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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8. Beginning in approximately November 1990 and continuing to at least 2002, in Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and elsewhere:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR. and LAWRENCE WARNER,
It was part of the conspiracy that the defendants agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering in the conduct of the affairs of the enterprise. Means and Method of the Conspiracy
17. It was further part of the conspiracy that defendant RYAN and Fawell obstructed and attempted to obstruct the Grand Jury Investigation and otherwise misrepresented, concealed and hid, and caused to be misrepresented, concealed and hidden, the purposes of and acts done in furtherance of the conspiracy. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d). COUNT TWOThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY charges: 1. The allegations in paragraphs 1–4 of Count One of this indictment are hereby realleged and incorporated herein as if fully set forth herein. 2. At all times material to this count of the indictment:
i. Vehicle Services Department: The Vehicle Services Department was responsible for, among other things, the registration, licensure, and titling of vehicles. The Vehicle Services Department also processed vehicle titles, registered vehicles, and issued license plates and vehicle registration validation stickers. ii. Driver Services Department: The Driver Services Department was responsible for, among other things, testing applicants and issuing automobile and truck drivers’ licenses through over 130 driver's license facilities located throughout the State of Illinois. The Property Management Division of the Driver Services Department was responsible for negotiating and managing leases entered into with third parties relating to over 130 driver’s license facilities. iii. Information Systems Services Department: The Information Systems Services Department was responsible for, among other things, providing computer and office automation services to all Departments in the SOS Office. iv. Physical Services Department: The Physical Services Department was responsible for, among other things, the maintenance and upkeep of certain buildings, including among others, certain buildings leased by the SOS Office from outside individuals and entities, and all the buildings comprising the State Capitol Complex in Springfield, Illinois. v. Index Department: The Index Department was responsible for, among other things, administering and maintaining public records related to the registration, activities and expenditures of lobbyists in the State of Illinois. The SOS Office Transition Team B. Beginning in or about late 1990, defendant RYAN, as the Secretary of State-elect, chose a number of individuals, including defendant WARNER and Udstuen, to assist in the planning of the RYAN SOS Office Administration (hereinafter the “SOS Office Transition Team”). In particular, the SOS Transition Team was created to review the practices, procedures, administration and duties of the SOS Office and to make recommendations to the newly-elected Secretary of State for changes and improvements to the SOS Office. As part of that function, the SOS Office Transition Team was provided access to SOS Office officials and employees, as well as internal SOS Office documents and information not generally available to the public. Among other things, the SOS Office Transition Team reviewed and made recommendations regarding issues related to the SOS Office mainframe computer system, the installation of a new heating and cooling system within the State Capitol Complex buildings, and the status and options relating to one or more SOS Office real property leases. The SOS Office Transition Team issued a report in or about March 1991. C. In addition to serving as a member of the SOS Office Transition Team and after the work of the Transition Team was completed in or about March 1991, WARNER, with the knowledge and authorization of RYAN, attended internal SOS Office meetings, including policy meetings and one or more staff retreats; occasionally performed private work inside the governmental offices of RYAN; directed and advised SOS Office personnel, including one or more department directors, regarding matters related to the award of SOS Office contracts to vendors and the award of SOS Office real property leases; and assisted in determining the content of official SOS Office documents and communications, including specifications related to one or more SOS Office contracts with vendors. The Scheme To Defraud3. Beginning in approximately November 1990 and continuing to at least 2002, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and elsewhere: GEORGE H. RYAN, SR. and LAWRENCE WARNER
defendants herein, as well as Associate 1, Donald Udstuen, Scott Fawell, Citizens For Ryan and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, devised and intended to devise, and participated in, a scheme and artifice to defraud the people of the State of Illinois, and the State of Illinois, of money, property and the intangible right to the honest services of defendant RYAN and other officials and employees of the State of Illinois, by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises and material omissions, and in furtherance thereof used the United States mails and other interstate carriers, which scheme is further described in the following paragraphs: Overview of Scheme4. It was part of the scheme that defendant RYAN performed and authorized official actions to benefit the financial interests of RYAN, defendant WARNER, Associate 1, Associate 2 and certain Associates and designated third parties, including RYAN family members and Citizens For Ryan. The official actions RYAN performed and authorized included: A. Awarding, and authorizing the award of, contracts and leases, and intervening in governmental processes related thereto and causing contractual payments to be made to benefit the financial interests of defendant WARNER, as described below; B. Providing defendant WARNER and Associate 1 with participatory status in, and material non-public information relating to, governmental decisions, which WARNER and Associate 1 then converted into financial benefits for themselves, defendant RYAN and third parties, as described below. C. Awarding a real property lease and causing contractual payments to be made to benefit Associate 2, as described below; D. Awarding, and authorizing the award of, contracts and intervening in governmental processes related thereto in order to benefit the financial interests of Associate 1, as described below; and E. Awarding, and authorizing the award of, low-digit license plates to WARNER, Individual 1, and others, as described below. 5. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN and certain third parties affiliated with RYAN received personal and financial benefits from defendant WARNER, Associate 1 and certain Associates, while defendant RYAN knew that such benefits were provided with intent to influence and reward RYAN in the performance of official acts. Such benefits included, but were not limited to, the following: A. Monetary payments and gifts on multiple occasions to defendant RYAN which payments and gifts exceeded the $50 threshold; B. Vacation benefits to defendant RYAN; C. Personal service benefits to defendant RYAN; D. Monetary payments, loans, gifts and personal service benefits to RYAN’s family members; E. As directed and approved by defendant RYAN, the allocation and distribution to designated Associates of proceeds obtained from vendors doing business with the State of Illinois; F. Financial support, in the form of loans to benefit Comguard, a private company which had financial troubles throughout the 1990s and which defendant RYAN supported in its efforts to obtain State of Illinois contracts for electronic monitoring of prisoners. Comguard was owned, in part, by a RYAN family member; G. Forebearance on loans to a RYAN family member and to Comguard; and H. Financial benefits to Citizens For Ryan, some of which benefits were converted to RYAN’s personal use. 6. It was further part of the scheme that, from the early 1990s to at least 2002, defendants RYAN, WARNER and certain Associates concealed their financial relationships with each other by, among other things: A. RYAN knowingly failing to disclose gifts, financial benefits and things of value he received from WARNER and the other Associates as required by law and policy; B. RYAN making false statements to federal investigators regarding his financial relationship with WARNER, Associate 2 and Individual 1; C. WARNER and certain Associates knowingly i) filing, and causing the filing of, materially false lobbyist registration statements and related disclosure documents, and ii) failing to file lobbyist registration statements and related disclosure documents; and D. WARNER and certain Associates structuring withdrawals, paying funds to third parties who served as conduits and nominees, making payments in cash, writing checks to cash and otherwise concealing financial transactions. Authorizing Official Actions Related To WARNER and Udstuen7. It was part of the scheme that, in or about early 1991, defendant WARNER and Udstuen discussed a plan to make money from one or more vendors doing business with the SOS Office and prospective vendors desiring to do business with the SOS Office. 8. It was further part of the scheme that, beginning in or about 1991 and continuing thereafter, defendant WARNER advised Udstuen that, with defendant RYAN’s knowledge and approval, WARNER would provide Udstuen with one-third of the proceeds that WARNER obtained from certain vendors doing business with the SOS Office, as a reward for Udstuen’s past service to defendant RYAN. Thereafter, defendant WARNER did provide Udstuen with one-third of the proceeds that WARNER obtained from American Decal Manufacturing (hereinafter “ADM”) and International Business Machines (hereinafter “IBM”), as described below, even though Udstuen performed minimal or no services to earn said proceeds.
