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Operation Greylord: The True Story of an Untrained Undercover Agent and America's Biggest Corruption Bust
Operation Greylord was the longest and most successful undercover investigation in FBI history, and the largest corruption bust ever in the U.S. It resulted in bribery and tax charges against 103 judges, lawyers, and other court personnel, and, eventually, more than seventy indictments. And it was led by Terrence Hake, a young assistant prosecutor in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago, who worked undercover for nearly four years, accepting bribes, making payoffs, wearing a wire in bars and to racetracks, bugging a judge's chambers, and befriending people he knew he would betray. Operation Greylord has never before been detailed by an insider in the investigation.
350 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 18, 2016
This book reports on very disturbing events in the courts. The writing seems to drop words in sentences regularly. The eBook contained no date of publication.
April 15, 2021
I read this in a single day because it was too fascinating to step away from. Essentially, this is the true account of a young man at the beginning of his law career. The FBI tapped him to help bring down a phalanx of corrupt judges and courtroom staffers in Cook County, Illinois in the early 1980s. I moved to Cook County in the early '80s after the trials for some of these creeps had begun, so some of the names in the book are vaguely familiar. Hake described how the corruption schemes worked, and he described how he not only recorded the damning conversations but matched names and voices on tapes when judge chambers were bugged. I was appalled by the descriptions of the open-reel recording equipment the FBI gave Hake. Open-reel tape? The feds couldn't do better than that in 1980? Ok, I get there won't be digital, but seriously? Open reels? Ridiculous.
You read about the emotional difficulties associated with going deep undercover. Hake mourns the loss of friendships and the betrayal he deliberately engaged in, but clearly it was all for a good cause.
You read about the emotional difficulties associated with going deep undercover. Hake mourns the loss of friendships and the betrayal he deliberately engaged in, but clearly it was all for a good cause.
November 16, 2018
An excellent book. Hake put his own life and career at stake to help bring down one of the most crooked government organizations in the U.S., the Cook County Courts. I'm very familiar with the Greylord case, and the author filled in a lot of the blanks that I didn't know about.
I had the opportunity to get to know one of the main characters of the book. Early in my career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, I was stationed at the prison camp where "the judge" was serving his time. In a 21+ year career with them, I don't think that I ever met a more arrogant, entitled person than him. He really thought that he was better than everyone else, and had a hard time realizing that he was now just one of the incarcerated masses.
Fun story....I remember how he and his Chicago cronies, on visiting day, would have one of their visitors hide contraband on the grounds of the prison camp, to be picked up later by the inmate. Wine, gourmet food, cigars. It was always a challenge to try to find the items before the inmate. Once, a coworker of mine even found cooked lobster! In a garbage dumpster! The contraband was displayed in the officer's window, to let the inmate know that, this time, they didn't win. The scowls the old judge made were very satisfying to us. One day, an older, more experienced coworker showed us a neat twist. Rather than confiscate the found food, "someone" doused the food with a large quantity of hot pepper oil, and placed it back in the hiding spot. A couple of hours later, guess who was sicker than a dog? Demented, I know, but times were different back then. One could never get away with that today.
Anyway, kudos to Hake for his efforts, and for writing a great book!
I had the opportunity to get to know one of the main characters of the book. Early in my career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, I was stationed at the prison camp where "the judge" was serving his time. In a 21+ year career with them, I don't think that I ever met a more arrogant, entitled person than him. He really thought that he was better than everyone else, and had a hard time realizing that he was now just one of the incarcerated masses.
Fun story....I remember how he and his Chicago cronies, on visiting day, would have one of their visitors hide contraband on the grounds of the prison camp, to be picked up later by the inmate. Wine, gourmet food, cigars. It was always a challenge to try to find the items before the inmate. Once, a coworker of mine even found cooked lobster! In a garbage dumpster! The contraband was displayed in the officer's window, to let the inmate know that, this time, they didn't win. The scowls the old judge made were very satisfying to us. One day, an older, more experienced coworker showed us a neat twist. Rather than confiscate the found food, "someone" doused the food with a large quantity of hot pepper oil, and placed it back in the hiding spot. A couple of hours later, guess who was sicker than a dog? Demented, I know, but times were different back then. One could never get away with that today.
