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The Sandack mystery deepens

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Illinois

A police investigation that Republican Ronald L. Sandack initiated shortly before he mysteriously resigned from the Legislature last month doesn’t involve Sandack’s former role as a west suburban state representative, a newly released document related to the case shows.

And while an initial police report disclosed that Sandack had reported an “internet scam” to police, “the actual criminal activity that took place” was something different, the document also appears to reveal. But exactly what police are investigating is being withheld because that investigation is ongoing. […]

The letter also reveals that screenshots of “messages and social media pages” have been preserved as evidence. […]

“Mr. Sandack came to the police station to report that he was the victim of an ‘internet scam,’ as he later publicly reported,” Petrarca wrote. “However upon providing further information to the police officer it was determined that the actual criminal activity that took place and was being reported was [redacted]. This is certainly different than an ‘internet scam’ or ‘hacking’.”

* From the report…

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:27 pm

Comments

It’s always the cover up that gets people. Wonder what if anything we’ll “discover” on this one?

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Because this won’t add to the rumor mill or anything!

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Libel…. blackmail…… Texting while driving?

Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:44 pm
Odd. I know this is speculation, perhaps wild speculation, but I’ve gotten 3 calls in the last week from “Microsoft Help Desk.” Y’all know this scam? They call and ask you to give them access to your computer (not hacking), and then they lock down all your files until you give them money. That’s obviously a scam, but I could see it described as “different from an internet scam.” And perhaps there are things in those files Mr. Sandack doesn’t want to get out.

Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:44 pm
It clearly states that Sandack was the victim so I wouldn’t hold my breath for anything on Him.

Let it go.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:47 pm
Interested parties will keep wondering and asking. The interest will not die down although I am sure he is hoping to quash the rumors and innuendos about this issue.
He’d be better off just telling the truth since that will put a damper on the questions.

Comment by Belle Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:51 pm
Well this whole thing will teach others to not bring food onto the House floor. Mapes means what he says, no food on the House floor or give up your seat.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Reading between the lines and the redactions given the information provided, and this is pure speculation so if not appropriate Rich feel free to delete, it sounds like something more directed rather than your generic internet scam or hacking. Perhaps blackmail or extortion.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 12:58 pm
So Sandack spun something as an “internet scam.” The police say that criminal activity had already taken place. It makes me think of blackmail via email.

Now it begins to get interesting.

Comment by RIJ Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:07 pm
Files on his computer got locked down and encrypted. Sandack was asked to pay to unlock the the files.

Remember, Sandack said that “nothing had been compromised.”

My guess is that there was something very private on those files. Doesn’t matter what. But what does matter is that Sandack was no longer in control of whatever the private stuff was. And that spooked him.

That’s my guess. I also suspect Sandack was someone so emboldened by his rabid social media posts — and emboldened by the over-inflated sense of his legislative “mission” — that he’d click on any link or open any email that came his way. Especially if it meant he could respond.

Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:11 pm
As long as what happened doesn’t pertain to former Rep. Sandack’s office, we already know all we’re entitled to know.

Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:16 pm
What troubles me that Sandack called it an “internet scam” when it was clearly (at least to the police) something else. It’s as if he suddenly forgot he was a lawyer having served in state government.

Comment by Jocko Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:36 pm
paging Hugh Grant and his group, “Hacked Off, ” which is dedicated to exposing hackers who hit individuals.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Does actively misleading the police constitute filing a false police report?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:44 pm
===As long as what happened doesn’t pertain to former Rep. Sandack’s office, we already know all we’re entitled to know==

That’s a bunch of BS. You think Joe Schmoe gets his records sealed and/or redacted if he’s a victim? That really only happens in sexual assault cases. There’s a reason we are supposed to have a free and open court system - so that the powerful can’t hide information and/or railroad innocent individuals. I don’t think Sandack is doing the latter, but he’s definitely engaging in the former.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:47 pm
In whose endo?

Comment by Rhino Slider Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:51 pm
==paging Hugh Grant and his group, “Hacked Off,==

Maybe it’s more along the lines of the MTV show Catfish /s

Comment by HangingOn Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:19 pm
From the police letter to the AG’s office: “…Mr. Sandack is the victim here. He is not an arrestee, an offender or a suspect. He is the victim.”

The speculation that Sandack has done something wrong is inappropriate.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:27 pm
–You think Joe Schmoe gets his records sealed and/or redacted if he’s a victim?–

If these were court records, I’d agree, but these are records of an active police investigation, so we’re entitled to know very little. If and when a court case ever results, that will be different.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:29 pm
I never thought I’d ever say I missed Ron Sandack — and I was right!

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Waiting a week or more one would assume he took the time to get specialized advice on how proceed.

Defamation apply differently to pubic figures, so immediately severing that connection in statements and actions may give him a stronger legal position should he wish to pursue the perpetrators — a private person has no need to show the defamer acted with actual malice.

All points to signs of blackmail. I doubt the media will back off; that is a click generator for the local news outlets Tribune, Daily Herald, and Sun Times. We will learn more as it goes on, whether we want to or not.

Comment by Touré's Latte Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:34 pm
My original speculation this is criminal behavior by unknown person(s) seems to be correct. It may not be related to his elected office, but if it’s a matter before law enforcement then we’ll find out, eventually, what charges if any are brought. We may not find out why Sandack felt he had to abandon his office as a result.

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:35 pm
Rich — If you type out this text in Word, in Times New Roman, size 12, with a margin width of 5.75 inches, the text lines up with the redacted image PERFECTLY if you replace the redacted text with “is extortion” and “extortion,”.

Comment by Sage Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:05 pm
I was wondering about this so I talked to Carlos, he sees Danger in this….I think that is what this is about.

Comment by wondering Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:19 pm
— Pot calling kettle - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:27 pm:

The speculation that Sandack has done something wrong is inappropriate.—

No it is not, especially considering that everyone commenting acknowledges that they are speculating. When an outspoken member of the legislature all of the sudden quits and seals their overused lips, it’s noteworthy. And it will remain so until there is some public closure. I’m not saying we are entitled to more at this moment, but it’ll come in due time.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:38 pm
I just knew he was a cat person……

Comment by Anony Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:50 pm
I wonder if he is still calling all the shots out at the Tollway?

Comment by Inspector Gadget Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:06 pm
Ransomware on the computer?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:55 am