A. Monetary payments and gifts on multiple occasions to defendant RYAN which payments and gifts exceeded the $50 threshold; B. Personal and professional service benefits to defendant RYAN; C. Over $300,000 in payments to Udstuen relating to ADM and IBM’s contractual dealings with the SOS Office, as directed and approved by defendant RYAN based on Udstuen’s past service to RYAN; D. Two loans totalling $145,000 related to Comguard, and forebearance on one of the loans; E. A $5,000 no-interest loan for the benefit of a RYAN family member and forebearance on that loan; F. Significant financial expenditures (in excess of $3,000) relating to the 1997 wedding of a RYAN family member; G. Over $6,000 in financial investments in a RYAN family member’s business; H. Over $7,000 in non-compensated professional services to a RYAN family member; I. Financial benefits to Citizens For Ryan.
The Awarding Of The Validation Stickers Contracts To ADM 14. At times material to this indictment: A. The SOS Office Contract Award Process: In the performance of its lawful functions, the SOS Office awarded contracts for goods and services to outside entities and individuals (hereinafter collectively “vendors”). As to certain contracts, the particular SOS Office Department seeking to obtain the goods and services was generally responsible for drafting contract “specifications” which described, among other things, the technical requirements a bidding company had to meet in order to win the contract. To initiate the process, contract specifications were forwarded from the SOS Office to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (hereinafter “Central Management Services”), a state agency independent from the SOS Office that handled certain aspects of the purchasing and procurement process for other state agencies, including the SOS Office. After receiving contract specifications from the SOS Office, Central Management Services generally solicited bids from vendors based upon the requirements set forth in the SOS Office specifications. The vendors wishing to bid on a contract had to submit those bids directly to Central Management Services, which in turn would share the bid information with the SOS Office. B. The Validation Stickers Contract: The SOS Office periodically awarded a contract to manufacture and print vehicle registration validation stickers, which were the stickers required to be affixed to all Illinois license plates to show current vehicle registration (hereinafter the “validation stickers contract”). The Vehicle Services Department was generally responsible for preparing specifications and, along with Central Management Services, overseeing the competitive bidding process for the validation stickers contract. Up to and including 1991, the validation stickers contract, which cost the State of Illinois approximately $800,000 to $1,200,000 annually, was held by ADM. C. At no point prior to 1991 had ADM made payments to any third parties to receive or keep the validation stickers contract. As of 1991, the existing SOS validation stickers contract with ADM included the requirement of a feature known as the “metallic security mark,” which feature was a product created and manufactured by ADM and this requirement had the effect of substantially guaranteeing the award of the validation stickers contract to ADM.
The Awarding Of The Title Laminates Contract To ADM 24. At times material to this indictment: The SOS Office periodically awarded a contract to manufacture and print laminated strips to be affixed to vehicle titles for security purposes (hereinafter the “title laminates contract”). The Vehicle Services Department was generally responsible for preparing the specifications and, along with Central Management Services, overseeing the competitive bidding process for the title laminates contract. Up to and including 1991, the title laminates contract was held by 3M.
The Awarding Of Computer-Related Contracts To IBM The Mainframe Computer Upgrade Contract 28. At times material to this indictment: A. The SOS Office awarded contracts to provide computer and information technology services related to SOS Office functions, including among other contracts, contracts related to installing and maintaining a mainframe computer system used throughout the SOS Office (hereinafter, the “mainframe computer upgrade contract”). The Information Systems Services Department was generally responsible for preparing the specifications and overseeing the competitive bidding process for the mainframe computer upgrade contract and other computer-related SOS Office contracts. B. As of early 1991, Honeywell/Bull (hereinafter “Honeywell) held the existing mainframe computer system contract with the SOS Office and was attempting to ensure that it would win future computer-related contracts with the SOS Office, including the prospective mainframe computer upgrade contract. As of no later than 1992, International Business Machines (hereinafter “IBM”) desired to win future computer-related contracts with the SOS Office, including the prospective mainframe computer upgrade contract. 29. It was further part of the scheme that, beginning in or about early 1991, due to defendant RYAN providing defendant WARNER and Udstuen with participatory status in, and material non-public information relating to, governmental decisions, WARNER and Udstuen learned information pertaining to the SOS Office’s intentions regarding the mainframe computer upgrade contract.
38. It was further part of the scheme that, based, at least in part, on the actions taken by defendant WARNER, defendant RYAN awarded the mainframe computer upgrade contract to IBM, which contract payments made during RYAN’s SOS Office Administration exceeded $25,000,000. The Kiosk Project Contract 39. At times material to this indictment: A. Commencing in or about 1995, the SOS Office began to consider a pilot project using computerized kiosks within certain SOS license facilities to allow citizens to renew vehicle registration, obtain validation stickers and perform other vehicle titling and related registration. B. On or about April 24, 1995, a high-ranking SOS Office official who supported the use of kiosks (hereinafter “SOS Official C”), notified defendant RYAN and Fawell in writing that there was an opportunity for the SOS Office to view kiosk demonstrations by several vendors at an upcoming event in Columbus, Ohio.