Anyway, kudos to Hake for his efforts, and for writing a great book!
May 19, 2016
When Terrence Hake was a brand-new lawyer, he went undercover for the FBI and arranged so many bribes that people at the courthouse started calling him Terry Take. (Those folks loved nicknames--other players included Silvery, Dollars, Jingles, and Dog Breath.) Hake thought the investigation would last a few months, but it actually took four and a half years, and he testified in trials for years after that. Operation Greylord was the first time federal agents ever bugged a judge's chambers.
I had assumed that the name "Greylord" referred to the fact that agents were going after powerful old judges. But the investigators actually picked a name at random out of the newspaper. Greylord was a racehorse.
I had assumed that the name "Greylord" referred to the fact that agents were going after powerful old judges. But the investigators actually picked a name at random out of the newspaper. Greylord was a racehorse.
April 16, 2024
Couldn’t bring myself to finish this book. For a lawyer, the way he writes is just, so un-engaging. And I want to be a lawyer, so it’s not some sort of complex language structure or anything. Not sure what else to say except hard skip.
February 7, 2016
Very informative. Exposure of the court system of Chicago and Cook County as it was pre-Greylord.
At the time, I worked in the same building as the trials. Had gone to high school with one of the prosecutors. Remember just how young Dan Webb looked when he became US Attorney, as did Scott Lassar. Amazing how old they looked when they left the office.
So many of these names sound so familiar. It was always well known, at least to the attorneys in my office, just how to fix your tickets. You paid off a lawyer who paid off a judge and you were clear. I never did it. But I remember one of the lawyers telling me all about it. Like why did you waste all morning at traffic court? So it was the unspoken secret among the lawyers. Everyone knew there were problems with the court system. And that the fix was in. People talk about the Chicago Machine and think it only related to politics. Politics also ran the court system. I could accept traffic court and even divorce court, I suppose. But when they started about fixing drug traffickers, murder trials, rapists. I though thank goodness you guys finally got around to the undercover sting.
And that was really what got it started. When murder trials started getting fixed. Like the El Rukns. Hake was a young innocent/naïve attorney in the state's attorney' office (like the district attorney's office) and he was astounded that his cases weren't being called because he wasn't paying people off. He had to be taught the way that the court was being run at that time.
And I found it interesting that he was cross-examined by two of the top local defense attorneys. But he actually broke down while being questioned by the prosecution.
Hard to fathom working undercover for several years. He had numerous experiences where he thought he was about to be found out. Someone would touch him on his shoulder - right where the microphone was - and he would think they knew. And he would just have to bluff through it and not panic.
Some of this may be slightly self-serving. But, then, who else can tell what it was like.
At the time, I worked in the same building as the trials. Had gone to high school with one of the prosecutors. Remember just how young Dan Webb looked when he became US Attorney, as did Scott Lassar. Amazing how old they looked when they left the office.
So many of these names sound so familiar. It was always well known, at least to the attorneys in my office, just how to fix your tickets. You paid off a lawyer who paid off a judge and you were clear. I never did it. But I remember one of the lawyers telling me all about it. Like why did you waste all morning at traffic court? So it was the unspoken secret among the lawyers. Everyone knew there were problems with the court system. And that the fix was in. People talk about the Chicago Machine and think it only related to politics. Politics also ran the court system. I could accept traffic court and even divorce court, I suppose. But when they started about fixing drug traffickers, murder trials, rapists. I though thank goodness you guys finally got around to the undercover sting.
And that was really what got it started. When murder trials started getting fixed. Like the El Rukns. Hake was a young innocent/naïve attorney in the state's attorney' office (like the district attorney's office) and he was astounded that his cases weren't being called because he wasn't paying people off. He had to be taught the way that the court was being run at that time.
And I found it interesting that he was cross-examined by two of the top local defense attorneys. But he actually broke down while being questioned by the prosecution.
Hard to fathom working undercover for several years. He had numerous experiences where he thought he was about to be found out. Someone would touch him on his shoulder - right where the microphone was - and he would think they knew. And he would just have to bluff through it and not panic.
Some of this may be slightly self-serving. But, then, who else can tell what it was like.
September 30, 2015
If you are interested in judicial corruption, the Mob, or one of the FBI's largest undercover operations, this book is a must-read. One of the best True Crime books I've ever read.
