From the Tribune: 
 
Landscape exec admits bribing parks official 
 
By Michael Higgins 
Tribune staff reporter 
Published September 15, 2005, 1:34 PM CDT 
 
 A former executive of a suburban landscaping company pleaded guilty today to his role in a scheme to pay $137,000 in bribes to a Chicago Park District official to win $8 million in contracts at Millennium Park and other city projects. 
 
 Kevin Haas, former controller and chief operating officer at James Michael Inc., Mundelein, entered a guilty plea to two counts of fraud before U.S. District Judge David Coar. 
 
 Under a plea deal, Haas agreed to cooperate with the government in its investigation of bribes paid to ex-parks official Shirley McMayon. 
 
 The plea agreement would have prosecutors recommending that the defendant serve 2 years 7 months in prison, and pay $49,000 in restitution and $350,000 for wrongly obtained profits. 
 
 Coar must approve the deal. No sentencing date has been set. 
 
 If Haas had not cooperated, he likely would have been sentenced to at least 3 years 1 month and possibly longer, officials said. 
 
 His admission, changed from a prior plea of not guilty, came about two weeks after McMayon, 47, admitted taking bribes to steer contracts to Haas' company. 
 
 The former director of natural resources for the Park District said in her Aug. 31 plea agreement that she took $137,000 in payoffs from James Michael that included cash, ski vacations, massages and tickets to rock concerts and NFL games. 
 
 Charges are pending against James Michael owner Michael Lowecki. McMayon and Lowecki had each been charged with nine counts of fraud and bribery, and Haas, with two counts of fraud. 
 
 Lowecki has entered a not guilty plea to the allegations. 
 
 Prosecutors have said Lowecki and Haas worked with McMayon for years, submitting false invoices and paying the salary of a Park District intern.