42. It was further part of the scheme that, after SOS Official C made the recommendation opposing IBM's selection, Udstuen, at defendant WARNER’s request, directed SOS Official C to drop Official C’s opposition to IBM's selection. Understanding that WARNER and Udstuen acted with the authority of defendant RYAN, SOS Official C did as Udstuen advised.
Awarding of Digital Licensing Contract To Viisage Technologies 47. At times material to this indictment: A. In approximately 1996, the SOS Office began an initiative to switch to a digital licensing system through which all State of Illinois automobile and truck drivers' licenses would be created and maintained through digital technology. The Drivers Services Department was generally responsible for preparing the specifications and overseeing the competitive bidding process related to awarding a contract for digital licensing services. B. In approximately June 1997, the SOS Office awarded the contract to provide digital licensing and related services for the State of Illinois through approximately 2004 (hereinafter the “digital licensing contract”) to Viisage Technologies, a Massachusetts-based company (hereinafter “Viisage”).
56. It was further part of the scheme, and in order to conceal the scheme, that defendant WARNER and Associate 1 knowingly failed to register as lobbyists for Viisage. The Awarding Of The Automated System Consulting Contract To ATC 57. At times material to this indictment: In approximately 1991, the SOS Office began an initiative to install an automated heating and cooling system for certain State Capitol Complex buildings in Springfield, Illinois. The Physical Services Department was generally responsible for preparing the specifications and overseeing the competitive bidding process related to the automated heating and cooling system. To facilitate that process, beginning in about early 1992 and continuing through about October 1994, the SOS Office sought to award a series of engineering consulting contracts for assistance with preparing the specifications and consultations with regard to the contractual process related to the automated heating and cooling system (hereinafter collectively the “automated system consulting contract”).
Soliciting Modern Business Systems Relating to SOS Office Photocopier Leases 65. At times material to the indictment: The SOS Office entered into leases with one or more vendors for the use and the service of photocopier machines at SOS Offices (hereinafter “the photocopier leases”). Each SOS Office Department seeking to use a photocopier within that Department was generally responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of the photocopier leases. Up to and including 1991, Modern Business Systems, Inc. held several of the photocopier leases with the SOS Office.
Awarding Real Property Leases To Warner-Controlled Entities 68. At times material to the indictment: A. The SOS Office awarded leases of real property, including certain buildings owned by outside individuals and entities. The Physical Services Department was responsible for negotiating particular SOS Office real property leases and overseeing the maintenance and upkeep related to said leases. B. The Property Management Division of the Drivers Services Department was responsible for negotiating leases at drivers license facilities and overseeing the maintenance and upkeep related to said leases. 17 N. State Lease 69. It was further part of the scheme that, in approximately early 1991, due to defendant RYAN providing defendant WARNER with participatory status in, and material non-public information relating to, governmental decisions, WARNER learned that the SOS Office was seeking to relocate certain of its administrative office facilities then located at 188 W. Randolph Street in Chicago.
74. It was further part of the scheme that, on or about October 22, 1991, defendants RYAN and WARNER caused the SOS Office to enter a six-year lease for use and occupancy of the building at 17 N. State Street in Chicago (hereinafter “the 17 N. State Lease”). Thereafter, in or about early 1998, RYAN’s SOS Office agreed to renew the 17 N. State Lease for an additional six-year term, with WARNER receiving an additional 6% commission from Property Manager 1.
Awarding An SOS Office Lease to Associate 2
Authorizing Official Acts Relating To Associate 198. It was further part of the scheme that, beginning no later than the mid-1990s and continuing to at least 2002, Associate 1 provided personal and financial benefits to and for the benefit of defendant RYAN. Such benefits included, without limitation, the following: A. Monetary payments and gifts on multiple occasions to defendant RYAN which payments and gifts exceeded the $50 threshold; B. Vacation benefits to defendant RYAN, including benefits associated with a 1995 trip to Cancun, Mexico; and C. Gifts and personal service benefits to RYAN’s family members, including a $2,200 vacation benefit to a RYAN daughter’s family in 1999. 99. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN concealed the personal and financial benefits he received from Associate 1, and Associate 1 concealed the personal and financial benefits he provided to RYAN. 100. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN took official action to benefit Associate 1 relating to the following contracts and business opportunities: Awarding SOS Office Leases To Clients Of Associate 1 101. It was further part of the scheme that, in 1995 and again in 1997, defendant RYAN authorized the SOS Office to enter into leases of Springfield, Illinois property, and Associate 1 received commissions for assisting in placing these leases with the SOS Office. Said commission payments to Associate 1 totalled over $38,000. Awarding Grayville Prison To Associate 1 Client 102. At times material to this indictment: A. In or about late 2000, the Governor’s Office, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Corrections (hereinafter “IDOC”), commenced a site selection process for the purpose of identifying a specific geographic location for the construction of a maximum security prison to house prisoners in the custody of the IDOC. B. In or about January 2001, the IDOC, with the knowledge and concurrence of the Governor’s Office, publicly announced three particular locations that had been selected as finalists for the site of the maximum security prison. C. On or about February 23, 2001, at an internal meeting of high ranking officials of the Governor’s Office and the IDOC, defendant RYAN chose the town of Grayville, located in southeastern Illinois, to be the site for the maximum security prison from among the three finalists. Defendant RYAN’s February 23, 2001 internal decision was not then made public. D. Prior to February 23, 2001, one or more high-ranking officials in the Governor’s Office had complained to defendant RYAN’s gubernatorial chief of staff that it was improper for Associate 1 to routinely participate and be present for the conducting of official government business in and around defendant RYAN’s governmental office. 