October 4, 2019
WOW! Kudo's to the honest and good guys but I was seriously depressed when I started reading this book because of those who are not. My eyes have been opened to how easy it is to be dishonest, greedy and self serving. I was appalled at how justice was flipped with a few bucks. I had no idea that back in the early 80's the nation's largest circuit court - Chicago was filled with almost half, corrupt lawyers, clerks and the scariest part - Judges. You could buy your way out of a traffic ticket, burglary,rape, child molestation, drug dealing and even murder. Seems so many people were in on it and that's how business was done until the FBI decided to do something about it and that's where the author comes in. He was a three year district attorney complaining to the higher ups about the fixed court cases and was ready to quit when he was asked to go undercover to catch the bad guys and boy did they. 92 indictments when it was all said and done. Lives were ruined due to them forgetting and ignoring the law. They thought they were above the law.
A point was brought up in the book of how these judges got there. We vote for them and I've gone to the polls and have seen judges names listed and I have no idea who they are or what they stand for so I never check a box - shame on me. But really how are we supposed to know? I've never been to court, what do I care? Well I should care because I want the bad guys off the street and not repeating horrible offenses.
I appreciate people like Mr. Hake who put his career and life on hold to right the wrong.
Oh and lots of F Bombs cuz that's how sleazy people speak
A point was brought up in the book of how these judges got there. We vote for them and I've gone to the polls and have seen judges names listed and I have no idea who they are or what they stand for so I never check a box - shame on me. But really how are we supposed to know? I've never been to court, what do I care? Well I should care because I want the bad guys off the street and not repeating horrible offenses.
I appreciate people like Mr. Hake who put his career and life on hold to right the wrong.
Oh and lots of F Bombs cuz that's how sleazy people speak
April 13, 2020
I remember when the story came out in the local news when I was a college freshman. That there was corruption in the Cook County court system was no surprise at all, of course, but I never knew how the system was so crooked as to be essentially worthless-you could buy any verdict you want for the right price. Even for a mobster to openly commit murder and get off scot-free, which incidentally was the event that started the whole investigation to begin with.
Author Terry Hake was a young assistant state's attorney contacted by the FBI, which he actually had dreams of joining-and he did so, without training. Wearing a wire, he befriended a hustler defense lawyer, and would be introduced to one crooked judge, then another, then a whole bunch of lawyers and police officials who were in on the bribery racket. It took several years, but Hake was able to find more and more evidence and more and more crooked officials, until enough people got suspicious and arrests had to be made.
Many crooked officials went to prison, but the implications were greater than that. Reforms were made to the court system and the bribery culture was scuttled, plus the unprecedented investigation enabled more similar ones to be performed around the nation. You don't have to be a Chicagoan to find the story fascinating and important.
Author Terry Hake was a young assistant state's attorney contacted by the FBI, which he actually had dreams of joining-and he did so, without training. Wearing a wire, he befriended a hustler defense lawyer, and would be introduced to one crooked judge, then another, then a whole bunch of lawyers and police officials who were in on the bribery racket. It took several years, but Hake was able to find more and more evidence and more and more crooked officials, until enough people got suspicious and arrests had to be made.
Many crooked officials went to prison, but the implications were greater than that. Reforms were made to the court system and the bribery culture was scuttled, plus the unprecedented investigation enabled more similar ones to be performed around the nation. You don't have to be a Chicagoan to find the story fascinating and important.
November 10, 2020
I am not going to discuss the undercover operation which was a great service to seekers of Justice in Cook County. The problem of the corrupt politicians annointing friends and donors as Judges still remains.
What baffles me is the author changes a few names. Anybody who worked in the system at the time knows who these people are/were. What is beyond comprehension is this idea that his partner in the Prosecutor's Office, "Alice", would have ZERO idea that her husband, "Barry Carpenter" was a corrupt defense attorney hustling hallways in the outlying misdemeanor courtrooms and making payoffs. The Prosecutor's Office has Supervisors in those buildings. They also have rank and file prosecutors moving up the ladder to the Courthouse she was assigned to. Somehow we are supposed to believe that the lawyer wife had no inkling about how her lawyer husband made his living? GOSSIP among lawyers is constant. Nobody mentioned a word to her? One of her bosses did not hear from another boss what her husband was up to? Come on, Terry Hake. I can see protecting some people with aliases, but the "Alice" as naive babe in the woods is preposterous.
