Laborers
for JUSTICE2002. All Rights reserved. Not for web publication without express
written permission
UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
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) No. ____________________ |
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v. |
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) Violations: Title 18, |
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SCOTT R. FAWELL, |
) U.S. Code, Sections 2, 371, |
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CITIZENS FOR GEORGE RYAN, SR. and |
) 666, 1341, 1346, 1503, 1512, |
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RICHARD JULIANO |
) 1623 and 1962(c); Title 26, |
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) United States Code, Section |
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) 7206(1) |
COUNT ONE
The SPECIAL
JULY 2000-2 GRAND JURY charges:
1. At times
material to this indictment:
Office of the
Secretary of State
A.
Pursuant to Illinois law, including the Illinois Administrative Code, the
Office of the Secretary of State (hereinafter "SOS Office") was
entrusted with comprehensive duties involving motor vehicles, including
licensing drivers, administering
and enforcing driver safety, maintaining driving records, selling and
distributing license plates, and issuing and maintaining records of vehicle
titles.
B. The
Secretary of State, one of the elected statewide officers of the State of
Illinois, was responsible for running the SOS Office, the second largest of
Illinois' constitutionally- mandated offices. George H. Ryan, Sr. was elected
to a four-year term as the Secretary of State in November 1990 and reelected to
a second four-year term in November 1994. Accordingly, Ryan was the Secretary
of State from January 1991 through early January 1999. On November 3, 1998,
after a gubernatorial campaign, SOS Ryan was elected Governor of the State of Illinois
and began a four-year term in January 1999.
C. The SOS
Office performed its functions through approximately twenty-one (21)
departments, each of which was headed by a Department Director appointed by the
Secretary of State. Each Department Director was a member of the SOS Office
Cabinet. Of the 21 departments, the two departments which employed the largest
number of employees were the Driver Services Department and the Vehicle
Services Department. Another department, the Department of the Inspector General,
was responsible for investigating all allegations of wrongdoing by SOS Office
employees.
D. The
Chief of Staff was selected by the Secretary of State and oversaw all
departments. Pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Code, the Chief of Staff
was responsible for providing oversight and policy input to all cabinet members
and executive staff, and advising the Secretary of State in concert with other
officials.
E. Driver
Services Department: The Driver Services Department, among other things,
administered the issuance of automobile and truck drivers' licenses through
over 130 driver's license facilities located throughout the State of Illinois.
With respect to the licensing process for trucks and certain commercial
vehicles, pursuant to federal and state law, operators of such vehicles were
required to obtain a commercial driver's license ("CDL") to ensure,
among other things, that they were capable of safely operating a commercial
motor vehicle and complying with all applicable rules of the road. Similarly,
operators of passenger vehicles and other motor vehicles were required to
obtain a driver's license ("DL") to ensure, among other things, that
they were capable of safely operating a motor vehicle and complying with all
applicable rules of the road. The Driver Services Department conducted the
licensing process for all classifications of motor vehicles by administering
written exams and road tests to qualifying applicants at designated licensing
facilities.
F. Vehicle Services Department: The
Vehicle Services Department, among other things, served a variety of functions
related to the registration, licensure and titling of vehicles. Among other
things, the Vehicle Services Department processed vehicle titles, registered
vehicles, issued license plates and renewal stickers, licensed vehicle dealers
and maintained vehicle records.
G. Department of the Inspector General:
Pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Code, the Department of the Inspector
General (hereinafter "IG Department") was obligated to perform
functions relating to the SOS Office, including investigating all allegations
of wrongdoing involving SOS Office personnel. The Inspector General directed
and managed the IG Department. Prior to June 1995, the IG Department was further
staffed by approximately ten law enforcement agents, many of whom possessed
police powers (hereinafter "IG Agents"). The IG Agents were either
permanently assigned to the IG Department or detailed to the IG Department from
the SOS Department of Police, a distinct SOS Office department.
Defendants
H. Defendant CITIZENS FOR GEORGE RYAN, SR.:
Founded in or about 1974, defendant CITIZENS FOR GEORGE RYAN, SR. (hereinafter
"CITIZENS FOR RYAN") was a private organization organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Illinois as a state-wide political
campaign committee established, pursuant to the Illinois election code, on
behalf of candidate George Ryan to support his campaign efforts. As a state
political committee, CITIZENS FOR RYAN was required to file income and
expenditure reports disclosing campaign and other activity, typically on a
semi-annual basis with the Illinois State Board of Elections. On behalf of
candidate George Ryan from at least 1990 to 1999, CITIZENS FOR RYAN hired
employees and agents, raised campaign funds, sponsored fundraising events,
incurred campaign expenditures, established and maintained bank accounts,
entered into contractual relationships, and supported other candidates and
campaigns.
