Roland Harper pleaded guilty to mail fraud Tuesday in connection with a scheme involving a $1.5 million minority landscaping contract

Roland Harper pleaded guilty to mail fraud Tuesday in connection with a scheme involving a $1.5 million minority landscaping contract with the Chicago Public Schools. Harper, 55, admitted in a plea agreement he allowed Aidan Monahan to use his trucking company, Rohar, as a front, after CPS began requiring that a minority company get a portion of the work. Previously, the Arlington Heights-based Monahan Landscape mowed the lawns for all the system's schools. The minority set-aside rule meant Monahan would lose work for half the schools, according to court testimony. But Monahan was able to keep some of his former assignments by roping in Harper. So Harper signed on to act as the minority contractor, but Monahan Landscape did the work for a three-year period between 2003 and 2006. Monahan, a Democratic Party fund-raiser, also pleaded guilty last week to one count of mail fraud as part of the scheme. Harper, of Algonquin, will be sentenced Oct. 14. He faces up to 20 years in prison, but Harper's lawyer, Patrick Cotter, said prosecutors will be seeking a less severe punishment of roughly 16 months based on sentencing guidelines. Harper played eight seasons with the Bears.