What baffles me is the author changes a few names. Anybody who worked in the system at the time knows who these people are/were. What is beyond comprehension is this idea that his partner in the Prosecutor's Office, "Alice", would have ZERO idea that her husband, "Barry Carpenter" was a corrupt defense attorney hustling hallways in the outlying misdemeanor courtrooms and making payoffs. The Prosecutor's Office has Supervisors in those buildings. They also have rank and file prosecutors moving up the ladder to the Courthouse she was assigned to. Somehow we are supposed to believe that the lawyer wife had no inkling about how her lawyer husband made his living? GOSSIP among lawyers is constant. Nobody mentioned a word to her? One of her bosses did not hear from another boss what her husband was up to? Come on, Terry Hake. I can see protecting some people with aliases, but the "Alice" as naive babe in the woods is preposterous.
January 2, 2018
You may have heard about "Operation Greylord" , the sting that brought down a good number of corrupt judges and lawyers in 1984, or read about it in the newspapers. But this behind the scenes account, written by the undercover agent who made it all happen, is a detailed play by play of how it all went down.
For years Chicago has been known as "the city on the make", and Terrence Hake certainly confirmed that notion. The extent of the corruption he uncovered is absolutely astounding! Everyone from courtroom clerks, sheriffs deputies, lawyers, policemen and judges were in on the deals. And we're not just talking about parking tickets either. Drug dealers, rapists, and even murderers were being set free simply by greasing a few palms. Much of it out in the open.
This book is well written and will hold your attention from the first page to the last. I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in Chicago politics, the legal system, or crime stories.
For years Chicago has been known as "the city on the make", and Terrence Hake certainly confirmed that notion. The extent of the corruption he uncovered is absolutely astounding! Everyone from courtroom clerks, sheriffs deputies, lawyers, policemen and judges were in on the deals. And we're not just talking about parking tickets either. Drug dealers, rapists, and even murderers were being set free simply by greasing a few palms. Much of it out in the open.
This book is well written and will hold your attention from the first page to the last. I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in Chicago politics, the legal system, or crime stories.
December 17, 2022
Disturbing yet fascinating read of the corruption of the Cook County Courts. The author was a young lawyer exposed to the bribery in the court system and became an undercover FBI agent. From clerks to judges, money was passed; from traffic citations to murder, judges could be bought. Some ended up with charges of tax evasion just like Al Capone many years earlier and some did actual prison time.
One fascinating point was that a mafia hit man was retried (and convicted) because double jeopardy was deemed not to apply due to the bribes involved in the original trial from which he had been acquitted. The original trial was so corrupt that it was what caused the FBI's interest in the Chicago courts.
The book shows how greed bought ruined careers, torn apart families, suicides, and lost friends. Unfortunately, this same greed still exists today.
At times there were some missing words or wrong words which slowed the reading process.
One fascinating point was that a mafia hit man was retried (and convicted) because double jeopardy was deemed not to apply due to the bribes involved in the original trial from which he had been acquitted. The original trial was so corrupt that it was what caused the FBI's interest in the Chicago courts.
The book shows how greed bought ruined careers, torn apart families, suicides, and lost friends. Unfortunately, this same greed still exists today.
At times there were some missing words or wrong words which slowed the reading process.
March 23, 2024
I always love behind-the-scenes accounts from those who were there. Such an interesting story from one of the main undercover agents involved in the case. I think I first heard about this huge undercover story from Jerri Williams' podcast, FBI Retired Case File Review (episodes 24-25), where she interviews the author (Terry Hake.) It was disappointing that the media blew the case while they were still gathering evidence on higher-up judges who were taking bribes, but satisfying how he tells about how Greylord did so much to improve the court system generally. Worth a listen and read if you enjoy these types of stories!
May 4, 2017
It turns out that stories about real legal cases can be as good as the legal genre. Author Terrence Hake tells the story that brought down one of the most despicable story of Chicago judges making money that came under the table.
The first third and the last third of the book are most engaging. They also tell us a lot about how the law works. The middle third provides perhaps more info than we need.
For new comers to the Chicago area (and I fit into this group) learn a lot about the history of the local judicial system.