103. It was further part of the scheme that, on or about February 23, 2001, due to defendant RYAN providing Associate 1 with participatory status in, and material non-public information relating to, governmental decisions, RYAN informed Associate 1 that RYAN had selected Grayville to be the recipient of the maximum security prison site. At the time RYAN provided Associate 1 the information regarding Grayville, an aide to RYAN reminded Associate 1 that Grayville’s selection was not public information. 104. It was further part of the scheme that, shortly after defendant RYAN informed Associate 1 of the Grayville selection, Associate 1 met with a representative of a business group affiliated with Grayville (hereinafter the “Grayville Representative”) and entered into an agreement to lobby for the selection of Grayville as the site for the proposed maximum security prison, in return for $50,000 in upfront lobbying fees. 105. It was further part of the scheme that, on or about March 12, 2001, Associate 1 received a $50,000 cashier’s check from the Grayville Representative as his lobbying fee. Associate 1 then deposited this check into a checking account that he controlled. During the two-month period thereafter, Associate 1 structured cash withdrawals from his bank account totaling approximately $35,000, such that no single withdrawal exceeded $10,000, the threshold level which would have triggered the financial institution’s obligation to notify the Internal Revenue Service of the withdrawals. 106. It was further part of the scheme that, after entering into the agreement, Associate 1 falsely told one or more individuals affiliated with the Grayville Representative that he was actively lobbying for Grayville’s selection pursuant to their agreement and did not disclose that defendant RYAN had already made known to Associate 1 that the prison selection had been made. 107. It was further part of the scheme that, on or about April 12, 2001, defendant RYAN announced his selection of Grayville as the chosen prison site in a public ceremony in Grayville, at which announcement RYAN publicly acknowledged, at Associate 1’s recommendation, the efforts of the Grayville Representative in promoting Grayville’s selection. Referring Wisconsin Energy To Associate 1 108. At times material to the indictment: In or about mid-1999, Wisconsin Energy was seeking to hire a lobbyist in the State of Illinois to handle various regulatory and governmental issues in connection with a proposed project Wisconsin Energy was undertaking in Illinois. Udstuen was contacted by an intermediary, acting on behalf of Wisconsin Energy, to solicit Udstuen’s recommendation for an Illinois lobbyist. 109. It was further part of the scheme that Udstuen thereafter conferred with defendant RYAN, and RYAN and Udstuen agreed that Udstuen should recommend Associate 1 as the lobbyist for Wisconsin Energy. 110. It was further part of the scheme that, in or about late 1999, Udstuen told Associate that Associate 1 was being recommended as a lobbyist for Wisconsin Energy and that his recommendation was being made with the concurrence of defendant RYAN. 111. It was further part of the scheme that, after Wisconsin Energy hired Associate 1 as its lobbyist, Associate 1 gave Udstuen a $4,000 cash payment in the men’s bathroom of a Chicago restaurant for making the referral of Associate 1. 112. It was further part of the scheme that, after providing Udstuen with $4,000, Associate 1 told Udstuen that he was also “taking care” of defendant RYAN relating to the referral of Wisconsin Energy. Hiring Associate 1 As A Lobbyist For MPEA 113. At times material to the indictment: A. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (“MPEA”) was an entity which received annual public funding and which made other requests through Illinois’ General Assembly. Officers and directors of the MPEA were jointly appointed by the Governor and the Mayor of the City of Chicago. B. During and throughout the 1990's, MPEA had engaged a law firm (hereinafter, “Firm A”) as its principal outside lobbyist to represent its interests before Illinois’ General Assembly. 114. It was further part of the scheme that, in 1999, defendant RYAN directed that Associate 1 be hired as an additional lobbyist for MPEA, even though neither MPEA nor Firm A was seeking any additional lobbying assistance at that time. Beginning on or about January 1, 2000, at the direction of Fawell and defendant RYAN, Firm A hired Associate 1 as a “sub-lobbyist” with an annual retainer of $60,000 per year. This retainer was paid by MPEA to Firm A for disbursal to Associate 1 and continued for three years through December 31, 2002. 115. It was further part of the scheme that, in calendar year 2000, the initial year of the lobbying relationship, Firm A had little or no work to give to Associate 1, and thus Associate 1’s firm provided little or no lobbying services to MPEA. Thereafter, understanding that Associate 1’s firm would remain as a sub-lobbyist, Firm A provided Associate 1’s firm some basic assignments, which assignments previously had been performed by Firm A. Authorizing the Award of Low Digit Plates To Those Providing Benefits To RYAN116. At times material to this indictment: The SOS Office was responsible for issuing license plates to qualifying individuals. In addition to the general distribution of plates, the SOS Office issued low-digit or specialty license plates, which were not generally available to any member of the public (collectively, the “low-digit plates”). During the period from January 1991 to January 1999, defendant RYAN personally approved the award of the most coveted low-digit plates. Awarding Low Digit Plates To Those Providing Campaign And Personal Benefits 117. In or about October 1990, shortly before defendant RYAN’s November 1990 election as Secretary of State, defendant RYAN solicited, on behalf of Citizens For Ryan, a $75,000 loan from an individual known to RYAN (hereinafter “Individual 3”). Individual 3 then arranged for a $75,000 loan to Citizens For Ryan through a friend of Individual 3. Within two weeks of receipt of the loan, Citizens For Ryan repaid the loan in full, and no interest was charged for the loan. In or about November 1990, in a handwritten note, defendant RYAN personally acknowledged Individual 3's efforts. 118. It was further part of the scheme that, in or about early 1991, shortly after defendant RYAN took office, RYAN initiated contact with Individual 3 and Individual 3's friend and awarded each with low-digit plates as rewards for their arranging the $75,000 loan to Citizens For Ryan. 119. It was further part of the scheme that, thereafter, defendant RYAN awarded coveted low-digit plates to individuals as a reward for financial support provided to defendant RYAN and Citizens For Ryan. Low Digit Plates Provided To Individual 1 120. By no later than 1995, defendant RYAN met Individual 1, who desired to obtain low digit plates for himself and family members. Individual 1 had acquired a number of low-digit plates from prior SOS Office administrations. 121. It was further part of the scheme that, beginning in March 1996 and continuing through December 1998, defendant RYAN awarded Individual 1 a number of low-digit plates while receiving, annually, at least $500 or more in personal checks from Individual 1. 