Constance 'Connie' Howard, Mail Fraud, Illinois 2013

Former Illinois State Representative Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Scheme

Springfield, Ill. – In a shocking turn of events, former Illinois State Representative Constance 'Connie' Howard, 70, has pleaded guilty to mail fraud related to her misuse of funds from 2003 to 2007.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois, Howard waived indictment and entered a plea of guilty to mail fraud. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron G. Cudmore on [no date given] and was scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Richard Mills.

As part of the plea agreement, Howard admitted to soliciting and obtaining approximately $76,700 in funds from 2003 to 2007, which she represented would be used to provide scholarships. However, she admitted that no more than five scholarships of $2,500 each, totaling $12,500, were issued during the course of the scheme.

Howard also admitted that as much as approximately $28,000 of the funds raised were converted to her personal and political use. The misuse of funds included expenses associated with the promotion of her campaign and campaign events, as well as benefits for her legislative aide and employee/office manager, identified as Individual A.

At the time of the fraud, Howard was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and served as Chairwoman of the Computer Technology Committee for the House of Representatives and the Eliminate the Digital Divide Advisory Committee of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Her legislative and campaign offices were located in Chicago.

The investigation was conducted by participating agencies of the Central District of Illinois' U.S. Attorney's Office's Public Corruption Task Force, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Chicago Division; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; and, the Illinois Secretary of State Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass is prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois. Howard has not been detained and remains free on her own recognizance pending sentencing.

Individuals who wish to provide information to law enforcement regarding matters of public corruption are urged to call the U.S. Attorney's Office at 217-492-4450.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/former-illinois-state-representative-connie-howard-pleads-guilty-fraud-scheme