Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Pleads Guilty to Fraud

 Posted on March 06, 2013 in White collar crime

In a surprising turn of events, Jesse Jackson Jr. went from a man with huge political aspirations to someone who seems to have lost control. The Democratic Representative from Chicago stepped down recently while being investigated and dealing with health issues. He pleaded guilty to one felony fraud charge on Wednesday February 20^th to secure a plea deal. He was charged with fraud for using $750,000 in campaign money to pay for his lavish living expenses.

The court filed a 22 page report which outlines the spending habits of a politician who many thought would one day run for Mayor in Chicago or President of the US. It started when Jesse opened a campaign account and then withdrew nearly $45,000 to purchase a Rolex watch. He went on to purchase “high-end electronic items, collector’s items, clothing, food and supplies for daily consumption, movie tickets, health club dates, personal travel, and personal dining expenses,” according to the prosecution.

The details of his plea agreement allow his punishment range to be between 46 to 57 months in prison. Though, it is not set in stone because both the defense and prosecution can influence the sentencing of the case. The defense will urge the judge to consider probation given Jesse’s recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Jesse’s wife Sandi has also been charged with assisting the cover-up of this fraud. Sandi was formerly an alderman for the city of Chicago. She pleaded guilty of failing to report that money from her aldermanic campaign was used as personal income also for failing to report this income on her tax return. Her possible sentencing will be in the range of 1 to 2 years in prison.

What was once a promising career in politics for the Jackson may now be forever damaged. White collar crimes can ruin reputations and result in jail time. If you have been charged with any white collar crime, then it is important to receive legal guidance. Contact a skilled criminal defense attorney in Arlington Heights today.