122. It was further part of the scheme that, on or about September 5, 1997, defendant RYAN and Individual 1 had an in-person conversation in Chicago at a social event. In the conversation, Individual 1 expressed an interest in contributing to RYAN’s gubernatorial campaign in the amount of $2,000. Individual 1 further indicated that he did not wish his contribution to be disclosed on campaign disclosure reports. In order to conceal the contribution to RYAN, RYAN directed that Individual 1 make out four $500 checks to RYAN and specified RYAN family members, which Individual 1 then did. 123. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN accepted gifts from Individual 1 in December 1997 and December 1998 in violation of RYAN’s stated gift policy and in violation of the SOS Office policy directive described above in paragraph 2(J) of Count One. 124. It was further part of the scheme and to conceal the scheme that defendant RYAN failed to disclose the financial benefits he received from Individual 1 in 1997 and 1998 until after federal investigators participating in the Grand Jury Investigation first questioned RYAN on October 16, 2000 about his relationship with Individual 1. Warner Low Digit Plates 125. It was further part of the scheme that, in or about early 1991, defendant WARNER advised defendant RYAN that RYAN needed to keep close track of how low digit plates were issued and that RYAN should use the plates as a “plum.” 126. It was further part of the scheme that, beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through late 1998, defendant RYAN approved low-digit plate requests made by defendant WARNER. WARNER made the requests for, among others, a) numerous business associates and clients of his private insurance business and b) employees of his private business, both of which inured to his personal and financial benefit. 127. It was further part of the scheme that, in order to raise campaign funds to benefit Citizens For Ryan, defendant WARNER solicited, among others, some of the individuals who had received low-digit plates approved by defendant RYAN at the request of WARNER. 128. It was further part of the scheme that, to facilitate defendant WARNER’s request for low-digit plates, one of defendant RYAN’s government secretaries maintained a cash “kitty,” consisting of cash that WARNER had given to her and which the secretary used to pay fees associated with many of WARNER’s numerous low-digit plate requests. WARNER, who was the only individual for whom such arrangement was made, replenished the cash kitty periodically. 129. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN otherwise gave defendant WARNER preferential treatment in the low-digit license plate award process and awarded over 90 low-digit license plates to WARNER and third parties acting through WARNER. Terminating IG Investigators and the Reorganizing IG Department130. At times material to the indictment: A. Beginning no later than 1991 and continuing through at least 1998, Citizens For Ryan, working principally through SOS Office departmental contacts, sponsored annual political fundraising events that relied upon SOS Office personnel selling political fundraising tickets. On an annual basis, the two principal employee-based fundraising events raised approximately $500,000 per year for Citizens For Ryan. B. On behalf of Citizens For Ryan and related to the annual employee-based fundraisers, SOS Office chief of staff Scott Fawell mandated political fundraising “goals” for SOS Office departments. Cognizant of Fawell’s directives regarding fundraising activities, certain SOS Office employees, including supervisory employees in the Driver Services Department and Vehicle Services Department, individually sold thousands of dollars in fundraising tickets on behalf of Citizens For Ryan through various means. C. On approximately an annual basis until the late 1990s, in conjunction with the employee fundraising events, defendant RYAN participated in ceremonies with SOS Office employees to acknowledge individual SOS Office employees, who had sold substantial numbers of political fundraising tickets. Such participation included RYAN taking photographs with some of the top fundraising ticket sellers from the SOS Office. D. By December 1994, shortly after the 1994 reelection campaign, Fawell and defendant RYAN were aware that agents of the IG Department had been or were investigating alleged official misconduct by employees of the Drivers Services Department and the Vehicle Services Department motivated by, or involving, the sale and distribution of Citizens For Ryan fundraising tickets, including the following: i. In March 1993, the IG Department had investigated alleged official misconduct by SOS Office employees of the Libertyville driver’s license facility. During the course of the investigation, IG Investigators obtained evidence that the alleged official misconduct may have been linked to sales of Citizens For Ryan fundraiser tickets by one or more SOS Office employees. During the investigation, IG Investigators seized a briefcase containing cash and fundraising tickets from the governmental office of an SOS Office employee who was a suspect in the criminal investigation. On or about March 9, 1993, the Inspector General, who reported to defendant RYAN, told RYAN that IG Investigators had located fundraising-related evidence in the SOS Office employee’s governmental office. ii. In late March1994, the IG Department had investigated allegations, aired on local television, that an SOS Office employee had solicited an auto parts dealer, regulated by the SOS Office, for fundraising tickets during state working hours. The fundraising-related allegations, which were aired on local television, were communicated to defendant RYAN. iii. In April 1994, the IG Department had investigated official misconduct by an employee of the SOS Office’s Naperville licensing facility. During the course of the investigation, IG Investigators believed that the alleged official misconduct may have been motivated by sales of Citizens For Ryan fundraising tickets by an SOS Office employee. On or about April 26, 1994, at the direction of the Inspector General, an IG Investigator called defendant RYAN and communicated the alleged fundraising-related motive directly to defendant RYAN. iv. In November 1994, IG Investigators learned that a driver involved in a widely-publicized fatal traffic incident may have obtained his commercial driver’s license illegally at the McCook driver’s license facility. After the allegations were learned of by an IG Investigator and a preliminary inquiry was made, the allegations were reported to the Inspector General who, in turn, notified other high-ranking SOS Office officials of the allegations. 131. It was further part of the scheme that, in December 1994, in an internal memorandum not intended for public disclosure, Fawell recommended to defendant RYAN that certain IG Investigators be terminated and reassigned, in order to discourage investigations into improper political fundraising activities and related official misconduct benefitting defendant RYAN and Citizens For Ryan. 132. It was further part of the scheme that, in one or more face-to-face meetings between Fawell and defendant RYAN following the distribution of the December 1994 memo, defendant RYAN agreed to Fawell’s recommendation in the December 1994 memo as to the IG Department and thereafter authorized the termination or reassignment of the majority of IG Investigators. 