SOS Office Fundraising To Benefit CITIZENS
FOR RYAN
i.
Beginning no later than the Spring of 1992, defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN
sponsored and hosted numerous fundraisers, including an SOS Office
employee-related event held in the Spring of each year in Chicago, Illinois
(hereinafter "Spring political fundraiser") and an SOS Office
employee- related Fall event held in Springfield, Illinois (hereinafter the
"Fall political fundraiser"). Tickets for the Spring political
fundraiser typically had a face value of $100 per ticket and tickets for the
Fall political fundraiser had a face value of $50 per ticket, and the proceeds
of the events benefited CITIZENS FOR RYAN. Combined proceeds to CITIZENS FOR
RYAN from the Spring and Fall political fundraisers totaled approximately
$500,000 per year.
ii. For
the Spring and Fall political fundraisers, employees of defendant CITIZENS FOR
RYAN distributed fundraiser tickets to representatives of the SOS Office
departments, including designated department representatives of the Driver
Services Department and the Vehicle Services Department. The employees of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN maintained records, by department, relating to these
distributions of fundraiser tickets.
iii. The
SOS Office department representatives, serving as agents of and acting to
benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN, distributed fundraiser tickets within their
respective departments to individual SOS Office employees. Within certain
departments, including Driver Services and Vehicle Services, department
representatives tracked the distribution and sales of the fundraiser tickets.
iv.
Individual employees within the respective departments, in turn, sold and
attempted to sell the political fundraiser tickets, using a variety of means.
Related Efforts To Benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN
v. In
addition to SOS Office related fundraising activities, from at least 1994 to at
least 1998, defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN, through its agents and employees and
others, recruited, solicited, and otherwise obtained the services of SOS Office
employees to "volunteer" and otherwise participate in various
"field operations" of the campaign, including Secretary of State
Ryan's re-election effort in 1994, Ryan's gubernatorial campaign in 1998 and
other campaign efforts supported by CITIZENS FOR RYAN. Such field operations
included, among other things, passing candidate petitions and campaign
literature, precinct walking, marching in parades, phone banking, attending
campaign events and participating in other campaign activities.
vi. For
the 1994 and 1998 elections, CITIZENS FOR RYAN's field operations were
organized geographically under the following structure. The State of Illinois
was divided into a metro area and a downstate area; each of these two areas
were further divided into zones, which were, in turn, subdivided into regions.
Each region's campaign activities were organized by a regional manager who, in
turn, reported to a zone manager. Zone managers in turn reported to their
respective (metro or downstate) area coordinator. For both the 1994 and 1998
elections, virtually every regional manager, zone manager and area coordinator
was an SOS Office employee.
Financial Reporting
vii.
Pursuant to the Illinois election code, political campaign committees such as
CITIZENS FOR RYAN and other political campaign committees, were obligated to
track income and expenditures of $150 or more and report such income and
expenditures on a semi-annual basis with the Illinois State Board of Elections
("D-2 Reports"). Such D-2 Reports were to include the value of any
goods and services, including employment services, utilized by the campaign
during a given reporting period. D-2 Reports were due to the Illinois State
Board of Elections thirty days following the end of the reporting periods.
Reporting periods were January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December
31.
In approximately February 1992, defendant SCOTT FAWELL was appointed Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State. In this capacity and through in or about January 1999, FAWELL, among other things, made personnel, policy, strategic and business decisions binding the SOS Office.
In addition, beginning no later than February 1992 and continuing
through early 1999, FAWELL was a principal operating officer, adviser, and
decision maker for CITIZENS FOR RYAN. On behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, FAWELL,
among other things, authorized the hiring of employees, entered into
contractual agreements, participated directly in the raising and spending of
campaign funds, participated directly in the recruitment and coordination of
campaign volunteers, developed campaign strategy and otherwise oversaw campaign
activities.
In approximately February 1998, FAWELL became the full-time campaign
manager for the 1998 Ryan gubernatorial campaign effort. When he assumed this
position, FAWELL took a leave of absence from his Chief of Staff position and
became a full-time employee of defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN through
approximately November 3, 1998. During this period, while FAWELL was a
principal operating officer, adviser, and campaign decision maker on behalf of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, he also retained substantial control and authority on behalf
of the SOS Office during the 1998 campaign season. Upon Ryan's gubernatorial
election victory in November 1998, FAWELL returned to the SOS Office payroll
through January 1999.
