U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is calling for a federal investigation into the award of nearly $200,000 in no-bid contracts by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Stroger approved eight separate no-bid contracts—each worth $24,995 —to “businesses” that did not exist until just before they received the awards. Four of the recipients used the same attorney to incorporate within days of receiving the contracts, a Fox News report said. Bids under $25,000 do not require county board approval.

“These reports indicate a pattern of misuse and mismanagement that warrant a full investigation,” Kirk said.

One of the contracts went to a modeling agency, and another went to a company called “Citymerge” run by rap artist and convicted felon Prentice Harris. One of the addresses on the Citymerge contract is a vacant lot, and another belongs to a homeowner who told reporters she didn’t know Harris and never heard of Citymerge, Kirk said in a press release.

Kirk said the Fox News report is troubling since it comes in the midst of an ongoing federal investigation of the county’s alleged misuse of Homeland Security funds for a program called “Project Shield.”

Fox Chicago News reported that county pays nearly $200,000 to a few companies to help publicize the U.S. Census. But there are questions about just what kind of work is happening - and if the companies exist. The county's inspector general is now probing those deals.