Carothers was an alderman for 11 years, rising to become chairman of what is now the Public Safety Committee, until he resigned in 2010 around the same time he pleaded guilty to bribery and tax fraud. Carothers admitted to backing a zoning change in exchange for $40,000 in work at his home. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison and was released in March 2012, according to federal prison records.