And not just around election time, either.” — Christine Bock

“Pay a few crews to clean up the filthy alleys, a few of which smell like urinals. That’s about the only thing I can do without receiving any pushback from bleeding hearts.” – Elliott Avant

“Work on affordable housing, potentially including some form of tax relief for neighborhood homeowners. In my own neighborhood of 10 years, Pilsen, a lot of homeowners would have preferred to stay rather than sell to developers but felt the taxes made that untenable for them. That’s a problem for them and it’s a problem for neighborhood tenants.” — Julia Harris

Thanks for reading the Chicago Sun-Times Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.

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Alex DeBrincat will look to build on his productive 2021 season. | AP Photos

DeBrincat has already proved himself one of the NHL’s elite goal-scorers, but he hopes what he worked on this summer will improving his playmaking.

Any concerns about Alex DeBrincat’s scoring ability — borne out of his disappointing 2019-20 season — were quickly dismissed in 2021.

DeBrincat scored 32 goals in 52 games, good for third in the NHL. His shooting percentage, after dipping inexplicably from 15.5% in 2017-18 and 18.6% in 2018-19 to merely 8.7% in 2019-20, rocketed back up to a career-best 20.6%.

He’s one of only 14 players who have scored more than 100 goals with a shooting percentage above 15% over the past four seasons, and the other 13 represent some elite company.

But where can DeBrincat, who turns 24 in December, still improve?

One area is his playmaking. He tallied only 24 assists last season, unremarkably tied for 82nd in the NHL in that category. He’s one of just three players among the aforementioned elite 14 who have recorded fewer assists than goals over the last four years (the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and Jets’ Kyle Connor are the others).

DeBrincat realizes that, but also realizes addressing that isn’t simply about becoming a better passer — he’s already pretty good at passing.

Instead, he worked this summer to become a stronger, more rooted skater, allowing himself to “fend off some defenders” and “handle the puck maybe that extra second” before making his pass (or taking his shot).

“It just allows guys to get in spots, so I’m not always just dishing it to them maybe in a bad spot,” he said. “If I can make that one extra move, hold onto it, and then they’re wide open, that’s really effective.

“You see [Patrick Kane] doing it a lot. It’s not always the first place he sees — he’s waiting for something else to open up. That’s what makes him so effective, and I think I can bring that into my game a little bit.”

That is easier said than done, though.

“You have to read the ‘D’ [and determine] where the ‘D’ is on you,” he added. “There’s a lot of things that go into it, but [primarily] it’s not panicking with the puck, it’s being more patient, it’s trusting your teammates to get open. If you can do that, it makes it a lot easier on everyone.”

During five-on-five play last season, DeBrincat averaged 11.8 shot attempts per 60 minutes, well above the league average of about 9.0 (per hockey analyst Corey Sznajder’s data). Yet he averaged only 7.2 primary shot assists — passes that lead directly to a teammate’s shot attempt — per 60 minutes, below the league average of about 8.0.

If he can be slightly more patient with his playmaking this season, it could make a difference in those numbers. And doing so next to Tyler Johnson, a natural finisher for playmaking wingers throughout his career, could prove especially valuable.

Another area in which DeBrincat started to improve last year, but can still get even better, is his defense.

He learned how to use his quick hands to steal the puck from opponents and how to use his speed to backcheck as much as he counterattacks. He tied for second on the Hawks with 31 takeaways and — out of nowhere — became a regular penalty-killer during the team’s last 11 games, a role Colliton expects him to retain moving forward. But the Hawks did still concede plenty of scoring chances during his ice time.

His strengthened skating will ideally help him defend opposing forwards even better this season.

“[Alex is] a fantastic shooter, he’s a fantastic offensive player, [but] you limit your opportunities if that’s all you do,” Colliton said. “One of the reasons why he’s had so much success is his work ethic away from the puck, his skating, his relentless mentality. He forces turnovers for himself and for his linemates… We’re hoping he’s going to pick up where he left off there.”

