Marathon Pundit: Illinois corruption 11/26/12: Nurse pleads guilty to state grant scheme

Grant Park--Chicago

The presidential election drew my gaze away from corruption in Illinois. Look for more coverage from me. Here is today's dose, courtesy of Illinois Watchdog:

The former treasurer for a Chicago-area nurses association pleaded guilty Monday to a federal mail fraud charge for allegedly scheming to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in state grant money between 2005 and 2009.

Tonja Cook, 45, will be sentenced March 25 in federal court in Springfield. She could be sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution.

Cook, a registered nurse, was treasurer of the Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. She allegedly schemed with the chapter's program director, Margaret Davis, to steal $500,000 worth of state grant money, which Davis and Cook used for themselves, as well as Davis' family, friends and political associates, according to authorities.