A Former Illinois State Senator has been sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, supervised release for two years, and ordered to pay $683,816.61 for fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering, and tax evasion. The sentencing stems from incidents that took place from 2015 to 2020.  During that time,  McCann was caught in a scheme to convert more than $200,000 in funds that were made to his campaign committees to pay for himself and make personal purchases.

51-year-old William Samuel McCann Jr. of Plainview served as a state senator for the 49th District of Illinois from 2012 to 2013 and for the 50th District from 2013 to 2019. McCann ran for Illinois Governor in 2018. McCann used more than $60,000 in campaign funds to buy trucks, fuel, and insurance. He also used $18,000 in campaign funds to buy an RV, and $25,000 to buy a motor home. McCann was also found guilty of using a $20,000 cashier check to pay off personal loans. 

In addition to wire fraud, and money laundering, McCann was also charged with one count of tax evasion. The Statutory penalty for each count of wire fraud (seven counts) and one count of money laundering is up to 20 years in prison. For tax evasion, it's up to five years. 

US Attorney Gregory K. Harris says that McCann brazenly betrayed the public trust by engaging in a five-year scheme to defraud and convert more than $600,000 in campaign funds to his personal use. IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock says that this sentence is a reminder that no one is immune to obeying the law.  

The case investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.  Assistant US Attorney Timothy Bass represented the government in the prosecution.  To see the whole press release click here.