If Al Sanchez’s Trial Has Taught Us Anything, It’s That Being A Former Gang Member Will Hurt Your Credibility

Al Sanchez, Chicago’s former streets and sanitation commissioner, wants a new trial on the grounds that federal prosecutors in the case failed to disclose that one of their witnesses was a former gang member. So, what, once a drug-pushing-people-killing-dog-raping-non-flossing gangster, always a drug-pushing-people-killing-dog-raping-non-flossing gangster? That’s not what America is about! It is about promising jobs to people who join your club and give you the biggest McNugget in the Happy Meal, the one that is shaped sort of like a stegosaurus. 

Sanchez believes this witness’ testimony was instrumental in a judge finding him guilty of charges that he rigged city hiring to benefit members of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, a group which Sanchez led for a time. Sanchez’s defense was apparently unaware that the witness, Brian Gabriel, had been a member of the Spanish Vice Lords. 

Sanchez’s lead attorney, Thomas Breen, says Gabriel allegedly even dealt drugs the day after he met with the prosecution for a pre-trial interview. But when Gabriel wasn’t dealing drugs or talking with lawyers, he was driving trucks for the city. And Brian Gabriel the truckdriver-who-sometimes-sold-drugs-and-maybe-shanked-someone testified that Sanchez promised city jobs and promotions to HDO members during a political rally, and that these had in turn gifted Sanchez with cash and cigars. And McNuggets.

So, yes. These are both, allegedy!, men who do bad things and lie and maybe hurt people. But can someone who was once in a gang ever be able to move beyond that in order to become a productive member of society? It would be unfortunate for young men (and women) who struggled with the difficult and dangerous task of leaving a gang to better themselves, only to be told that they are still not good enough to fully participate in society. We all do crazy things when we’re young and desperate, like join a gang or drink terrible things with names like “Mad Dawg” or “Ornery Pirate” or write poetry.

Ex-Streets and Sanitation chief wants new trial [Chicago Breaking News Center]