133. It was further part of the scheme that, in or about January 1995, Fawell directed a memorandum to defendant RYAN summarizing the results of their meetings, including the decision to reassign IG Investigators who were “trouble.” 134. It was further part of the scheme that Fawell drafted and distributed written memoranda falsely justifying the decision to terminate IG Investigators and reorganize the IG Department as being based on budgetary cutbacks at the SOS Office. 135. It was further part of the scheme that, from February 1995 through June 1995, most of the IG Investigators, including those who had made inquiries into allegations of official misconduct linked to fundraising ticket sales, were terminated or reassigned. As a direct consequence of these actions, defendant RYAN and Fawell disabled the IG Department and substantially hindered it from fulfilling its duties to, among other things, investigate all allegations of SOS Office misconduct, including allegations linked to fundraising efforts of Citizens For Ryan. Diverting and Authorizing The Diverting Of State Resources To Benefit RYAN136. It was further part of the scheme that, at times between 1992 and 1998, defendant RYAN, Fawell and others authorized the diversion of SOS Office resources to benefit RYAN personally and Citizens For Ryan, including in connection with certain political campaigns defendant RYAN supported. 137. It was further part of the scheme that, with respect to a 1995-96 primary campaign of then Texas Senator Phil Gramm, who was a candidate for president of the United States (the “Gramm campaign”), defendant RYAN met with Fawell and Richard Juliano, another high-ranking SOS Office official, to plan their participation in the Gramm campaign effort. 138. It was further part of the scheme that, in planning a primary campaign budget for the Gramm campaign in Illinois, defendant RYAN proposed that certain individuals be given “consulting” payments related to Gramm campaign. 139. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN, with the assistance of Fawell, determined that RYAN, through certain of his family members, Fawell and Juliano would split the “consulting” payments from the Gramm campaign. 140. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN, with the assistance of Fawell and Udstuen, recruited Alan Drazek to participate in the Gramm campaign through his company, American Management Resources (“AMR”). In order to conceal the financial benefits that defendant RYAN and Fawell were to receive, RYAN, Fawell and Juliano used AMR as a conduit to funnel the “consulting” payments they were receiving. As further part of the effort to conceal, at no time did RYAN, Fawell or Juliano disclose to the Gramm campaign that Fawell or RYAN would be financial beneficiaries of the AMR payments. 141. It was further part of the scheme that, during the Gramm campaign, Fawell, Juliano and other SOS Office employees working at their direction, and with the authorization and knowledge of defendant RYAN, performed campaign work on state time and utilized state resources to benefit the Gramm campaign. In particular, Fawell, Juliano and other SOS Office employees personally participated in campaign activities, including campaign meetings, phone conferences, political fundraisers, organizational meetings, strategy sessions, as well as public appearances with Gramm. Many of the campaign activities occurred during the business day and utilized SOS Office resources. 142. It was further part of the scheme that, from in or about September 1995 to in or about March 1996, defendant RYAN, Fawell and Juliano caused over $32,000 in payments to be made from the Gramm campaign through AMR to individuals and entities RYAN, Fawell and Juliano designated. RYAN directed his share of the “consulting” payments to certain family members, who did not perform bona fide services for the Gramm campaign. 143. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN concealed the benefits he received from the Gramm campaign by a) omitting the income on his 1995 and 1996 Statement of Economic Interest forms; and b) omitting the Gramm campaign related income from his original and amended 1995 and 1996 federal and state tax returns prior to the public disclosure of his payments during the course of the Grand Jury Investigation. 144. It was further part of the effort to conceal the nature of defendant RYAN’s participation in the scheme that, in 2002, in amending, for the second time, his 1995 and 1996 federal and state tax returns to disclose the Gramm payments, RYAN made false and misleading statements by indicating that it was the Gramm campaign’s idea for RYAN to receive funds related to the Gramm campaign. Concealing Misconduct And Obstructing the Grand Jury InvestigationShredding Incident 145. It was further part of the scheme that, in or about September 1998, after learning of the existence of the Grand Jury Investigation (as set forth in paragraph 4 above), Scott Fawell, in the presence of defendant RYAN and in anticipation of law enforcement action, directed SOS Office employees, including William Mack, to “clean up” Citizens For Ryan related documents on SOS Office premises. 146. It was further part of the scheme that, after Fawell gave Mack the directive in the presence of defendant RYAN, Mack gathered together a number of SOS Office employees and directed them to shred voluminous amounts of material present in the SOS executive offices. Such shredding occurred late into the evening and filled numerous garbage bags, which bags were transported out of the executive office area that evening. Such shredded and destroyed documents were relevant and material to the Grand Jury Investigation and included campaign-related financial reports, low-digit license plate requests, candidate schedules, campaign press releases, computer files, volunteer information and other campaign related information that had been created and maintained by SOS Office employees on SOS Office premises. 147. It was further part of the scheme that, shortly after the shredding was complete, Mack personally contacted defendant RYAN and Fawell to inform each that the SOS Office had been “cleaned up.” Interviews of RYAN In Relation To Grand Jury Investigation 148. It was further part of the scheme that defendant RYAN made material false statements in three interviews with law enforcement agents who were conducting the Grand Jury Investigation, including the following: A. In the January 5, 2000, interview, defendant RYAN made false material statements by stating, in substance, that: i. On each occasion when RYAN was a guest of Associate 2 in Jamaica, RYAN paid his own way and also paid all his own expenses, including lodging. Regarding lodging in Jamaica, RYAN said that the cost was $1,000 per week, which RYAN believed was the going rate for lodging at the property. RYAN further stated he paid the lodging fee out of his own pocket. In addition, and related to the Jamaica inquiries by federal investigators, RYAN caused checks purporting to be his payments for lodging to be provided to federal investigators. ii. RYAN was totally unaware of the pricing and contents of the South Holland Lease and did not personally take part in the negotiation of the lease; RYAN stated it was a resigning board member’s recommendation that RYAN appoint WARNER and RYAN merely went along with the recommendation.
