Luke LaManna

He'd been forced to quit his job. He'd been put in witness protection along with his wife and their four children and moved between safe houses under a 24-hour guard. It was pure hell, but everything was building to this moment. The chance to put a murderer behind bars. The prosecutor asked Lowe if the man he'd seen that night was in the courtroom today.

He'd been forced to quit his job. He'd been put in witness protection along with his wife and their four children and moved between safe houses under a 24-hour guard. It was pure hell, but everything was building to this moment. The chance to put a murderer behind bars. The prosecutor asked Lowe if the man he'd seen that night was in the courtroom today.

Lowe nodded and pointed at the man who'd haunted his nightmares for so long, Harry Alleman. The mobster sat coolly in his flashy suit and silk tie, his eyes hidden under tinted glasses. The smirk never left his face. Lowe finished his testimony and was escorted out of the courthouse flanked by police. Now, all he could do was wait. Lowe wasn't the only eyewitness to the murder.

Lowe nodded and pointed at the man who'd haunted his nightmares for so long, Harry Alleman. The mobster sat coolly in his flashy suit and silk tie, his eyes hidden under tinted glasses. The smirk never left his face. Lowe finished his testimony and was escorted out of the courthouse flanked by police. Now, all he could do was wait. Lowe wasn't the only eyewitness to the murder.

Another neighbor had identified the gunman too. And the man who drove the car had also turned state's witness. He gave a detailed account of the mobster's role in the murder. A few days after testifying, Lowe and his wife were in a car with federal agents. They were listening to the news on the radio, and the judge was about to read the final verdict. Lowe asked the agents to turn up the volume.

Another neighbor had identified the gunman too. And the man who drove the car had also turned state's witness. He gave a detailed account of the mobster's role in the murder. A few days after testifying, Lowe and his wife were in a car with federal agents. They were listening to the news on the radio, and the judge was about to read the final verdict. Lowe asked the agents to turn up the volume.

When the announcement was read, Lowe was shocked. Not guilty. The judge said the state had not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. And not only did he acquit the mobster, the judge accused Lowe of lying on the stand. Lowe punched the seat in front of him, stinging his knuckles. He put his life on the line to testify against a violent mobster, and in the end, it had all been for nothing.

When the announcement was read, Lowe was shocked. Not guilty. The judge said the state had not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. And not only did he acquit the mobster, the judge accused Lowe of lying on the stand. Lowe punched the seat in front of him, stinging his knuckles. He put his life on the line to testify against a violent mobster, and in the end, it had all been for nothing.

To the mobster, the verdict was no surprise. He knew the judge had been bought off. It had taken just $10,000 to throw a murder case.

To the mobster, the verdict was no surprise. He knew the judge had been bought off. It had taken just $10,000 to throw a murder case.

From Ballin Studios and Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called Operation Grey Lord, Chicago's Corrupt Courts.

From Ballin Studios and Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called Operation Grey Lord, Chicago's Corrupt Courts.

If you spend enough time in the military, you'll realize that just because someone has been in for a long time, or even if he has a lot of rank, that doesn't mean he's a good person. One of the most frustrating aspects of military service is when you find out you have a corrupt or otherwise incompetent leader, and yet you still have to call him sir.

If you spend enough time in the military, you'll realize that just because someone has been in for a long time, or even if he has a lot of rank, that doesn't mean he's a good person. One of the most frustrating aspects of military service is when you find out you have a corrupt or otherwise incompetent leader, and yet you still have to call him sir.

I'm not going to name any names, but one of the ships I was deployed on had several high-ranking Navy personnel, such as the ship's commander, that were caught taking bribes from sleazy foreign contractors. They scammed the U.S. Navy out of millions. All of them were arrested. But even all of that doesn't hold a candle to how bad the Chicago judicial system was in the 1970s and 80s.

I'm not going to name any names, but one of the ships I was deployed on had several high-ranking Navy personnel, such as the ship's commander, that were caught taking bribes from sleazy foreign contractors. They scammed the U.S. Navy out of millions. All of them were arrested. But even all of that doesn't hold a candle to how bad the Chicago judicial system was in the 1970s and 80s.

During that time, Chicago's courts were a breeding ground for corruption. The system was rife with mob ties and bribery that let killers like Harry the Hook Alleman walk free. Brave witnesses like Bobby Lowe spoke out in cases with predetermined outcomes. Victims of horrific crimes, including rape, murder, and child molestation, were routinely denied justice.

During that time, Chicago's courts were a breeding ground for corruption. The system was rife with mob ties and bribery that let killers like Harry the Hook Alleman walk free. Brave witnesses like Bobby Lowe spoke out in cases with predetermined outcomes. Victims of horrific crimes, including rape, murder, and child molestation, were routinely denied justice.

Chicago's courts preferred to keep their dirty secrets hidden, but federal authorities had a plan to blow the lid off the whole corrupt system. They launched Operation Grey Lord, a covert investigation to expose and dismantle crooked local institutions. It would ultimately lead to the biggest corruption bust in U.S. history. At its center was Terry Haake, a young, idealistic attorney.

Chicago's courts preferred to keep their dirty secrets hidden, but federal authorities had a plan to blow the lid off the whole corrupt system. They launched Operation Grey Lord, a covert investigation to expose and dismantle crooked local institutions. It would ultimately lead to the biggest corruption bust in U.S. history. At its center was Terry Haake, a young, idealistic attorney.