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It’s officially the spooky season, and we hear no argument regarding whether it’s too early to start talking Halloween. Instead, allow us to present you a spooky-romantic Halloween plan. This year, Thorn Restaurant & Lounge in Rosement will bring you an exclusive four-course dinner paired to perfection with a selection of world-class Prisoner Wines. Enchantresses and vampires, it’s time for a seductive dining experience.

Image Credit: Thorn Restaurant & Lounge

Just in time for Halloween, Thorn Restaurant & Lounge, located in the The Rose Hotel Chicago O’Hare, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel, located at 5200 Pearl St., is thrilled to partner with The Prisoner Wine Company for an exclusive Prisoner Wine Dinner on Friday, October 29 at 7 p.m.

The special two-hour evening will be hosted by John Samaritano, a WSET III certified sommelier, and will feature a custom four-course menu perfectly crafted and complemented by Thorn’s Executive Chef Nicholas Malloy. Tickets are $110 per person and are available now to purchase. Tickets are extremely limited, and will sell out.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with such a high-class brand as The Prisoner Wine Company this fall,” stated Executive Chef Nicholas Malloy. “The various wine profiles make it extremely exciting to create decadent dishes that perfectly pair with the various flavors chosen, and we can’t wait to provide a special evening of wine and dining.”

Image Credit: Thorn Restaurant & Lounge

The Prisoner Wine Dinner will begin with a light cocktail hour, as guests will enjoy an Organic Prosecco. Patrons will then be taken to their seats, where John Samaritano will begin the evening guiding patrons through a bold yet smooth Saldo Zinfandel, paired with a Korean-fried smoked pork belly, topped with miso cream, apple kimchi, and cilantro.

Guests will then move on to a bright and crisp Unshackled Rose, complemented with a seared scallop, butternut squash risotto, Brussel sprouts, parsnip, prosciutto chip, almond and arugula salad. From there, John will talk through the rich and well-balanced Eternally Silenced Pinot Noir, with braised Denver ribs, a pinot polenta, crispy broccolini, mint confit shallots, and a beurre rouge sauce. To end the evening on a sweet note, John will take patrons through the opulently flavorful Prisoner Red Blend that is completed with a red wine chocolate Tres Leches topped with a mirror glaze.

Seating for the Prisoner Winner Dinner is very limited, and available to book now. For more information or to book this special dinner, please visit the Thorn website by clicking here.

Image Credit: The Rose Hotel Chicago

The Rose Hotel Chicago/O’Hare, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

5200 Pearl St, Rosemont, IL 60018

Owned by Janko Group and managed by Janko Hospitality, The Rose Hotel is centrally located at 5200 Pearl St. Situated in Rosemont’s recently developed Pearl District and adjacent to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, The Rose offers an upscale experience by providing a fine art inspired lobby design, highly personalized service, the finest amenities, and a quintessential destination for those shopping at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago, located just moments away.

The property holds 165 guest rooms and suites, 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, their signature restaurant and bar Thorn Restaurant & Lounge, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Stay connected to The Rose Hotel: @therosehotelchicagoohare on Instagram and Twitter and facebook.com/therosehotelchicagoohare/. For more information, visit www.the-rose-hotel.com.

Featured Image Credit: Thorn Restaurant & Lounge

The post Thorn Restaurant & Lounge in Rosemont Hosts a Haunting Night of Elegance Featuring Prisoner Wine appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Lyons Township High School South Campus, 4900 South Willow Springs Road. | Google Maps

Officers recovered two Glock 9mm handguns, one with an extended 30-round magazine and the other with an extended 29-round magazine.

Two men have been charged after guns with extended magazines were found in a car in the South Campus parking lot of Lyons Township High School Saturday, prompting officials to cancel the school’s homecoming dance.

Demetrius Ross and Donny Starkes, both 19, are each charged with one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a firearm on school grounds, Western Springs police said in a statement.

Officers responded to the school Saturday afternoon after a fight broke out following a football game at home against Proviso West High School. After the incident, someone reported two suspicious people who may have been armed, police said.

