A federal appeals court has thrown out the mail fraud convictions of two Cook County workers who admit they took money from a confidential informant but deny they intended to do anything in return for the payment. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ruled that Thomas Hawkins and John W. Racasi are entitled to a new trial on the counts. Jurors were told they could convict Hawkins and Racasi of mail fraud only if they determined that the men planned to deprive Cook County of its right to their honest …