WATCHDOGS: Tally in Illinois grant-fraud probe so far: 13 charged, $16M embezzled

I'm going to focus on one case amongst others mentions and this involves the former owners of the Regal Theater near 79th & Stony Island. We've posted about this before and it seems like quite a mess because it involves government grants:

Defendants: Margaret A. Davis and Tonja Cook, of the Chicago chapter of the National Black Nurses Association

Filed: June 9, 2011

Charges: Mail fraud and money laundering

Details: Davis pleaded guilty, admitting that, with help from Cook, she siphoned about $500,000 in state grant money for “personal use,” including mortgage and credit-card payments. Cook, who also pleaded guilty, said “thousands of dollars” in grant money under Davis’ control went to pay campaign workers for former state Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), who helped Davis win a $460,000 grant in 2006. Hendon hasn’t been charged with any wrongdoing.

Status: Davis to be sentenced Oct. 8; Cook Oct. 15.

Defendants: Former County Club Hills police Chief Regina R. Evans and her husband, Ronald W. Evans Jr., former inspector general for the south suburb

Filed: April 4, 2012

Charges: Conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering

Details: The Evanses admitted spending about half of a $1.25 million commerce department grant on gifts for family members and friends and to pay off personal debt, including a mortgage on the New Regal Theater on Chicago’s South Side. State Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) helped the couple’s not-for-profit organization, We Are Our Brother’s Keeper, get that state grant, which was to be used for a job-training program that was part of theater restoration efforts. Trotter has not been charged.

Status: Regina Evans to be sentenced Oct. 15; Ronald Evans Dec. 2.

Defendants: Regina R. Evans and her brother Ricky McCoy, former executive director of We Are Our Brother’s Keeper

Filed: March 19, 2013

Charges: Money laundering, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and witness tampering

Details: The former County Club Hills police chief and her brother admitted conspiring with an unnamed witness to create a story for investigators that falsely claimed the $1.25 million commerce department grant was used for job training. Her brother also admitted taking part in the money-laundering scheme.

Status: Regina Evans to be sentenced Oct. 15; McCoy Jan. 4.

Defendant: Jeri L. Wright, daughter of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Filed: April 10, 2013

Charges: Money laundering and making a false statement before a grand jury

Details: Wright, described as a “close associate and friend” of Regina and Ronald Evans, is accused of aiding the Evanses in their money-laundering scheme.

Status: Trial set for Oct. 16.

It's interesting that Donne Trotter's name was brought up we may already know of his legal issues involving almost taking a gun on a flight at O'Hare Airport. If there are legal people reading this blog, on what basis could the State Senator have been charged in this case?

Chicagoist noted this and this is a last minute addition to this post. It involves former State Rep. Constance Howard:

Defendant: Lloyd Kelly, former executive director of the Let’s Talk, Let’s Test Foundation, an AIDS awareness group

Filed: July 11, 2012

Charge: Mail fraud

Details: Kelly is accused of illegally spending grant money on things including his home and office rent for since-retired state Rep. Connie Howard (D-Chicago), co-founder of Let’s Talk, Let’s Test.

Status: Trial set for Oct. 1

Defendant: Retired state Rep. Connie Howard (D-Chicago)

Filed: July 17, 2013

Charge: Mail fraud

Details: The South Side Democrat admitted skimming tens of thousands of dollars from a charity golf outing for “personal and political use, including expenses associated with the promotion of her campaign.”

Status: Sentencing set for Nov. 21.