Ex-IL Sen. Sandoval Pleads Guilty To Bribery, Tax Offenses

CHICAGO, IL — Former Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Chicago to bribery and filing a false tax return, one day after an indictment was filed in federal court. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, 56-year-old Sandoval pleaded guilty to one count of federal program bribery and one count of willfully filing a false income tax return. The bribery offense is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and the filing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years, according to the news release.

In a plea agreement, Sandoval admitted he solicited and accepted money and other benefits from someone affiliated with a red-light camera company in the Chicago area, in return for Sandoval using his official state position to block legislation against the red-light camera industry, the release said.

According to state's attorney's office officials, Sandoval also admitted to engaging in corrupt activities with other public officials, accepting money from others in return for using his official position to try to help them and their business interests, and accepting more than $250,000 in bribes as part of criminal activity that involved more than five participants.

Sandoval also admitted to willfully causing his accountant to file income tax returns that Sandoval knew reported his income for the calendar years 2012 through 2017 as less than his actual income, and admitted his tax offenses caused a total loss to the IRS of at least $72,441, and a loss to the Illinois Department of Revenue of at least $13,384.38, the news release specified. Sandoval has agreed to pay for those losses, officials added.

As part of the plea agreement, Sandoval has agreed to completely and truthfully cooperate in any matter in which he is called upon by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the government requested his sentencing be pushed back until this is complete, according to the news release, adding that a U.S. District judge didn't immediately set a date.

In November, FBI agents raided Sandoval's Springfield office and his home in Gage Park.

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Sandoval served for more than 16 years in the Illinois Senate.

Illinois Comptroller Susan Mendoza announced Jan. 6 that starting next month, the state will stop collecting fines against drivers who are caught on camera violating red lights. According to a news release from Mendoza's office, the state will stop helping municipalities collect fines beginning Feb. 6, adding that the system is both unfair to low-income Illinoisans and the subject of a federal corruption probe.