By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Former Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Chicago Democrat, was charged with bribery and filing a false tax return Monday in a manner that suggested he plans to cooperate with prosecutors.
From 2016 to around September 2019, the former lawmaker from Gage Park “corruptly solicited, demanded, agreed to accept, and accepted things of value, namely money, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a business, transaction, and series of transactions of the State of Illinois involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more, namely, continued support for the operation of red-light cameras in the State of Illinois, including opposing legislation adverse to the interests of the red-light camera industry,” according to the information filed in court documents.
The charges were filed in an information rather than an indictment. The information charging document typically indicates cooperation on behalf of the accused, according to experts.
“This could be huge,” said David Parker, director of the Center for the Study of Fraud and Corruption at Saint Xavier University. “He probably has a lot of information.”
Federal investigators raided Sandoval’s offices and home in 2019 searching for evidence of a kickback scheme. Investigators were looking for information regarding several industries and companies, including a red-light camera operator.
Before the raid and his subsequent resignation, Sandoval served as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, a position that essentially acts as the gatekeeper for any transportation-related legislation, including last year’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan. That plan is partly funded by doubling the state’s motor fuel tax.
Sandoval had repeatedly sent legislation to the Subcommittee on Special Issues, a panel with no members, virtually ensuring the bill wouldn’t advance.
Sandoval was also charged with filing a false income tax return for 2017. The indictment said Sandoval perjured himself when he said he earned $125,905 when he knew that his total income “substantially exceeded that amount.”
Sandoval could face up to ten years in prison for the bribery charge and three years imprisonment for falsifying a tax return. Both would include fines.
Sandoval’s attorney, Dylan Smith, was not immediately available for comment.
Lawmakers return to Springfield on Tuesday.
Illinois Radio Network can be reached at [email protected].
