City gives felon six figure grant to open liquor store

TIF rules prohibit liquor stores from getting small business grants, and state and local laws bar felons from holding a stake in a liquor store except under rare circumstances, the Chicago Tribune reported. But a new outlet was funded and approved by City Hall agencies that exercised little oversight. The new liquor store was bankrolled and launched by convicted drug dealer Frederick "Juicy" Sims, who has been tied to the Vice Lords street gang, a Tribune investigation found. In response to Tribune questions, City Hall officials are investigating the store's ownership. "If a licensee makes false statements in their application, their license is put in jeopardy," said Jennifer Lipford, spokeswoman for the city Business Affairs Department.