Earlier this year, John Bills was convicted of steering millions of dollars in city contracts to Redflex Traffic Systems in exchange for bribes. 

Bills appeared remorseful in federal court saying he acted unethically and made poor choices, but he said the charges against him are exaggerated and he blames what he calls the city’s broken contract system. 

Federal prosecutors rejected that claim and said Bills played a much larger role in a scheme for which Chicago taxpayers are still paying.