ILL-inois: Former state rep from Chicago pleads guilty to mail fraud

It appears that yet another Illinois Democratic politician is headed to the place where they feed you what they want to serve you.

From the Daily Southtown:

Former State Rep. Constance A. "Connie" Howard, a once-prominent South Side Democrat, pleaded guilty to a single count of mail fraud Wednesday for skimming tens of thousands of dollars from a charity she created and using the cash for “personal and political” purposes.

Howard, 70, admitted in federal court she siphoned about $28,000 of $76,700 raised by her “Tee Off For Technology Celebrity Golf Outing” between July 2003 and February 2008. That money, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Springfield, went for her “personal and political use, including expenses associated with the promotion of her campaign.” It also enriched an unnamed “legislative aide” who managed her office.

As a lawmaker, Howard chaired the House Computer Technology Committee. Her golf charity was billed as a way to raise scholarship funds for students pursuing computer-science degrees.

As of 2007, Howard claimed to have given out 50 scholarships, authorities learned. But she admitted in her plea agreement she awarded only five scholarships worth $2,500 each.

Prosecutors are recommending a six month prison sentence. Hmm...seems kind of light.

Hat tip to the McHenry County Blog.

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