Skip to main content

Lawmaker pleads to misdemeanor; faced 17 felonies

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL TARM
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois lawmaker who faced nearly 20 felony bank-fraud charges that could have landed him in prison for decades pleaded guilty Monday to a single misdemeanor tax charge for shortchanging the Internal Revenue Service of $3,782.

State Rep. LaShawn Ford’s case was a rare instance of government attorneys backing away from felonies at the core of their case and letting a defendant short-circuit a trial by pleading guilty to a far lesser crime. Prosecutors offered no explanation for the change of heart.

As part of the deal, the 42-year-old Chicago Democrat pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago to one new count of delivering a false federal income tax return, which carries a maximum sentence of a year behind bars.

Prosecutors will dismiss the eight bank fraud counts and nine counts of submitting false information at Ford’s Nov. 11 sentencing. Each felony count carried up to 30 years in prison. A felony conviction would also have resulted in Ford automatically losing his seat in the Illinois Legislature.

Outside court later Monday, Ford smiled as he and his attorney addressed reporters.

“This is a tremendous result,” defense attorney Thomas Durkin said. “(The plea deal) permits him to get on with his life.” Ford declined to discuss details of the case, but said: “I’m sorry I underestimated my taxes.”

Ford’s presiding judge, Rebecca Pallmeyer, also oversaw the 2006 corruption trial of former Republican Gov. George Ryan. A jury in the same courthouse also convicted Ryan’s successor, Democrat Rod Blagojevich, of corruption in 2011.

Prosecutors can dismiss charges before trial for a host of reasons, including because they conclude the evidence isn’t strong enough; other times, deals are struck with a defendant to drop counts in exchange for cooperation in other investigations. But there’s no indication from prosecutors that either of those reasons apply to Ford’s case.

Before his 2012 indictment, Ford was seen as an up-and-coming politician with broad appeal in his district, which includes Chicago’s west side. Even amid his legal troubles, he continued to play key roles in the legislative process, including by helping to pass a law that makes it easier for young people to wipe away minor arrest records.

The crime the former elementary teacher-turned-politician and sometimes-real estate investor admitted to on Monday was misstating the value of a single-home investment property on his taxes.

The now-obsolete felony counts involved vastly more complex allegations.

Prosecutors had accused Ford of making false statements to a bank to get a $500,000 increase on a line of credit. They claimed he told the now-failed ShoreBank he’d use the money to rehabilitate investment properties, when he actually used the funds for expenses such as car loans, casino payments and his 2006 election campaign. Ford denied those allegations.

Early this year, Judge Pallmeyer set an August trial date for Ford on the 17 felony counts. But last month she vacated that date without explanation and then didn’t set a new date. Monday was supposed to be a pre-trial status hearing, and the dismissal of the felonies and Ford’s change of plea came as a surprise to outside observers.

Prosecutors didn’t speak to reporters after Monday’s hearing. Durkin declined to say why he thought prosecutors backed away from the more serious charges, though he repeatedly thanked and praised them for doing so.

In a June filing, the defense accused authorities of unfairly singling out Ford for bank fraud charges, arguing that Ford’s race and status as a politician played a role.

“Unable to find any political corruption grounds to prosecute (Ford), the prosecutors selected this misguided and improper bank fraud case in an attempt to unseat a popular African-American elected representative,” the filing said.

In a response to the court, prosecutors denied race entered into the decision to charge Ford with the felonies. But prosecutors said Ford’s political status was an appropriate factor to consider, arguing the law allows for extra scrutiny of elected officials.

On Monday, Durkin declined to criticize prosecutors.

“I’m going to take my wins where I find them and I’m not going to gloat,” he said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote