* Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) was indicted by a federal grand jury on wire fraud, false statement and obstruction charges. From the indictment…
As a political candidate, AMMONS organized a political committee, Friends of Carol Ammons, which she registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) around 2013. AMMONS opened a bank account for the Friends of Carol Ammons into which campaign funds were deposited. […]
For state fiscal year 2020, AMMONS, in her role as a state representative, caused a change in an appropriation for a state grant from the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, which served children from historically underserved neighborhoods, to Hood Vote Neighborhood Transformation (”Hood Vote”), which was focused on reentry and corrections reform. The total state grant to Hood Vote was approximately $605,431.
AMMONS’s daughter was associated with Hood Vote and eventually served as its Program Director. On or about April 2, 2021, AMMONS’s daughter was paid approximately $3,326 in salary by Hood Vote out of the state grant appropriation. Thereafter, the State of Illinois informed AMMONS and Hood Vote that it was an impermissible conflict of interest for AMMONS’s daughter to be paid out of the state grant funds. Consequently, Hood Vote discontinued paying AMMONS’s daughter a salary.
Beginning on or about 2017, and continuing until on or about June 15, 2025, in Champaign County, in the Central District of Illinois, and elsewhere, CAROL AMMONS, defendant herein, knowingly devised a scheme to defraud the State of Illinois, its taxpayers, and donors and contributors to her campaign and to obtain money and property by means of materially false pretenses, promises, and representations, including by omissions and the concealment of material information.
It was a purpose and objective of the scheme that AMMONS enriched herself by converting contributions and donations to her campaign to her personal use. It was a further purpose and objective of the scheme that she concealed from ISBE and law enforcement authorities that she was engaging in such conversion of campaign funds for her personal benefit.
It was also a purpose and objective of the scheme that AMMONS assisted local organizations in obtaining state grants that would benefit her and her daughter financially in violation of Illinois conflict of interest rules. It was a further purpose and objective of the scheme that she concealed from the public, state authorities, and law enforcement authorities that she and her daughter were benefitting financially from state grants that she had a role in obtaining for local organizations.
As part of the scheme, from approximately 2017 through December of 2022, AMMONS caused funds from her Friends of Carol Ammons campaign account to be paid to herself and to family members that were not legitimate payments for services actually rendered to her political committee.
It was a further part of the scheme that, to avoid detection of the payments to herself, AMMONS caused checks to be issued to an individual in excess of the amount for services actually rendered. AMMONS then required the individual to provide cash kickbacks to her, sometimes referred to as ” gifts.” […]
It was part of the scheme that the D-2 forms did not disclose the illegal cash payments to AMMONS. The D-2 forms falsely classified certain expenditures as mileage reimbursements that were later paid back to AMMONS in cash. The D-2 forms omitted certain payments to AMMONS’s family members. Between January of 2019 and November of 2020, the D-2 forms failed to disclose over $25,000 in payments to individuals, a portion of which were paid back to AMMONS in cash. Between March of 2021 and August of 2022, the D-2 forms falsely claimed payments totaling over $15,000 were paid to a consulting firm, when in fact, they were paid to an individual who paid a portion back to AMMONS in cash.
* The indictment also cites text messages prosecutors allege referred to cash kickbacks…
Message from AMMONS
6/18/2022 What’s up? Gift
10/20/2022 I’m home now but can catch you before board at the county building at 6 to grab the gift
12/2/2022 Hey you dropping my gift off today?
* After eight wire fraud counts, the indictment alleges Rep. Ammons made a false statement to the FBI…
COUNT NINE
(False Statement)
On or about May 21, 2024, in Champaign County, in the Central District of Illinois, CAROL AMMONS, defendant herein, willfully and knowingly made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, by stating to a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that she had no knowledge regarding a conflict of interest with Hood Vote Neighborhood Transformation paying her daughter from a state grant, when AMMONS knew full well that individuals from the State of Illinois and Hood Vote Neighborhood Transition had previously discussed the conflict of interest with AMMONS. […]
COUNT TEN
(Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice) […]
From at least on or about May 21, 2024, and continuing through at least June 15, 2025, in Champaign County, in the Central District of Illinois, and elsewhere, CAROL AMMONS and [Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons], defendants herein, knowingly and intentionally conspired with each other and others, both known and unknown to the grand jury, to engage in misleading conduct toward another person with the intent to hinder and prevent the communication to a federal law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense, namely, wire fraud as set forth in Counts One through Eight of this Indictment. […]
On or about February 17, 2025, Aaron Ammons advised a potential witness that there is “nothing illegal” about friends giving friends money regarding illegal cash kickbacks paid to Carol Ammons from the Friends of Carol Ammons political committee. Aaron Ammons communicated with the potential witness on a paper note that Aaron Ammons destroyed after showing it to the potential witness.
