Ex-Illinois Sen. Link Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

Former Illinois State Senator TERRANCE P. LINK stood before the court today, his guilty plea to a federal tax charge shattering the once respected politician’s career.

The 73-year-old Link admitted to wilfully underreporting his income from 2012 through 2016, according to a plea agreement. This deceitful act cost the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at least $71,133 and the Illinois Department of Revenue over $11,527. In 2016 alone, Link confessed to hiding approximately $93,859, much of which came from his campaign fund, Friends of Terry Link, where he siphoned off funds for personal use.

For his actions, Link faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison on one count of filing a false tax return. He has agreed to make restitution totaling $82,660 to the IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 30, 2021.

Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr., did not immediately set a date for Link’s sentencing, leaving his fate in limbo until the status hearing next month.

The charges against Link were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, along with Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.

Representing the government are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Stetler and James P. Durkin, who will be seeking justice for the tax dollars that were wrongfully taken from taxpayers.