Chicago Crime Commission head resigns

Legendary former FBI Agent Jim Wagner is stepping down as president of the Chicago Crime Commission, the group announced Thursday. Wagner is resigning for personal reasons, the group said in a press release. Wagner could not be reached for comment.

Wagner made a career out of fighting the mob in his time during the FBI, and was so well respected on the topic and history of the Outfit that the U.S. Attorney's Office called him as a witness in its recent "Family Secrets" trial against current mobsters, even though Wagner had retired from the FBI long before.

After leaving the FBI, Wagner helped investigate casino companies as a member of the Illinois Gaming Board and was instrumental in denying Rosemont a casino after he and other staff members discovered secret shareholders linked to the mob.

After taking over as president of the commission in 2006, Wagner and the commission published several handbooks to help educate police and the public on gangs and organized crime. He also led the commission in opposing the location of a casino in Chicago. Wagner argued Chicago's long history or corruption and links to organized crime made it unfit to regulate a casino.