COUNT ELEVEN
(Obstruction of Justice) […]
On or about June 9, 2025, in Champaign County, in the Central District of Illinois, AARON AMMONS, defendant herein, knowingly and intentionally engaged in misleading conduct toward another person with the intent to hinder and prevent the communication to a federal law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense, namely, wire fraud as set forth in Counts One through Eight of this Indictment, in that Aaron AMMONS knowing and intentionally directed a potential witness to “muddy the waters” with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to obstruct its ability to trace illegal cash payments to Carol Ammons.
…Adding… House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…
“Public officials must be held to the highest ethical standards and Rep. Carol Ammons should resign immediately. Speaker Welch should join me in calling for her resignation. Leadership means holding your own members accountable, not waiting until political pressure becomes unavoidable.
“Elected officials are entrusted with serving the public, not enriching themselves and the seriousness of these allegations demands accountability.
“House Republicans have consistently pushed for stronger ethics laws and greater accountability, while the Democratic majority has repeatedly blocked or ignored meaningful ethics reform. Illinois deserves better.”
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:02 am:
If Welch adheres to recent precedent he needs to remove Ammons from the caucus and strip her of committee assignments immediately
- Steve - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:08 am:
Mistakes were made.
- Philo Road - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:15 am:
Her husband Aaron the Champaign County Clerk also indicted. Their daughter Titianna, the Champaign County Deputy Circuit Clerk, was eviously indicted in a separate matter.
Is the Champaign County GOP running candidates against Aaron and Carol?
- Remember the Alamo II - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:20 am:
From shoplifting to Federal wire fraud, Ammons has always had the best interests of her constituents at heart.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:25 am:
On the one hand, there seems to be a pattern that goes back more than a decade. On the other hand, the Justice Department has lost most of its credibility, especially in cases where political opponents are the target. I’m not sure what to think about this case. I expect the Ammons family will be directing our attention towards the latter.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:27 am:
As a constituent, I say about time. It has been clear to me for a long time that government service has been about a family paycheck.
- About Time - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:31 am:
It appears the Champaign County Democrats made the correct choice when they didn’t give in to Carol’s and Aaron’s strident demands that Carol must be appointed to Scott Bennett’s Senate seat.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:37 am:
DoJ is saying that no relative of a legislator can work for a state grant recipient? That’d be a tall order.
As for the campaign finance allegations, we’ll have to see how they prove that payments exceeded market value. I don’t see that calculation in the indictment.
- Sonny - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:39 am:
Shoplifting on steroids
- Big Tent - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:41 am:
Let’s see how hard Welch comes down on this prized public servant…
- Occaisionally Moderated - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:45 am:
All hike she was working toward a fairer justice system. Impressive.
- Who else - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:45 am:
== DoJ is saying that no relative of a legislator can work for a state grant recipient?==
Seems like it was the state who said a legislator cannot secure a grant for an organization who then uses that money to pay the legislator’s daughter. That’s not such a tall order.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:45 am:
=== DoJ is saying===
That was the state
- Occaisionally Moderated - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:46 am:
*while not hike
- Sonny - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 9:48 am:
“Let me say this, in Illinois we demand a very high standard from people who serve in public office, the public demands that.”
And the public is let down for the second time this week.
- K3 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:00 am:
Is $210,000 not enough to live on between both their salaries in Champaign County? I’ll never understand throwing away your career for a couple thousand bucks here and there.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:00 am:
= knowingly made a materially false statement … to a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation=
The other charges could be tough to get a conviction on - but the lying to a Fed agent (18 U.S.C. Section 1001) count is 100% likely to stick - never under any circumstances talk to the feds. you standard reply should be ” “my attorney will be in contact with you.”
- CubsFan16 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:27 am:
And absolutely nobody was surprised.
- Allknowingmasterofraccoondom - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:29 am:
Dang, she is cooked.
- VK - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:41 am:
I’m shocked, SHOCKED, to discover there is gambling in this establishment.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:45 am:
=From shoplifting to Federal wire fraud, Ammons has always had the best interests of her constituents at heart=
The Ammons family had second chances that most wouldn’t get - the shoplifting was dropped only after a 4-person special prosecutor investigation declined to charge (note that she was not exonerated). Aaron’s entire political career rested on a pardon from Gov Quinn.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:47 am:
I am surprised Feds did add a RIcco count
- 44 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 10:53 am:
More not for profit fraud, yah.