Ross and Starkes matched the description, and two officers detained them as they were trying to get into a Chrysler 200 in the parking lot, police said.

A third officer spotted two guns in the Chrysler, one under the driver’s seat and another under a passenger seat, police said. Officers searched the car and recovered two Glock 9mm handguns, one with an extended 30-round magazine and the other with an extended 29-round magazine.

Ross and Starkes did not have handguns on them when they were arrested, and they are not Lyons Township students, police said.

They appeared in court Sunday and were each ordered held on $10,000 bail.

The homecoming dance at South Campus, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road was canceled. And there will be an increased police presence over the next week at the school, officials said.

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Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

The former Illinois standout is being used as a combo guard through the first week of training camp, but will his toughness and aggression help earn him real minutes when the regular-season games start?

The regular-season depth chart is the bad news for Ayo Dosunmu.

He’s not completely buried on it, but the dirt is at least waist deep.

At the point guard spot, the combo guard is behind the likes of Lonzo Ball, Coby White and Alex Caruso. At the two guard there’s All-Star Zach LaVine, again White and Caruso, and even Troy Brown Jr.

What the rookie should be focused on, however, is he has two more weeks to change minds.

The Bulls start the exhibition season Tuesday night at the United Center, hosting Cleveland and looking to get playing time for a good chunk of the roster.

Second-round rookie selections obviously included.

And while a strong showing in the exhibition season likely won’t be changing positioning in the current rotation, it could go a long way in building trust once the games count. Trust that Dosunmu can see playing time off the bench, and trust that he can be a player that with development has a promising future with his home-team’s organization.

“He’s pretty damned good,” veteran DeMar DeRozan said of Dosunmu, when asked about his camp impressions of the former Morgan Park High School standout. “I remember him in college [at Illinois] as well, watching him play all through the summer league. Very tough, very tough. Creative with the ball, aggressive. Great touch around the rim. His ability to score the ball is amazing. Every single day he goes out there to take on the challenge to go out there and compete. Nothing but high praise for him.”

Praise that could carry weight.

With White still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and possibly another month away from a full return, Dosunmu is one of the candidates to get minutes vacated by White.

Even when White does return and is healthy, injuries happen, so depth at both guard spots will be a necessity.

“I’ve been really impressed with him,” coach Billy Donovan said of Dosunmu. “Not about the way necessarily he’s played, and he’s played well, [but] just his disposition. Just his competitiveness. Just his mindset. The way he throws himself in there, and the way he competes. He’s really, really crafty of being able to get by people and around people and to the rim. I think his three-point shooting will improve as all guys do up here over time.

“But I do think, for me personally, I love guys with that kind of mentality. You know, talking about Alex [Caruso], talking about him, there’s a toughness and a competitiveness to those guys that they’re just not afraid, and I think Ayo’s got that.”

Which could be Dosunmu’s best track into the mix.

It’s safe to say that last year’s Bulls roster didn’t really intimidate opposing teams when it came to the toughness department.

A skillset that was obviously addressed in the offseason make-over.

Caruso, DeRozan and even Ball have reputations as either tough-minded players or tough defenders, and that trait hasn’t been lost on Dosunmu.

Even if it means eventually getting playing time with the G-League Windy City Bulls just to get minutes and stay in game shape, he’s all in for whatever is asked of him.

“Being a rookie this is the best time to absorb as much knowledge as I can because coming right in there’s not going to be much asked of me,” Dosunmu said. “Anything that I want I have to go out and prove each and every day in practice. That’s what I’m trying to do.

“I talk with a lot of guys. I ask a ton of questions, just trying to get better each and every day. That’s all it is. Each and every practice getting in the best shape I can be, being the best teammate I can be because in an 82-game season be ready whenever my number is called.”

No matter how the depth chart reads.

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Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio bashed Baltimore’s pursuit of a decades-old rushing record for consecutive 100-yard games in the final seconds of the Ravens’ 23-7 win. “I thought it was kind of bulls—. I expected it from them,” said Fangio.Read More