Feds investigating $5,000 check to alderman

Chicago Ald. Jason Ervin is "trying to cooperate" with the FBI as it investigates a nearly $5,000 check he received from a woman now charged with bilking an Illinois youth program to pay for shoes, a rental car and food at Portillo's Hot Dogs, according to his lawyer.

A criminal complaint filed by the feds in April charges Franshuan Myles with misusing money from Divine Praise, Inc.- money that was supposed to be spent on participants of the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps program. It also alleges someone described only as "Individual A" received a $4,932 check signed by Myles on Aug. 26, 2011.

Ervin spokesman Tom Bowen released an emailed statement Thursday acknowledging that Ervin is the "Individual A" identified in the criminal complaint. Ervin could not be reached for comment.

"Yesterday Ald. Ervin was made aware of allegations regarding an improper use of state grant money by Divine Praise, Inc., and will cooperate fully with authorities to ensure that taxpayer resources were not improperly diverted for anything else than their specific purpose," Bowen wrote in the statement.

Criminal defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. also acknowledged that the $4,932 check was among the funds Myles is accused of misspending. But Adam categorically denied that the alderman did anything wrong.

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