In or about July 1995, defendant FAWELL established an entity, SRF Consulting, and registered that entity as an operating business with the Kane County Clerk. For periods from 1995 through 1999, defendant FAWELL received income in the name of, among others, SRF Consulting, from companies affiliated with an individual known to defendant FAWELL (hereinafter "Vendor A").
Defendant RICHARD JULIANO was a full-time SOS
Office employee at various periods from February 1991 through October 1995,
often reporting directly to defendant FAWELL. For annual periods from in or
about October 1995 through in or about February 1998, FAWELL arranged for
JULIANO to be a contractual employee of the SOS. From July 1994 through approximately
November 1994, JULIANO took a leave of absence from his SOS Office position and
became the full-time campaign manager for CITIZENS FOR RYAN and reported
directly to FAWELL. For the 1998 gubernatorial election, FAWELL named JULIANO
the Deputy Campaign Manager for CITIZENS FOR RYAN from February 1998 through
November 1998. In this capacity, JULIANO reported directly to FAWELL. While an
employee of CITIZENS FOR RYAN during 1994 and 1998, JULIANO retained
substantial authority with regard to official activities of the SOS Office.
K. From
approximately 1993 through approximately 1998, Larry Hall, a friend and
associate of defendant SCOTT FAWELL, was an SOS Office employee who was
assigned as the Property Manager for the metropolitan Chicago area. In this capacity,
Hall was responsible for managing relationships with approximately twenty eight
(28) entities that leased driver's license facilities to the Secretary of
State. In addition, Hall coordinated and supervised the remodeling and repair
of these driver's license facilities in the metropolitan Chicago area. Federal
Grand Jury Investigation
L. In or
about the Spring of 1998, the SPECIAL JUNE 1997-2 Grand Jury sitting in
Chicago, Illinois, commenced grand jury investigation 98 GJ 596 (the
"Grand Jury Investigation"). Successive federal grand juries,
including the SPECIAL JANUARY 1999-2 Grand Jury and the SPECIAL JULY 2000-2
Grand Jury, continued the Grand Jury Investigation, into among other things,
allegations of official misconduct, corruption and fraudulent conduct relating
to the SOS Office. The Grand Jury Investigation concerned allegations of
violations of the following federal statutes, among others: Title 18, United
States Code, Sections 666 (theft concerning programs receiving federal funds);
1341 and 1346 (mail fraud); 1503 and 1512 (obstruction of justice); 1623
(perjury); 1951 (extortion); 1962 (racketeering) and Title 26 (tax violations).
The Grand Jury Investigation continues up to and including the date of the
return of this indictment.
M. On or about
September 3, 1998, in furtherance of the Grand Jury Investigation, federal law
enforcement officers executed arrest warrants and search warrants, interviewed
numerous individuals and served grand jury subpoenas on SOS Office employees in
the Driver Services Department present at the Melrose Park, Illinois, driver's
license facility. As a result of the arrests and related official proceedings
that day, knowledge of the Grand Jury Investigation became publicly known.
N. On or
about September 11, 1998, a grand jury subpoena dated September 8, 1998, was
served upon CITIZENS FOR RYAN. The subpoena requested, among other things,
records relating to the accounting or tracking of ticket distributions to SOS
Office employees participating in CITIZENS FOR RYAN sponsored fundraising
events. On or about September 11, 1998, in his capacity as custodian of records
for CITIZENS FOR RYAN, defendant SCOTT FAWELL received and reviewed the
September 8, 1998 subpoena. In or about October 1998, defendant FAWELL caused
documents to be tendered in response to the September 8, 1998 subpoena.
O. Between
September 1998 and early 2000, the Grand Jury Investigation was examining,
among other things, the following matters:
i. Whether
SOS Office employees engaged in official misconduct pertaining to the improper
issuance of CDLs or DLs, in return for, and in conjunction with, bribes paid to
SOS Office employees, including bribes paid in the form of the sale or purchase
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN fundraiser tickets;
ii.
Whether bribery or official misconduct by SOS Office employees was motivated,
in part, by supervisory SOS Office employees imposing fundraising quotas or
goals, or otherwise encouraging, requiring or advocating the distribution and
sale of CITIZENS FOR RYAN fundraiser tickets by SOS Office employees;
iii.
