Closing for ex-alderman at Chicago bribery trial

A former Chicago alderman’s bribery trial is in the homestretch with closing arguments scheduled in U.S. District Court.

Ambrosio Medrano and two businessmen are accused of paying bribe money to an undercover agent posing as a sales representative. Medrano’s lawyer is expected to address jurors Friday morning.

The undercover agent allegedly told the men he’d pass the money to a Los Angeles official who would supposedly take steps to ensure the men landed a lucrative pharmaceutical contract.

But it was all part of an FBI sting and the official didn’t actually exist.

Medrano’s attorneys say he never believed the official existed and never thought money paid to the agent was bribe money.

Medrano spent nearly two years in prison after pleading guilty in 1996 to a payoff scheme.