* If you look at the federal warrant served on Sen. Martin Sandoval’s Statehouse office last week, you’ll see they were looking for: “Evidence and instrumentalities concerning violation of Title 18, United States Code.”
Here’s the list of the sections the feds listed in the warrant with a brief explanation of each one from the US Department of Justice and other sources. Click the individual section links for more info…
* 371 - The operative language is the so-called “defraud clause,” that prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States. This clause creates a separate offense from the “offense clause” in Section 371. Both offenses require the traditional elements of Section 371 conspiracy, including an illegal agreement, criminal intent, and proof of an overt act.
* 666 - Section 666(b) requires that the organization, government or agency must have received, in any one year period, “benefits in excess of $10,000 under a Federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal assistance.”
* 1341 - Mail fraud.
* 1343 - Wire fraud
* 1346 - Definition of “scheme or artifice to defraud”
* 1349 - “Any person who attempts or conspires to commit any offense under this chapter shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense, the commission of which was the object of the attempt or conspiracy.”
* 1951 - Interference with commerce by threats or violence
That last one is pretty chilling.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 6:58 pm:
You cited just the jurisdictional section on 666. It just means that if, say, a senator is bribed involving a state contract, the state government must have received $10,000 a year in federal funds. A bribe scheme involving IDOT would not have a problem meeting the jurisdictional requirement,
- Rich Hill - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:07 pm:
Text from the DOJ’s section on the Hobbs Act (1951, the link in this comment): “The robbery offense in 18 U.S.C. § 1951 is to be utilized, as a general rule, only in instances involving organized crime, gang activity, or wide-ranging schemes.”
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:36 pm:
I will always live under the presumption of innocent until proven guilty. But Blabo got a dozen years. This could lead to life without parole. Let’s hope not.
- Not a Billionaire - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:37 pm:
Look how he acted at the hearings.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:40 pm:
Does threats include threats to hold up projects, grants, or other funding? It could just be a threat like how Blago threatened Children’s Memorial Hospital.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:44 pm:
I am not arguing that we didn’t need some sort of capital bill. But am I the only one wondering how much of the $45 billion is unnecessary. Then it begs to question, do we really need such a large progressive tax increase. The good news. Governors own.
- Not a Billionaire - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 8:12 pm:
Well BDD I support the progressive burn Gov better get out in front of this somehow.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 8:22 pm:
==am I the only one wondering how much of the $45 billion is unnecessary==
The backlog of needed work is well over $45 billion. The question is: will the dollars go where the work is needed or will they line someone’s pocket instead?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 8:25 pm:
===The backlog of needed work is well over $45 billion===
Well over is an understatement.
- Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 8:28 pm:
That 45B is legit. We all know there is no waste, fraud or abuse in the budget and even more is needed.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 8:47 pm:
Is Elliot Ness still alive.
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:00 pm:
150 years of Illinois history will tell you that there is going to be a good deal of waste and maybe even fraud in the capital bill. Not saying it wasn’t needed, but boy if this isn’t an inauspicious start.
- Bertrum Cates - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:36 pm:
Gio going with the Speaker Madigan closing signautre is chuckle worthy.
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:37 pm:
===You cited just the jurisdictional section on 666.===
Forget the jurisdictional stuff. What about this?
“Chapter 13 of The Book of Revelation, it reads: “Let the one with understanding reckon the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.”
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:40 pm:
===The backlog of needed work is well over $45 billion===
That $45 big ones has more to do what could be raised and bonded out than what needs to be done. As Rich said we need way more than that number.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:33 pm:
===Speaker Madigan closing===
Meh. He should get his own salutary sign-off.
- d. p. gumby - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:12 pm:
The danger is in the expansive and broad application DOJ gives to such terms in practice.