Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc. | Edgar County Watchdogs site
Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc. | Edgar County Watchdogs site
Former Illinois State Senator William Samuel McCann Jr. has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $683,816.61 in restitution for fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering, and tax evasion.
The sentencing took place on July 9, 2024, following a bench trial in February of the same year. U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless highlighted McCann's betrayal of public trust and his continued fraudulent activities even after being confronted by federal law enforcement officers.
McCann served as a state senator from 2011 to January 2019 and ran an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2018. He formed multiple political committees that received over $5 million in donations between April 2011 and November 2018.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that McCann used more than $600,000 of campaign funds for personal expenses. These included purchasing vehicles, paying personal debts, making mortgage payments, and other expenditures such as vacations and consumer goods.
McCann also engaged in deceptive practices involving rental transactions with recreational vehicles he owned, using campaign funds to rent them under a different identity while pocketing the rental income.
He pleaded guilty to nine counts including wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion related to his misuse of campaign money for personal expenses.
U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris stated: “As Judge Lawless explained in imposing sentence, McCann brazenly betrayed the public trust by engaging in a five-year scheme to defraud and converting more than $600,000 in campaign funds to his personal use." IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Thomas F. Murdock remarked: “This sentence is a reminder that no one is immune to obeying the law.” Acting Special Agent Jermaine Deans emphasized: "Elected officials are entrusted and expected to protect the interests of the people with integrity — a moral value Sam McCann did not uphold."
The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass representing the government.
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