Ex-red-light camera company exec takes stand in bribery trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III: Part 2

Democratic State Sen. Emil Jones III was digging into a big filet at his favorite downtown steak joint in July 2019 when his dinner companion, a red-light camera company executive, brought up Jones’ upcoming fundraiser at Sox Park.

“How much money you want me to come up with?” SafeSpeed LLC co-founder Omar Maani asked over the soft steakhouse din. “You tell me a number.”

Jones initially demurred, telling Maani no one had ever asked him that before. But Maani explained he was different, that he always wanted to meet expectations.

“You’re already meeting expectations, Omar,” Jones said, cutting into his steak while a hidden camera sat somewhere on the table across from him. “You’re a good guy. I like you all’s company a lot.”

Then Jones dropped the number: “If you can raise me five grand, that’d be good.”

“Done,” Maani replied quickly.

That conversation, which Maani secretly recorded for the FBI, was the focal point of a long first day of trial for Jones, the son of former Senate President Emil Jones Jr. Jones III is accused of agreeing to accept bribes from Maani in exchange for his help tamping down anti-red-light camera legislation in Springfield.

Maani, the star prosecution witness, testified for the first time in a federal courtroom Wednesday, April 9, 2025 that his company routinely sought to influence elected officials with campaign cash, dinners and cigars to secure more business.

This video is part two of the conversation. See part one here: trib.al/aniHUYf

Read the full story here: trib.al/YowoQzg

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