Whether SOS Office employees conducted campaign related activities, including
the sale of fundraiser tickets, on state time;
iv.
Whether SOS Office employees who sold fundraiser tickets or otherwise agreed to
participate in CITIZENS FOR RYAN "field operations" were promised
and/or received SOS Office and job-related financial benefits as a result of
their participation in the campaign activities;
v. Whether
certain IG Department investigations relating to allegations of official
misconduct had been quashed or otherwise prematurely terminated in order to
conceal and otherwise protect certain SOS Office employees and SOS Office
campaign activity performed on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN from public
exposure, administrative action, and possible criminal prosecution;
vi.
Whether SOS Office leases and contracts were being awarded in return for, and
in connection with, campaign contributions and other financial benefits to
CITIZENS FOR RYAN and/or high-ranking SOS Office employees; and
vii.
Whether SOS Office employees were performing official acts, including the
awarding of low-digit license plates, in return for, and in connection with,
campaign contributions and other financial benefits to CITIZENS FOR RYAN and/or
SOS Office employees.
Applicable Duties, Laws, Policies and Procedures
P. In
discharging their public duties, officers of the Secretary of State, including
defendants SCOTT FAWELL and RICHARD JULIANO, were bound by the following
duties, laws, policies and procedures:
Personal Duties and Prohibitions
i. By
virtue of their positions as SOS Office employees, each owed a duty of honest
services to the people of the State of Illinois, the State of Illinois, and the
SOS Office in the performance of their public duties;
ii. Pursuant
to Illinois law, certain high-ranking SOS Office employees were required
annually to file a Written Statement of Economic Interest with the State of
Illinois, wherein each was obligated to disclose: (a) the name, address and
type of practice of any professional organization in which he was an officer,
director, associate, partner or proprietor, or served in any advisory capacity,
from which he derived income in excess of $1,200 during the preceding calendar
year; and (b) the nature of professional services rendered (other than services
rendered to the SOS Office) and the nature of the entity to which the
professional services were rendered if fees exceeding $5,000 were received
during the preceding calendar year from the entity for professional services
rendered;
iii.
Pursuant to the written policies and procedures of the SOS Office, all SOS
Office employees were prohibited from, among other things:
a.
misusing or abusing state working time for personal gain or for any reason
other than performing the employee's assigned duties, and
b.
misusing, abusing, destroying or converting state property to personal use.
iv.
Pursuant to the written policies and procedures of the SOS Office and the
criminal law of the State of Illinois, all SOS Office employees were prohibited
from accepting gifts and things of value in return for the performance of the
employee's official duties, or as a condition for not performing such duties.
In addition, beginning no later than August 26, 1997, pursuant to a written
policy memorandum authored by defendant SCOTT FAWELL, all SOS Office employees
were prohibited from accepting any gifts, meals or entertainment with a value
of $50 or more annually from any single prohibited source. A prohibited source
was any person or entity who sought official action, did business or sought to
do business with the SOS Office, conducted activities regulated by the SOS
Office or had interests that could be substantially affected by the performance
or non-performance of the employee's official duties.
Restrictions on Political and Campaign Activity
v.
Pursuant to Illinois law and the written policies and procedures of the SOS
Office, SOS Office employees were prohibited from conducting political and
campaign activities during regular business hours; from coercing, inducing,
persuading or attempting to coerce, induce or persuade any SOS Office employee
to conduct political activities during regular business hours, including, among
other things, participating in the organization of any political activity and
selling or distributing tickets. In addition, pursuant to the written policies
and procedures of the SOS Office, SOS Office employees were prohibited from
soliciting other SOS Office employees for political purposes during work hours,
including during employee break periods.
Restrictions on Promotions and Salary Increases
vi.
Pursuant to Illinois law, the SOS Office was prohibited from, among other
things, using political party support as a criterion in the hiring and
promotion of certain SOS Office employees. No later than June 1992, SOS Office
department directors and executive office staff were notified that the SOS
Office was to comply with the prohibitions in hiring and promoting based on
political activity.
vii.
Pursuant to the written policies and procedures of the SOS Office, beginning no
later than August 1992, salary increases for the SOS Office "merit
compensation" employees generally were to be limited to 5% of the SOS
Office employee's base salary. Salary increases in excess of 5% required the
prior approval of the Director of Personnel. Beginning in or about September
1995, the salary increase limitation was raised to 6% of the employee's base
salary. Salary increases in excess of 6% required detailed justification and
the prior approval of the Department of Personnel. Accordingly, in submitting
requests for salary increases, particularly as to those for salary increases in
excess of the imposed limitations, it was the policy and practice of the SOS
Office for the requestor to submit a "justification" memo providing a
written rationale to support the salary increase request.
viii.
