Former Chicago health inspector pleads guilty to bribe taking

A former Chicago Public Health Department inspector has pleaded guilty to fraud for accepting payoffs in return for helping unqualified restaurant, grocery and food-service workers obtain certificates to handle food.

Robert Henry of Olympia Fields agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as he entered the plea before U.S. District Judge George Lindberg.

The 65-year-old Henry was charged along with Maryanne Koll, an instructor who was accused of making it appear that nearly 600 individuals had either attended training or passed a required exam to obtain a certificate.

Henry admitted he referred almost 100 of the individuals to Koll and split payoffs with her.

Officials say the fraud allowed hundreds to wind up in restaurants, grocery stores and other food-preparation businesses without the proper training.