From the Chicago Dispatcher, November 2008
Shehu Saga
When Artur Shehu was found floating in Lake Michigan with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the case against him for the murder of his parents was all but closed. Now his sister (and sole surviving family member) finds herself in court fighting the city for nearly $100,000 in equity from the sale of his medallion.
By: Jonathan Bullington
In the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2008, police in Villa Park make a gruesome discovery. Inside a home at 46 West Ridge they find the bodies of 66-year-old Syrja Shehu and his wife, 67-year-old Safo, both shot in the head. The prime suspect in the killing is their son, 33-year-old Artur Shehu, a Chicago cabdriver and medallion owner. Later that same day, Shehu's taxi, number 3638, is found empty near the corner of Addison and Lake Shore Drive, but Shehu is not found.
Fast forward three months later, a jogger running along the lake spots a body floating in Montrose Harbor. Upon examination, authorities determine the identity of the deceased to be Artur Shehu. The medical report concludes Shehu died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head; he is survived only by his sister, Lindita Hoxha.
The tragic events of that day in January, and the eventual demise of her only sibling, have taken their toll on Mrs. Hoxha. Now, she finds herself in the midst of another controversy, this time regarding her brother's taxi medallion, with the City of Chicago claiming it - not Mrs. Hoxha - deserves proceeds from the sale of Shehu's medallion, estimated at nearly $100,000.
On Feb. 11, 2008, Schneider Finance notified the City of Chicago's Department of Consumer Services (DCS) that they were beginning foreclosure proceedings on Shehu's medallion, due to lack of payment. Despite allowing the sale of Shehu's medallion to be completed, DCS, in a letter to Schneider Finance's attorney dated May 21, 2008, asserted their claim to the proceeds of that sale. Their basis for this claim, according to this letter, was two-fold:
Failure to renew
DCS Deputy Commissioner Rosemary Krimbel states in this letter that, “Under 9-112-100 of the City's Municipal Code, a medallion license expires on December 31st following the date of issue unless it is renewed by February 29, 2008. Since the medallion was not renewed by February 29, it reverts to DCS pursuant to 9-112-540 of the Municipal Code, which allows DCS to re-issue any licenses that have not been timely renewed.”
While it is true that Shehu failed to renew his medallion by February 29, 2008, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and eventual death call into question whether he was alive to renew his license. Additionally, the Chicago Dispatcher has spoken with several industry veterans who have told us that in the past, when owners have failed to renew their medallions by their renewal date, the city has issued tickets to those owners. Not one person we spoke with could recall an instance when DCS revoked a medallion for not being renewed on time. So why is DCS now deciding to seek revocation of a medallion for an owner’s failure to renew?
Commission of a felony
In the same letter cited above, Ms. Krimbel states that, “even if Mr. Shehu had timely renewed his medallion license, it would eventually have been revoked due to commission of a felony.” She adds, “Little doubt exists that Mr. Shehu would probably have been convicted for the murder of his parents if he were still alive. Thus, the medallion would have been revoked…”
Although Chicago City Ordinance does allow for a medallion to be revoked upon “conviction of a felony or any criminal offense involving moral turpitude,” it does not extend that policy to probable convictions. The fact remains - Shehu was never tried and convicted by a jury of his peers for the murder of his parents. Ms. Krimbel's claim that he “would probably have been convicted for the murder of his parents,” does not constitute an actual conviction.
The City offered a third reason for their claim to the proceeds of Shehu's medallion. In a document filed with the Circuit Court of DuPage County, the City claims that during the course of its investigation into Shehu, evidence came to light that Shehu Corporation “abandoned its principal place of business in Chicago, and then on multiple occasions misrepresented to Chicago's Department of Consumer Services that its principal place of business remained in Chicago, which mandates revocation…” According to DCS, Shehu had been gone from his business address in Chicago starting in August of 2006, based on lease payments to the building's landlord (who could not be reached for comment). Furthermore, DCS says that mail from Schneider's foreclosure proceedings, addressed to Shehu at his Chicago address and starting in February of 2008, was returned to sender.
Whether or not Shehu maintained his place of business in Chicago has yet to be determined. Even if he had stopped making lease payments to his landlord in August of 2006, we found no evidence that Shehu failed to receive mail at that address until February of 2008, after his parents death and before his body was found.
DCS filed a notice for administrative hearing on July 11, 2008 to determine whether Shehu's medallion can be revoked. As it stands now, the money from the sale of his medallion is in an independent escrow account that the city does not have access to, according to DCS. No determination can be made as to who will receive that money until the administrative hearing process is complete. The case is scheduled for a status hearing on November 18.
In the meantime, questions arise amidst this entanglement. DCS, while stating its deep regret for Mrs. Hoxha and its acknowledgement of the turmoil she has faced, maintains it must go by its investigation and take the legal steps in determining ownership of Shehu's medallion. Even if it is found that DCS has the legal right to revoke Shehu's medallion, should it do so? Should DCS be allowed to take $100,000 from this woman on a technicality?
tragic. this man invested in the city of chicago by buying a medallion. the city should be doing everything in its power to make sure that his sister gets the money from the medallion sale. instead that are trying to take it from a grieving woman who just lost her entire family! this is beyond shameful of the city!
That's what the city does. They don't care about us. They will take our money, dead or alive.
Who is going to decide what happens to the money? I hope it is not decided at 400 W. Superior or that money is as good as gone.
