Cook County Land Bank Authority sold vacant lots to a drug dealer – Chicago Sun-Times

Obed Ornelas and the land bank were in the process of finalizing his purchase of vacant lots in June 2018 when federal agents arrested him and 56 others in a massive drug bust. At his request, the closing on the land was handled via email so Ornelas, out on bail and wearing an electronic monitoring device, didn’t have to be there in person. The land bank is already under scrutiny by the Cook County’s inspector general for a questionable flip involving one alderman's chief of staff.