With respect to a conversation on a boat trip with Individual 1 that resulted in RYAN receiving four $500 checks from Individual 1, RYAN stated that he did not give Individual 1 the name of his son, nor did he write down the names or addresses of his son or his son’s wife and provide them to Individual 1. 149. On or about August 3, 2000, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and Springfield, Illinois, GEORGE H. RYAN, SR. and LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a $43,760.89 check from the State of Illinois relating to the Validation Stickers contract, and addressed to: American Decal & Mfg. Co. 4100 West Fullerton Chicago, IL 60639 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT THREEThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a State of Illinois check in the amount of $18,561.69 relating to the Joliet Lease, and addressed to: Joliet Maple Limited Liability Park Place Investment 800 N. Clark Street Suite 219 Chicago, IL 60610 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT FOURThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a check from IBM in the amount of $21,295.18 relating to the computer system contract and other SOS Office computer-related contracts, and addressed to: Omega Consulting 3101 N. Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60618 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT FIVEThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a check in the amount of $7,098.65 from Omega Consulting Group and relating to IBM, and addressed to: American Management Resources 7831 Churchill Morton Grove, IL 60053 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT SIXThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme to defraud, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a State of Illinois check in the amount of $10,000 relating to the South Holland Lease addressed to: 16475 Van Dam Road Building Partnership 16835 South Halsted Harvey, Illinois 60426-6113 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT SEVENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a check from Viisage in the amount of $18,902.79 relating to the digital licensing contract, and addressed to: National Consulting Company 3101 North Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60618 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT EIGHTThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a State of Illinois check in the amount of $10,005 relating to the Bellwood Lease, and addressed to: Wells Mannheim Partnership 1839 North Lincoln Chicago, IL 60614 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT NINEThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a check in the amount of $18,590.82 relating to the 17 N. State Lease, and addressed to: National Consulting 3101 N. Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60618 In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT TENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR. defendant herein, and Associate 1, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme to defraud, and attempting to do so, knowingly did cause to be deposited with a private and commercial interstate carrier for delivery according to the directions thereon, an envelope containing a cashier’s check in the amount of $50,000, which represented a lobbyist fee relating to the Grayville representative; addressed to Associate 1 in Springfield, Illinois. In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2. COUNT ELEVENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, did knowingly and willfully make materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency within the executive branch of the Government of the United States, when he stated the following: i. On each occasion when RYAN was a guest of Associate 2 in Jamaica, RYAN paid his own way and also paid all his own expenses, including lodging. Regarding lodging in Jamaica, RYAN said that the cost was $1,000 per week, which RYAN believed was the going rate for lodging at the property. RYAN further stated he paid the lodging fee out of his own pocket. ii. RYAN was totally unaware of the pricing and contents of the South Holland Lease and did not personally take part in the negotiation of the lease; RYAN stated it was a resigning board member’s recommendation that RYAN appoint WARNER and RYAN merely went along with the recommendation.
v. Inspector General Dean Bauer never informed him of the finding of the briefcase and the campaign fundraising tickets at the Libertyville raid; and no one at the SOS Office, including Dean Bauer, ever linked ticket sales to improper licensing. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). COUNT TWELVEThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, did knowingly and willfully make materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency within the executive branch of the Government of the United States, when he stated the following: i. RYAN never had any discussions with defendant WARNER regarding WARNER’s interest in the Joliet lease or any SOS Office lease, and, further, RYAN had no personal knowledge of WARNER profiting in any way regarding the Joliet lease; ii. RYAN had no idea how WARNER could have had advance knowledge of the SOS Office looking into a lease in the Joliet area and RYAN provided no advance information to WARNER regarding future leases with the SOS Office; and iii. RYAN had no personal financial relationship with WARNER. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). COUNT THIRTEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, did knowingly and willfully make materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency within the executive branch of the Government of the United States, when he stated the following: With respect to a conversation on a boat trip with Individual 1 that resulted in RYAN receiving four $500 checks from Individual 1, RYAN stated that he did not give Individual 1 the name of his son, nor did he write down the names or addresses of his son or his son’s wife and provide them to Individual 1. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). COUNT FOURTEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendant herein, attempted to commit extortion, which extortion obstructed, delayed and affected commerce, by knowingly attempting to obtain property in the form of payments from American Decal Manufacturing under the color of official right and induced by the wrongful use of actual and threatened fear of economic harm, In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1951 and 2. COUNT FIFTEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendant herein, knowingly conducted and attempted to conduct a financial transaction affecting interstate commerce, when defendant caused a National Consulting Company check to be issued, made payable to American Management Resources, on North Community Bank account number 1403880, in the amount of $1,666.67, which financial transaction involved the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, namely, acts and activities constituting mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1346, and extortion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, related to the SOS Office validation stickers contract, as further described in Count Two of this indictment, knowing that the transaction was designed in whole and in part to conceal the nature, source, and ownership of the proceeds of said specified unlawful activity, and while conducting and attempting to conduct said financial transaction, knew that the property involved in the financial transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 2. COUNT SIXTEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendant herein, knowingly conducted and attempted to conduct a financial transaction affecting interstate commerce, when defendant caused an Omega Consulting Group Ltd. check to be issued, made payable to American Management Resources, on North Community Bank account number 1701044, in the amount of $43,453, which financial transaction involved the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, namely, acts and activities constituting mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1346, and extortion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, related to the computer system contract and other SOS Office computer-related contracts, knowing that the transaction was designed in whole and in part to conceal the nature, source, and ownership of the proceeds of said specified unlawful activity, and while conducting and attempting to conduct said financial transaction, knew that the property involved in the financial transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 2. COUNT SEVENTEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendant herein, for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements of Title 31, United States Code, Section 5313(a) and regulations prescribed thereunder, structured and assisted in structuring and attempted to structure and assist in structuring, a transaction with the North Community Bank, a domestic financial institution, namely, the withdrawal of $14,000 in United States currency from his Omega Consulting Group Ltd. checking account into two separate transactions at different branches of the North Community Bank and involving the cashing of two checks, each in an amount under $10,000, as described below:
