Former Chicago alderman gets 4 years in prison

A former Chicago alderman has been sentenced to four years for taking thousands of dollars in payoffs and campaign money from developers who wanted zoning changes and other favors.

Arenda Troutman also omitted the cash she received from her taxes.

At her sentencing hearing Tuesday, Troutman appeared before U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo and told him: "With God as my witness I am not a monster."

Castillo told the 17-year veteran of the Chicago City Council that he knew she wasn't a monster. But he disputed her claim that she didn't know that some of her associates were street gang members.

Castillo told Troutman to report June 1 to start serving her sentence.

She pleaded guilty last August.