The first third and the last third of the book are most engaging. They also tell us a lot about how the law works. The middle third provides perhaps more info than we need.
For new comers to the Chicago area (and I fit into this group) learn a lot about the history of the local judicial system.
May 9, 2020
So poorly written and structured that I can't really recommend it. But the depth of the (not that long ago!) corruption it documents in Chicago/Cook County/Illinois is shocking and important to not forget. I guess I would recommend it to anyone that lives in Chicago as useful background for the city, but not really as a reading experience.
September 28, 2020
It is a little fast in the beginning and hard to keep track of all the people involved and how the bribes work because there is so many moving parts. Hake is not an author and can be seen in this book but he documents his interactions with Greylord. Good book finished it in a weekend and would recommend it.
October 19, 2024
I’ve never heard of this investigation, the largest federal investigation into circuit courts and judicial corruption in the United States. This is a great book and a fascinating story told by a do-gooder who actually kept his spine and made a major positive impact on the legal and judicial systems in America.
October 5, 2018
Terry your moral and ethical compass will always be pointed North! Great job and as a 28 years retired LTC whose last assignment was in Arlington Heights in the Military Police field you Sir are an American Hero!
February 8, 2019
Fantastic story and well-written. You can just smell the dirt of Chicago rising from the pages. Having lived in Chicago from 1965-1970 and in northern Illinois from 1996-2014, the whole story felt quite real to me.
February 27, 2024
It has its tense moments, and really picks up enough to keep you interested, but there’s a lot in here that feels like filler. I thought it would feel more like a legal thriller, but not exactly. Not bad though.
May 27, 2024
Fascinating. I recently attended a CLE (Continuing Legal Education) presentation by the author and was so intrigued I read the book. The corruption was appalling. I have profound admiration for the author for his bravery.
December 7, 2024
Glad he brought down the system. As a person he was a dick, he entrapped his friends so he could become an agent. Once he became an agent he couldn’t even accept that you have to move, usually to places you don’t want to go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
Interesting story of how corruption plagued the cook county judiciary like a virus in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Unfortunately, the author’s tone is excruciatingly dork—that said, I finished the book in only a couple sittings—these people were out of their fucking minds.
Unfortunately, the author’s tone is excruciatingly dork—that said, I finished the book in only a couple sittings—these people were out of their fucking minds.
February 21, 2018
Great insight about the corrupt courts and how one person brought them down!!
April 20, 2020
4 ½ ⭐ - A must read for attorneys and history wonks everywhere...especially attorneys that weren't yet practicing during such a pivotal time in Cook County history.
July 21, 2022
Not particularly well written, but fascinating story of corruption in the Chicago court system.
May 4, 2023
Thrilling story of how the FBI dealt with judicial corruption!
October 14, 2024
Very interesting
However, way too long. Thankful for honest men like Terry Hake in a world that is way too corrupt. We all know there is corruption on the US Supreme Court
However, way too long. Thankful for honest men like Terry Hake in a world that is way too corrupt. We all know there is corruption on the US Supreme Court
January 23, 2017
chicago corruption
March 3, 2017
Great legal read!
One Saturday I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, FBI Casefile Review with Jerri Williams, and the author of this book was the guest. I put it on my goodreads list and purchased it a few months later. The Story of Terry Hake's undercover work was even better in this book. I am an ADA, and his portrayal of the smallest details of life as a young courthouse practitioner were so realistic! This true story was almost as good as the themes of morality and ethics of the legal profession. I loved it and think it would be a great movie! I especially loved getting to see the professional and personal mechanics of the operation. These real life law enforcement agents and prosecutors are unsung heroes in the quest to keep our judiciary free from corruption.
One Saturday I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, FBI Casefile Review with Jerri Williams, and the author of this book was the guest. I put it on my goodreads list and purchased it a few months later. The Story of Terry Hake's undercover work was even better in this book. I am an ADA, and his portrayal of the smallest details of life as a young courthouse practitioner were so realistic! This true story was almost as good as the themes of morality and ethics of the legal profession. I loved it and think it would be a great movie! I especially loved getting to see the professional and personal mechanics of the operation. These real life law enforcement agents and prosecutors are unsung heroes in the quest to keep our judiciary free from corruption.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews