Cook County Commissioner Indicted
Cook County Commissioner William Beavers, 77, was indicted on federal tax charges Thursday.
Federal prosecutors allege Beavers failed to report and pay taxes on all of his income.
Beavers was charged with one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service and three counts of filing false federal income tax returns, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorneys office.
The indictment alleges that over a course of three years, Commissioner Beavers repeatedly used his campaign accounts for personal use and then thwarted the Internal Revenue Service by causing his committees to create false records to cover it up, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement.
The Chicago Citizen spoke to Beavers via telephone Monday regarding the indictment.
My taxes are paid and its all about not cooperating with the government, he said.
Beavers said he will issue a response to the charges once he consults with his attorney.
Beavers claimed he was indicted for refusing to wear a wire as part of an ongoing investigation of another county official. Fitzgerald refused to comment on that allegation or say whether the investigation that led to Beavers indictment was part of a broader political corruption probe.
According to prosecutors, between 2006 and 2008, Beavers allegedly paid himself more than $225,000 from campaign accounts. They would not say exactly how much of that total Beavers allegedly failed to report, but allege that he used more than $68,000 in 2006 to boost his city pension and between 2006 and 2008 spent his $1,200 monthly county contingency account for personal use.
Beavers is a longtime politician and former Chicago police officer. He was alderman of Chicagos 7th Ward for over two decades before being elected to the county board in 2006. He represents the countys 4th District.
U.S. Attorneys office spokesman Randall Samborn said via e-mail to the Chicago Citizen that said he could not discuss how long it took prosecutors to bring forth the charges against Beavers because it is not a matter of public record.
Samborn said Beavers will possibly be arraigned sometime this week.
The court will set a date for arraignment and Mr. Beavers will be given notice when to appear for arraignment. No date has been set yet, Samborn wrote in the e-mail.
If found guilty of all charges, Beavers could face up to 12 years in prison and a mandatory fine of $250,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.by Thelma Sardin
Twitter:@thelmasardin
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