Check No. Date of Check Amount Date Check Cashed 3. Defendant WARNER committed this offense while violating other laws of the United States, as set forth in Count One of this indictment, and as part of a pattern of illegal activity involving more than $100,000 in a 12 month period commencing on May 5, 1997; In violation of Title 31, United States Code, Section 5324(a)(3) and (d)(2). COUNT EIGHTEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges: 1. The allegations in paragraphs 1–4 of Count One of this indictment are hereby realleged and incorporated herein as if fully set forth herein. 2. At times material to this indictment: A. RYAN Relative One was the husband of a RYAN Daughter. B. Individual 2 was a caretaker for defendant RYAN’s mother-in-law. Income and Expenditure Reports (D-2s)C. CFR was required under Illinois law to file income and expenditure reports (D-2s), typically on a semi-annual basis, with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The D-2s reported the amount and purpose of each expenditure of $150 or more incurred by CFR. At the time of filing, each D-2 was verified for truth and completeness by the treasurer of CFR. D. Campaign Reporting Services (“CRS”) was a Springfield-based firm that was hired by CFR to prepare its D-2 campaign disclosure forms beginning no later than 1991 and continuing through 1998. CFR paid a monthly fee to CRS for the preparation of the D-2's and related services provided to CFR. Said monthly fee was increased from $2,000 per month to $3,000 per month in approximately early 1994. E. Agents and employees of CFR provided CRS with the information necessary to prepare the D-2s. As a general practice, agents and employees of CFR prepared for each check a voucher describing the amount and purpose of the check. The information on the vouchers was used by CRS to prepare the D-2s. On occasion, when a CFR check was written or issued by defendant RYAN or other authorized agents of CFR without a corresponding voucher, the purpose of the expenditure was listed on the check or was otherwise made known to CRS in order to prepare the D-2s. Applicable Law and DutiesF. Defendant RYAN had a legal duty and obligation, under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations and rules issued thereunder, to report accurately all income that he had received during a particular year on the annual joint income tax return that he filed. G. Defendant RYAN was permitted under Illinois law to use CFR funds for personal expenditures, but was required under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations and rules issued thereunder, to report as income on his joint income tax return CFR expenditures made for any personal purposes. H. Defendant RYAN was not permitted, under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations and rules issued thereunder, to shift tax liability for his income to nominees or third parties by having the income payments made in the name of nominees or third parties. I. Defendant RYAN was required, under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations and rules issued thereunder, to report as income on his joint tax returns any income, including payments, cash, bribes or gratuities that he received by virtue of his official position. The Corrupt Endeavor3. Beginning in approximately January of 1991 and continuing through approximately December of 2002, at Chicago and elsewhere in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, GEORGE H. RYAN, SR.,
78 defendant herein, corruptly obstructed and impeded and endeavored to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service in the due administration of Title 26, United States Code, namely the correct reporting of income and identification, assessment, and collection of taxes and tax penalties due the United States. Citizens For Ryan Funds4. It was part of the corrupt endeavor that on numerous occasions, defendant RYAN used CFR funds to pay his and certain family members’ personal expenses and to provide personal gifts (including payments for travel related expenses) for the benefit of third parties, and misled and knowingly failed to inform the CFR agents and employees, CRS, and other outside firms preparing the D-2s for CFR of the numerous personal expenses he had incurred and personal gifts that he had purchased with CFR funds. 5. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that defendant RYAN, acting in concert with other agents and employees of CFR, and others, caused income that he was receiving from both CFR and third parties to be diverted, paid and allocated to others, including family members, thereby depriving the IRS of accurate information as to his true income as well as the true income of the individuals to whom he diverted, paid and allocated his income.
12. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that on numerous occasions, agents or employees of CFR issued IRS Form 1099s to the family members and associates of defendant RYAN who had received monetary gifts of CFR funds, which Form 1099s listed the CFR payments made to them as “non-employee compensation,” thereby concealing and misrepresenting the true nature of said payments. 13. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that each year, defendant RYAN provided and caused to be provided to his accountant a list of the personal expenses that had been paid with CFR funds, knowing that said list was prepared in reliance on the D-2's and knowing further that as a result of his concealment and deceit, said list substantially understated the actual amount of personal expenses that he had paid, and gifts that he had given, using CFR funds. Gramm Campaign Payments
17. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that defendant RYAN, with the assistance of Fawell and Udstuen, recruited Alan Drazek to participate in the Gramm campaign through his company, American Management Resources. In order to conceal the financial benefits that defendant RYAN and Fawell were to receive, RYAN, Fawell and Juliano used AMR as a conduit to funnel the “consulting” payments they were receiving. As further part of the effort to conceal, at no time did RYAN, Fawell or Juliano disclose to the Gramm campaign that Fawell or RYAN would be financial beneficiaries of the AMR payments.
Use of Cash 21. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that defendant RYAN obtained and failed to report cash and other financial benefits as income on his federal and state tax returns. 22. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that defendant RYAN spent cash that he received from third parties for his personal use, thereby minimizing any documentation of his personal expenses. Such personal expenditures of cash included cash expenditures on frequent gambling trips to various casinos, cash expenditures relating to out-of-state trips and cash expenditures for gifts to and for the benefit of RYAN family members and others. Receipt of Money from Political Supporters
Filing of False Tax Returns 25. It was further part of the corrupt endeavor that on or about April 15, 1996, defendant RYAN filed a materially false individual income tax return, IRS form 1040, for the tax year 1995, in which he knowingly understated his actual gross income.
All in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7212(a). COUNT NINETEENThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, willfully made and subscribed, and caused to be made and subscribed, an amended joint United States Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040X with schedules and attachments) for the calendar year 1995, which return was verified by a written declaration that it was made under the penalties of perjury, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service, which return he did not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter, in that the defendant listed his adjusted gross income as being $120,542.00, whereas, in truth and fact, as the defendant well knew, his adjusted gross income was substantially in excess of said amount; In violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). COUNT TWENTYThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, willfully made and subscribed, and caused to be made and subscribed, an amended joint United States Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040X with schedules and attachments) for the calendar year 1996, which return was verified by a written declaration that it was made under the penalties of perjury, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service, which return he did not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter, in that the defendant listed his adjusted gross income as being $137,908.00, whereas, in truth and fact, as the defendant well knew, his adjusted gross income was substantially in excess of said amount; In violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). COUNT TWENTY ONEThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, willfully made and subscribed, and caused to be made and subscribed, a joint United States Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040 with schedules and attachments) for the calendar year 1997, which return was verified by a written declaration that it was made under the penalties of perjury, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service, which return he did not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter, in that the defendant listed his adjusted gross income as being $106,486.00, whereas, in truth and fact, as the defendant well knew, his adjusted gross income was substantially in excess of said amount; In violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). COUNT TWENTY TWOThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges:
GEORGE H. RYAN, SR., defendant herein, willfully made and subscribed, and caused to be made and subscribed, a joint United States Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040 with schedules and attachments) for the calendar year 1998, which return was verified by a written declaration that it was made under the penalties of perjury, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service, which return he did not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter, in that the defendant listed his adjusted gross income as being $102,640.00, whereas, in truth and fact, as the defendant well knew, his adjusted gross income was substantially in excess of said amount; In violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). FORFEITURE ALLEGATIONSThe SPECIAL APRIL 2002 GRAND JURY further charges: 1. The allegations contained in Count One are hereby realleged for the purpose of alleging forfeiture pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963. 2. As a result of their violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d), GEORGE H. RYAN, SR. and LAWRENCE E. WARNER, defendants herein:
3. The interests of the defendants subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1963(a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3), include, but are not limited to, the following:
4. To the extent that the property described above as being subject to forfeiture pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963, as a result of any act or omission of the defendants:
(e) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty; it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963(m), to seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendants up to the value of the property described as being subject to forfeiture. 5. The defendants are jointly and severely liable for the forfeiture obligations as alleged above. All pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963. A TRUE BILL: Foreperson United States Attorney | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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