Orland Park Man Who Played Major Role in Bringing Down George Ryan Died
Those who knew Russell Sonneveld said he didn’t want people to remember him as a whistleblower, though his determination helped expose deeds that led to former Illinois Gov. George Ryan’s imprisonment, according to SunTimes Media.
Russell Sonneveld was working in the Illinois Inspector General’s Office when he became suspicious that a man named Ricardo Guzman shouldn’t have had a commercial driver’s license.
In 1994, a tail light assembly fell off the truck Guzman was driving on I-94 near Milwaukee that later caused an accident with a van wherein Duane and Janet Willis, along with their six children, were riding. The couple escaped; their children died.
Guzman didn’t speak English, and the woman who submitted his driver’s application was suspected of accepting bribes for licenses, according to a SunTimes Media report by Dave McKinney.
Sonneveld, a former police officer, brought his suspicion to Dean Bauer, the state’s inspector general at the time, but was ordered to shut down the investigation, according to the report.
Sonneveld, along with his partner Ed Hammer, then notified the U.S. Attorney’s Office, leading to a massive exposing of cover ups resulting in over 75 convictions, including Ryan.
Sonneveld, 63, of Orland Park died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.
“I believe that if it wasn’t for Russ’ persistence that the case of George Ryan would have never gone anywhere and that the obstruction of justice Russ and I reported to the U.S. attorney’s office was the beginning of the case,” Hammer said to McKinney.
Read on for the full report on Sonneveld and how his efforts impacted those around him.
Read his obituary on the Panozzo Brothers' website.
voklst
11:58 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Comments (1)
Well God Bless him!!!! Both my husband and I are CDL truck drivers. The stories We could tell.....no one gave us anything for Free and we certainly did not pay into any campaign fund. That test was one of the hardest I've ever taken. And driving in, near, and around Chicago.. Bigger risk than a policeman or fireman. Did ex-gov Ryan go to the funeral for those children? Ya know Like Obama did for those Navy Seals....Want to leave a comment?
Emily
7:02 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Actually, corrupt employees taking money on the side did not pay into a campaign fund. They were greedy and used that as their way to get out of harsher punishment. If that was the only reason CDL's were being sold, then why is it still happening today.
You don't have to speak nor read English in Illinois to obtain a license.
Voklst - You think training for a CDL by driving in Chicago is a bigger risk than training as a policeman or fireman? Why don't you go on over to your corner FD and ask to see how they train?
This was a tragic event that happened. It happened because some greedy person decided they wanted an extra $50 for their pocket. The death of those children is on that one employee only.
voklst
8:33 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
You think it was one guy & $50.00....
Do more research Why do you think they
Closed the McCook facility for CDL licensing and put the 40 people out of work. Why now when I have to renew change or alter my drivers license I (or any IL CDL driver) have to go to South Holland or Morris IL. Where did the manager of McCook station get the $80,000.00 to give to ex-gov Ryan for his campaign fund taking $250.00 per CDL applicant under the table to pass them on their test.
Where did the driver, who hit the van, that killed the kids get CDL???? McCook facility
Oh maybe they should close it up and make it harder and more inconvenient for a truck driver to get a CDL license in the state of ILLinois.
voklst
8:35 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
No i didnt mention -training- for a CDL... I said driving in near or around çhicago Too many near misses to count that include Being shot at (fireman too get this) cold- Cocked - jumped and more than one guy sticking you up trying to take 1)your truck, Your bank- that by the way If its lost or stolen comes out of your paycheck per the employee handbook and you do sign off on that. Not to even talk about the near misses of other semis and people driving using cell phones crossing 3 lanes In front of you.