Pursuant to the policy and practice of the SOS Office during the Ryan
Administration, salary increases for "merit compensation" employees
were made and recorded once per year, typically in the Fall of each year.
THE CITIZENS FOR RYAN-SOS OFFICE ENTERPRISE
2. At
times material to this indictment, defendants SCOTT FAWELL, CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
Richard Juliano, the SOS Office and others known and unknown were associated in
fact, and constituted an "enterprise" as that term is defined in
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1961(4), which enterprise was engaged in,
and the activities of which affected, interstate commerce. This enterprise,
consisting of the aforementioned individuals, entities, and others known and
unknown, is hereby referred to for purposes of this count as the "CITIZENS
FOR RYAN-SOS OFFICE" Enterprise. The CITIZENS FOR RYAN-SOS OFFICE
Enterprise constituted an ongoing organization whose members functioned as a
continuing unit for a common purpose of achieving the objectives of the
enterprise. Each defendant participated in the operation and management of the
enterprise. OBJECTIVES OF THE ENTERPRISE
3. The
primary objectives of the CITIZENS FOR RYAN-SOS OFFICE Enterprise were 1) to
improperly and unlawfully utilize and otherwise divert SOS Office personnel and
resources for the use and benefit of and to promote and support the activities
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN and SCOTT FAWELL-supported campaign activities; 2) to
perform official acts in return for campaign benefits to CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
SCOTT FAWELL, and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN; and 3) to promote, conceal
and otherwise protect certain SOS Office employees and certain unlawful SOS
Office campaign activities performed on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN from public
exposure, administrative action and possible criminal prosecution.
THE RACKETEERING VIOLATION
4.
Beginning no later than 1992 and continuing to at least October 1999 in
Chicago, Mundelein, Homewood, and other locations in the Northern District of
Illinois, Eastern Division, as well as Kankakee, Springfield and other
locations in the Central District of Illinois, and elsewhere:
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, and others known
and unknown to the Grand Jury, being persons employed by and associated with
the CITIZENS FOR RYAN-SOS OFFICE enterprise, which enterprise was engaged in,
and the activities of which affected, interstate commerce, unlawfully and
knowingly conducted and participated, directly and indirectly, in the conduct
of the affairs of that enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity,
that is, through the commission of two or more racketeering acts set forth in
Paragraph 40 below:
MEANS AND METHODS OF THE ENTERPRISE
A. The Defendants' Scheme To Defraud The State
Of Illinois
5.
Beginning no later than 1993 and continuing to in or about January 1999, at
Chicago, Homewood, and elsewhere in the Northern District of Illinois, and
Springfield, Kankakee and elsewhere in the Central District of Illinois,
defendants SCOTT FAWELL, CITIZENS FOR RYAN, Richard Juliano and other agents of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN devised and intended to devise, and participated in, a scheme
and artifice to defraud the people of the State of Illinois of money, property
and their intangible right to the honest services of certain SOS Office
employees, and to obtain money and property from the people of the State of
Illinois and the State of Illinois by means of materially false and fraudulent
pretenses and representations, material omissions and by actions of concealment
and protection of the scheme, which scheme is further described in the
following paragraphs.
A. Fraudulent Diversion of SOS
Office Personnel and Resources
6. It was
part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to promote and benefit CITIZENS
FOR RYAN and SCOTT FAWELL-supported campaign activities, defendant FAWELL, with
the assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of defendant CITIZENS FOR
RYAN: 1) diverted SOS Office personnel and assets to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN;
2) authorized campaign activity on state time by certain SOS Office employees;
and 3) provided SOS Office employees with promotions, pay raises, and other SOS
Office employee benefits in return for the performance of campaign work.
Campaign
Efforts On Behalf of State Senator A
7. State
Senator A served in the Illinois Senate from approximately 1983 through 1998,
and won a campaign for reelection in 1994.
8. It was further part of the scheme to
defraud that, beginning in early 1994, defendant SCOTT FAWELL diverted SOS
Office personnel and resources to assist the campaign and election efforts of
State Senator A.