- Just Another Anon - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 11:14 am:
@ VK - “I’m shocked, SHOCKED, to discover there is gambling in this establishment.”
“Your *gifts* sir.”
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 11:17 am:
“Whoops.”
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 11:21 am:
Resign Rep. Ammons.
- Leslie K - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 11:39 am:
==never under any circumstances talk to the feds==
Or maybe just don’t commit crimes and then lie about them?
That said, if the feds are asking you a question, they do usually already know the answer.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 11:48 am:
I am always surprised by how low the price is for buying a politician, and how banal the whole process is.
- Blazzzer - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
They’re charging her with wire fraud, false statement, and obstruction of justice…not bribery. Maybe the feds are trying another angle to try to get a win? I’m no a law-yer, so all of the legal experts please help me here
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:07 pm:
I’m a bit surprised that so many commenters are so willing to consider a conviction as a foregone conclusion. The Trump Justice Dept. has shown itself to be incredibly incompetent when it comes to even bringing an indictment to trial let alone obtaining a conviction. In addition, SCOTUS seems very open to allowing a wide variety of political payoffs that used to be considered illegal. On top of that, Trump himself likes to pardon folks engaged in the type of self-dealing he and his family engage in.
Looks bad is not the same as illegal, and it’s a long road from indictment to conviction (not even considering appeals). I would not count the Ammons family out yet. (If anyone could mess this up, it’s the Trump Justice Dept.)
- Tom - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:19 pm:
If what they allege is true and she took “gifts” and took unreported campaign funds, she is toast regardless of what you think of the Trump Justice Department. She certainly won’t get out of the lie to the FBI charge. She brought her husband to the interview. A lawyer would have been the better choice.
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
I’m frankly a bit shocked that no Illinois political leader, Democratic or Republican, has issued a statement yet.
- 4th and Never - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:26 pm:
“The Trump Justice Dept. has shown itself to be incredibly incompetent when it comes to even bringing an indictment to trial let alone obtaining a conviction.”
Boutros has. This looks to be the Central District of Illinois.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:33 pm:
These are serious allegations and criminal if the USA proves the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no get out of jail free card because the Trump Justice Department messed up other cases. Rep. Ammons should resign.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:36 pm:
=This looks to be the Central District of Illinois=
Gregory Gilmore, the recently sworn-in ASA, seems like a career guy from the District - likely not a MAGA hack…
https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/gregory-m-gilmore-sworn-us-attorney-central-district-illinois
- This Just In - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:43 pm:
The most surprising part of this matter is how unsurprising it is - Carol and her husband are habitually untruthful. This has been known forever.
As highly educated as her Legislative District is (more Advanced degrees than any other) it is shameful that either are elected officials. The grift is alive and well in both political parties.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:52 pm:
will we hear innocent until proven guilty? somebody check on Welch.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
=== She certainly won’t get out of the lie to the FBI charge.===
That’s a very standard charge when it comes to the FBI. They apply it whenever someone speaks to them more than once and the answers vary, when the answer provided does not align perfectly with someone else’s answer, and/or when the answer given does not match with the theory of the case. It’s by no means a slam dunk. (It’s also a lesser charge many folks accept in plea deals.)
- HohmannHomie - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 1:59 pm:
Surprised? No. Disappointed? Nope. Been waiting for this shoe to drop? Yes.
Carol became that which she hated (or coveted).
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
Seems like Welch did the right thing. I know very little about Ammons, she might be guilty as sin but the DOJ has sadly lost enormous credibility in the last year and a half. They are also not nearly as effect as they once e were.
= “Public officials must be held to the highest ethical standards and Rep. Carol Ammons should resign immediately. =
Sorry Tony and GOP, you just have zero credibility and sound silly demanding anything from anyone on the law and order side or ethics given that your standards bearer is a convicted criminal and appears to be breaking every ethics standard in existence.
- TooManyJens - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 2:02 pm:
==Is the Champaign County GOP running candidates against Aaron and Carol?==
Not sure. They didn’t have anyone in the primary but I don’t know if they’ve slated one. Their web site doesn’t have a list of their candidates but does have articles about vaccines/autism and “what they don’t want you to know about ivermectin.” The GOP could probably win County Clerk if they didn’t run a 2020 election denier, but they’re too brainwormed for that.
