By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The latest story of political corruption in Illinois hits a former lawmaker – and minor-party gubernatorial candidate – from the Springfield area.

A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted Sam McCann, who represented part of the Springfield area in the Senate for eight years as a Republican and then ran for governor in 2018 as a member of the Conservative Party. He lists a Plainview address and previously lived in Carlinville, both in Macoupin County.

The feds say for much of his time in office, and as a candidate for governor, he – through various means – converted campaign cash to his personal use, to the tune of more than $200,000. Prosecutors say the money went for everything from vacations to personal debts to iTunes. A news release says his campaign money bought an RV and trailer which he then, under a separate name, rented from himself through a third party at a profit. And he allegedly used a payroll agency to hide that he was the one employee the Conservative Party was paying.

Seven counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion add up to 165 years maximum prison time if McCann is convicted.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].