Top O’Hare official indicted on fraud charges linked to snow removal services at the airport

A high-ranking Chicago Department of Aviation official has been indicted in an alleged fraud contracting scheme involving snow removal services at O’Hare Airport.

Federal prosecutors this week accused Eric Sanders, 54, of tapping a company for snow removal services at O’Hare, and funneling money through subcontracted companies owned by his father and girlfriend’s son to line his own pockets to the tune of $266,700.

Sanders is charged with conspiracy to defraud, tax evasion, and four counts of filing a false tax return.

The longtime city worker is listed as a “general manager of airport operations,” makes roughly $136,700 a year, and has worked for the city for 21 years, according to a city employee dashboard that was updated as of yesterday.

The Department of Aviation did not respond to a request for comment about whether Sanders is still employed.

Sanders oversaw and coordinated snow removal services done by a business referred to as “Company 1” in the indictment. His dad and girlfriend’s son’s companies then subcontracted with that business to provide “equipment to perform snow removal services.” The payments for such services were “intended to benefit Sanders,” the indictment reads.

By using the subcontractors to “receive income” from Company 1, Sanders ultimately reduced the taxes he had to pay to the IRS on his own income, prosecutors allege.

The indictment alleges that Sanders committed the crimes between 2016 and 2023.

Sanders allegedly raked in $33,932 through his father’s company and another $232,768 from the one owned by his girlfriend’s son, who was a student at the time according to the indictment.

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