03/20/2023
Last year, Fitzgerald Samedy, a serial drunk driver, District 87 school board member, and Republican precinct committeeperson was arrested for a fourth DUI in an absurdly hilarious set of circumstances. Samedy was so drunk he had urinated himself in his pants, and he was driving on a suspended license.
He refused to take a breathalyzer when prompted by police, which he has a legal obligation to do under Illinois law. When he was presented with a court order signed by a judge to comply with a breathalyzer, he again refused a judge’s direct order, earning him an Obstructing Justice charge, on top of three other felony counts for aggravated DUI, driving on a suspended license, DUI while on a suspended license and a few other misdemeanor charges.
To add insult to injury, in a later jailhouse phone call with his wife, he bragged that, and I’m paraphrasing, he had gotten one over on the police by refusing to follow the law. He also said once in a Cities 92.9 interview prior to his arrest in relation to mask mandates, that no district or anyone has the right to tell my child what they can or cannot do” implying he and his children are not bound by any law.
The aggravated DUI charge has a possible sentence of 3-7 years in prison. The Driving on a revoked license has a possible sentence of 1-6 years in prison. Obstructing Justice has a possible sentence of 1-3 years.
This is obviously SHOCKING behavior for a member of a party that regularly says they support law enforcement, personal responsibility, and law & order. Surely, he would have a plethora of books (perhaps even whole encyclopedias) thrown at a him: a repeat felon with such disrespect for authority.
If you thought that then you must have forgotten that we exist in a two-tiered justice system. There’s a justice system for the politically well-connected, members of the status quo; and, there’s a justice system for us peasants. When it’s the justice system for peasants, it’s all about being “tough on crime,” law & order, obedience to authority. But, when it’s for elected officials and/or Party members, it’s a slap on the wrist even though the perpetrator bragged about how he felt he was getting one over on the cops the judge, and the states’ attorney, and he’s stated publicly he doesn’t think laws he doesn’t like apply to him.
Prosecutor Emily Young recommended a 30-month probation term, with 180 days in jail. Samedy would have served 60 days in jail, with the remainder stayed, under the state’s request. So, what punishment did Mr. Samedy receive when he finally plead guilty to repeated felony crimes and insubordination to authority figures? 30 months probation through Veterans Court! The appointed Republican State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds dropped many of the charges, including Obstructing Justice by refusing to obey a judge’s order. Reynold’s let Samedy off with a deal most couldn’t even imagine getting.
Talk about a sweet heart deal!
While Mr. Samedy was in custody, he can be heard calling his wife and ordering her to, “call the McLean County Republicans and say come get me.”
We have no direct evidence Samedy’s political affiliation or connections led to such a good deal. Samedy served in the Army from 2006-08, including multiple overseas deployments as a petroleum engineer, according to Patton.
The judge in the case, Judge Charles Feeney said, “70% of Samedy’s diagnosed post traumatic stress disorder is tied to his military service. That’s huge for me. Allowing Samedy to return to the specialized probation program serves the ends of justice. Veterans return with mental as well as physical wounds. We should be just as cognizant of the wounds we can’t see.”
I actually completely agree with Judge Feeney. I’m not writing this editorial with the goal of advocating for more incarceration. However, there are many other people who suffer severe addictions, are facing criminal charges because of it, and have PTSD from non-military related traumas.
I hope States Attorney Reynolds will prove me wrong that there’s a two-tiered system of justice. I hope she recognizes that many people who come against her office at trial also have wounds that we cannot see. And, I hope she offers similar mercy to us regular people who are prosecuted for similar nonviolent crimes.
Samedy finally resigned from his position as an elected District 87 School Board member on February 16th, 2023. He resigned voluntarily. The school board has no disqualifications for felony convictions.
