A former Republican state senator and third-party gubernatorial candidate in 2018 has been charged with misusing $200,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses.
Federal prosecutors filed charges of money laundering, fraud and tax evasion against Sam McCann on Wednesday over his use of campaign donations to purchase two vehicles and an RV, and also to pay off mortgages on his houses.
McCann allegedly set up an RV rental business using his first name of William, and then funneled payments from his campaign account into the business, which he then used to direct money to his personal account, which cost about $60,000. McCann spent an equal amount on the vehicles. Prosecutors also say that McCann paid off mortgages on his house and a commercial property using campaign funds.
McCann broke away from the Republican Party in 2018 and ran for governor on the “Conservative Party of Illinois.” Prosecutors say that McCann continued to pay himself from the party account until a few months ago. They also allege that he used campaign donations on a vacation to Colorado and to purchase items from the Apple Store and Amazon.
If convicted, McCann could face a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
