Chicago City Wire

One of U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia's top political allies, former Chicago Ald. Ricardo Munoz was released from federal prison on Monday, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prison. 

In March 2022, Munoz was sentenced to 13 months in prison for "stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a political campaign fund he controlled and spending it on personal items ranging from iPhones and hotel rooms to skydiving excursions and sporting events," the Tribune reported.

Munoz was convicted for stealing $38,000 from the fund.

On Monday, Munoz, a long-time supporter, fundraiser and political associate of Garcia, was released from federal custody. In 2015, Munoz was Garcia's biggest political backer. 

Munoz's connection to Garcia remained strong. 

On May 30, 2018, then-Ald. Zalewski, a supporter of now-indicted, former state House Speaker Michael Madigan, told the Sun-Times he advised Rahm Emanuel to appoint Chuy Garcia's guy, Ald. Ricardo Munoz to chair the Avation Committee. Fran writes; "Before bowing out, Zalewski advised Emanuel to cut a deal with Jesus “Chuy” Garcia to install Garcia’s protégé, Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd), as Aviation Committee chairman, in exchange for Garcia’s endorsement of Emanuel’s 2019 re-election bid.”

U.S. District Judge John Kness excoriated Munoz at his 2022 sentencing.

“People need to get the message that public figures are held to a higher standard. And if you didn’t want to be held to a higher standard, you shouldn’t run six times for alderman,” Kness said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois did not immediately respond to a media request from Chicago City Wire regarding Munoz's release.