Luke LaManna

The day before Thanksgiving, 1980, Haik was lurking anxiously in the hallway of the Cook County Courthouse. Most of the courts had closed early and everyone was trying to wrap up their work before the holiday. But that afternoon, Haik wasn't thinking about turkey and stuffing just yet. He was trying to look inconspicuous as he kept his eyes glued on the door of Judge Olsen's chambers.

The day before Thanksgiving, 1980, Haik was lurking anxiously in the hallway of the Cook County Courthouse. Most of the courts had closed early and everyone was trying to wrap up their work before the holiday. But that afternoon, Haik wasn't thinking about turkey and stuffing just yet. He was trying to look inconspicuous as he kept his eyes glued on the door of Judge Olsen's chambers.

Two FBI agents, disguised as repairmen, were waiting nearby to bug the office. They had walked confidently into the building and unlocked the door to the switchboard room where operators managed the court's phone calls. Once Haight confirmed the chambers were empty, they would head in, pretending they were there for a repair.

Two FBI agents, disguised as repairmen, were waiting nearby to bug the office. They had walked confidently into the building and unlocked the door to the switchboard room where operators managed the court's phone calls. Once Haight confirmed the chambers were empty, they would head in, pretending they were there for a repair.

Olsen was on vacation, but he had a fill-in judge that must have been taking his job seriously. It felt like he would never leave. Finally, Hake heard the door open and then footsteps striking the marble floor. He walked quickly to a phone nearby and confirmed the office was empty. A few weeks earlier, Hake had flown to Washington, D.C.

Olsen was on vacation, but he had a fill-in judge that must have been taking his job seriously. It felt like he would never leave. Finally, Hake heard the door open and then footsteps striking the marble floor. He walked quickly to a phone nearby and confirmed the office was empty. A few weeks earlier, Hake had flown to Washington, D.C.

to meet the director of the FBI and lay out all the evidence he'd gathered. By that point, Olsen had admitted to Hake that he had accepted thousands of dollars in bribes, and with that admission, the FBI had given him the green light to install the bug. It was the first time an American judge's chambers would ever be put under this kind of surveillance. The timing was perfect.

to meet the director of the FBI and lay out all the evidence he'd gathered. By that point, Olsen had admitted to Hake that he had accepted thousands of dollars in bribes, and with that admission, the FBI had given him the green light to install the bug. It was the first time an American judge's chambers would ever be put under this kind of surveillance. The timing was perfect.

When Olson came back to the office on Monday, lawyers would be clamoring to fix cases that they hadn't been able to under the fill-in judges. And now they'd be caught doing it on tape. While the FBI agents went into Olsen's office to install the bug, Haik left and drove to a nearby supermarket.

When Olson came back to the office on Monday, lawyers would be clamoring to fix cases that they hadn't been able to under the fill-in judges. And now they'd be caught doing it on tape. While the FBI agents went into Olsen's office to install the bug, Haik left and drove to a nearby supermarket.

He met a female agent who accompanied him back to the courthouse in an unmarked car, ready to pose as his girlfriend. If the two FBI agents inside Olsen's office ran into trouble, Haik and his fake girlfriend would run back into the building, claiming he'd forgotten his briefcase. The ruse would hopefully cause enough of a distraction so the agents could slip away.

He met a female agent who accompanied him back to the courthouse in an unmarked car, ready to pose as his girlfriend. If the two FBI agents inside Olsen's office ran into trouble, Haik and his fake girlfriend would run back into the building, claiming he'd forgotten his briefcase. The ruse would hopefully cause enough of a distraction so the agents could slip away.

As they waited for updates on a walkie-talkie, Haik's mind raced through the worst-case scenario. What if someone came back unexpectedly? A janitor? Or worse, one of Olsen's fixers? If anyone showed up in the chambers, it could blow the entire operation. But as luck would have it, the agents placed the bug without a hitch.

As they waited for updates on a walkie-talkie, Haik's mind raced through the worst-case scenario. What if someone came back unexpectedly? A janitor? Or worse, one of Olsen's fixers? If anyone showed up in the chambers, it could blow the entire operation. But as luck would have it, the agents placed the bug without a hitch.

By early December in 1980, the FBI had been listening in on Judge Olson's chambers for more than a week. So far, the Bug had recorded enough evidence to prosecute Jim Costello, the fixer attorney. But they still hadn't gotten Judge Olson clearly admitting he was in on the scam.

By early December in 1980, the FBI had been listening in on Judge Olson's chambers for more than a week. So far, the Bug had recorded enough evidence to prosecute Jim Costello, the fixer attorney. But they still hadn't gotten Judge Olson clearly admitting he was in on the scam.

The judge had told Haik about plenty of his illegal dealings over drinks at their usual bar, but it had always been too noisy to Bug. The FBI needed Olson to confirm on tape that he took bribes. That would be enough to charge him with federal crimes under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO.

The judge had told Haik about plenty of his illegal dealings over drinks at their usual bar, but it had always been too noisy to Bug. The FBI needed Olson to confirm on tape that he took bribes. That would be enough to charge him with federal crimes under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO.

Eventually, they got him when the agents in the FBI listening room picked up a heated argument between Judge Olson and Costello. Olson wanted to know why there wasn't more cash in his drawer. He'd written down he should have $2,300, but when Costello counted, he told the judge that there was only $800.

Eventually, they got him when the agents in the FBI listening room picked up a heated argument between Judge Olson and Costello. Olson wanted to know why there wasn't more cash in his drawer. He'd written down he should have $2,300, but when Costello counted, he told the judge that there was only $800.