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 2:32 pm:
==- Think Again - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:36 pm:==
Sheri Mecklenburg was a career employee too.
- Leap Day William - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 2:43 pm:
== Not sure. They didn’t have anyone in the primary but I don’t know if they’ve slated one. Their web site doesn’t have a list of their candidates but does have articles about vaccines/autism and “what they don’t want you to know about ivermectin.” The GOP could probably win County Clerk if they didn’t run a 2020 election denier, but they’re too brainwormed for that. ==
Carol is running unopposed, I believe. Hard to find someone to run in the deep-blue 103rd that covers all of Urbana and the most liberal parts of Champaign. Aaron supposedly has a slated challenger in Alan Anderson, who got his clocked cleaned by Danos for Audior in 2024. An organized CCGOP probably could snag this office for the first time in two terms, but the incompetence of the CCGOP mirrors that of its state-level counterpart.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 3:14 pm:
Never saw this one coming (sarcasm).
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 3:20 pm:
This is a shock for all who remember her long and diligent tenure as Democratic Conference Chair.
- Thrift Store - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 3:24 pm:
If the purse fits…wear it.
- Illini48 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 3:48 pm:
There are a lot of news stories around legislators that I would be surprised to read…this is not one of them.
What is surprising is that it has taken this long for Ammons to face consequences after multiple missteps that would otherwise end someone’s political career.
- Hon. Don Gerard - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 3:57 pm:
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
I’m frankly a bit shocked that no Illinois political leader, Democratic or Republican, has issued a statement yet.
+++++++++++++++++++
CC Dem Chair Mike Ingram nominated himself for Bennett’s seat because he was too milquetoast to tell Carol “no”. He also resigned from County Board because, he “hates missing band practice”. Oh, and he wouldn’t talk policy with me when he was on county board because I have “never been very nice to” him.
Don’t hold your breath. The only think keeping the CCGOP from taking back the county is the CCGOP.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 3:59 pm:
==has repeatedly blocked or ignored meaningful ethics reform.==
You can pass all of the ethics laws you want but it won’t stop something like this. But it makes for a good soundbite I suppose.
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 4:02 pm:
“Show me a man that gets rich by being a politician, and I’ll show you a crook.” — Harry Truman
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 4:12 pm:
===Mistakes were made.===
Who among us has not often and repeatedly demanded gifts from people we’ve intentionally over paid in order to structure illegal and unreported payments to ourselves.
I am surprised there is not any charge related to taxes.
- politico - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 4:58 pm:
=Is $210,000 not enough to live on between both their salaries in Champaign County?=
Couldn’t agree more.
- Poppin tags - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 5:22 pm:
Rep Ammons only has about 67 grand in her campaign account. Surprisingly low. Common practice in Springfield is to use campaign funds for defense in such cases as this, see MJM. At the very least this could financially ruin her. Irony at its apex.
- Leslie K - Wednesday, Jul 8, 26 @ 5:54 pm:
==What is surprising is that it has taken this long for Ammons to face consequences after multiple missteps that would otherwise end someone’s political career.==
With you on the surprise that it took this long, but I wouldn’t call a career of fraud and grift “missteps.”
- Sour Grapes - Thursday, Jul 9, 26 @ 8:35 am:
==Oh, and he wouldn’t talk policy with me when he was on county board because I have “never been very nice to” him.==
Move on, Don. Do it for your mental health.
- Hon. Mike Ingram - Thursday, Jul 9, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
==CC Dem Chair Mike Ingram nominated himself for Bennett’s seat because he was too milquetoast to tell Carol “no”. He also resigned from County Board because, he “hates missing band practice”. Oh, and he wouldn’t talk policy with me when he was on county board because I have “never been very nice to” him.==
Aww, Don, still obsessed.
If I’d nominated myself, I’d be the state senator, as I had all the votes. But capitalizing on my friend’s death felt pretty slimy. (I know you don’t have normal human emotions, so you probably don’t get it.)
I never had a band practice overlap with a county board meeting, and I missed less meetings during my tenure than anyone other than Aaron Esry, who is the attendance award winner. I left the board because I moved out of the district.
I don’t remember you ever reaching out about “policy,” but if you did, there are plenty of reasons for not wanting to talk to a creepy stalker who set progressive ideals back by being so problematic while espousing them. But certainly, keep making quotes up like you did when you lied about having “sit-down meetings” and earning endorsements that no one would ever give you. Seems the only thing you’re better at than being a perennially disappointing partner is making up stories so you can be the central character.