Eric Sanders, 54, has been charged with multiple counts of fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and tax evasion, according to a complaint filed Monday in the U.S. Northern District of Illinois.
Sanders is accused of pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a snow removal company between 2016 and 2023. He allegedly carried out the scheme with the help of his father, his girlfriend, and her son.
As of this week, Sanders remains employed as the department’s General Manager of Airport Operations, according to a city employee dashboard. The dashboard also notes that he has worked for the city for 21 years and earns an annual salary of $136,700.
The federal indictment does not name the snow removal company that Sanders used for services at O’Hare International Airport. However, it states that the business subcontracted work to two companies—one owned by Sanders’ father and another by his girlfriend’s son, who was a student at the time.
In total, Sanders is said to have pocketed $33,932 from his father’s business and $232,768 from the company owned by his girlfriend’s son. The indictment does not identify the father or the girlfriend’s son by name. It further alleges that Sanders controlled both nominee companies, rather than the individuals themselves.
According to the indictment, the subcontractors were ostensibly brought in to lease equipment with the main contractor. This arrangement allowed Sanders to conceal how he received payments and avoid paying taxes.
At this time, Sanders’ arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/chicago-aviation-official-250000-sham-ohare-snow-removal-feds/