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, beginning in early 1994, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL summoned various SOS Office employees, including Richard Juliano
and others, to his SOS Office and directed them to perform campaign activities
on behalf of State Senator A's March 1994 primary election campaign, including
campaign activities on state time.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, from approximately February 1994
through mid-March 1994, SOS Office employees, including Richard Juliano,
performed campaign activities at the direction of defendant SCOTT FAWELL on
behalf of State Senator A, including campaign activities on state time.
C. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, from approximately 1994 through
1998, defendant SCOTT FAWELL directed and authorized one of his SOS Office
assistants ("SOS Office Employee A") to compile the regular campaign
financial reports, including D-2 reports, and perform other related campaign
services on behalf of State Senator A on state time using state resources.
The 1994 Illinois Secretary of State Reelection Campaign
9. After
Secretary of State Ryan announced that he was running for reelection as
Secretary of State in the 1994 election, defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN conducted
a statewide reelection campaign. On behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, Richard
Juliano served as the campaign manager for the 1994 reelection effort and
reported to defendant SCOTT FAWELL, who remained on the SOS Office payroll.
10. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendants SCOTT FAWELL, Richard
Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN caused numerous SOS Office
employees who agreed to participate in the 1994 reelection effort to routinely
perform campaign work on state time (the "1994 Campaign
Participants").
11. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to reduce the operating
costs for defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN during the 1994 reelection effort,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, caused the fraudulent diversion of SOS Office assets and
resources to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN, thus causing the State of Illinois to
incur costs on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN and its campaign efforts.
12. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the
assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, unlawfully
authorized the award of official SOS Office benefits to certain 1994 Campaign
Participants as a reward for, and in connection with, their participation in
the 1994 reelection effort.
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, shortly after the successful 1994
reelection effort, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard
Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, arranged to meet and did meet
individually with certain 1994 Campaign Participants and their agents to
discuss the award of official SOS Office employee benefits as a reward for
their efforts on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, after meeting with certain 1994
Campaign Participants and their agents, defendant SCOTT FAWELL authorized the
award of SOS Office employee benefits, in the form of raises and promotions, as
a reward for their efforts on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
C. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to reward certain 1994
Campaign Participants with official SOS Office benefits, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL, with the assistance of other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, caused the
creation of false and misleading "justification" memos and other
false and misleading internal SOS Office documents on behalf of certain 1994
Campaign Participants.
Protecting The CITIZENS FOR RYAN-SOS Office Fundraising Apparatus
13. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, on behalf
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, mandated and enforced political fundraising
"goals" for SOS Office departments to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN. As a
result of defendant FAWELL's directives regarding fundraising activities, certain
SOS Office supervisory employees directed and encouraged SOS Office employees,
including employees in the Driver Services Department and Vehicle Services
Department, to violate the law and SOS policies and procedures to raise
campaign funds to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
14. By
December 1994, shortly after the 1994 reelection campaign, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL and other high-ranking SOS Office officials were aware that agents of
the IG Department had obtained information and made formal inquiries into
alleged official misconduct involving fundraising improprieties and related
matters pertaining to CITIZENS FOR RYAN, including the following:
A. In
March 1993, IG Agents, coordinated by IG Agent One, conducted law enforcement
activities relating to an IG Department investigation (#92 C 0141) into alleged
official misconduct by employees of the Libertyville licensing facility. During
the course of the investigation, IG Agent One and other IG Agents obtained
evidence that the alleged official misconduct was motivated by sales of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN fundraiser tickets by one or more SOS Office employees.
B. In
April 1994, IG Agents, led by IG Agent Two and IG Agent Three, conducted law
enforcement activities relating to an IG Department investigation (#94 C 0045)
of official misconduct by an employee of the Naperville licensing facility.
During the course of the investigation, IG Agent Two and IG Agent Three
obtained information that the alleged official misconduct may have been
motivated by sales of CITIZENS FOR RYAN fundraiser tickets by an SOS Office
employee. On or about April 26, 1994 and then again on April 28, 1994, IG Agent
Two was directed to provide and did provide a summary of the investigation,
which included the fundraiser ticket motive, to a high-ranking SOS Official.
C. In
November 1994, IG Agent Two received information indicating that a truck driver
involved in a fatal traffic incident may have obtained his CDL illegally at the
McCook, Illinois driver's license facility, the same facility about which the
IG Department had received recent allegations of license selling involving the
McCook facility manager. On or about November 15, 1994, IG Agent Two
communicated the information he had obtained regarding the trucker's
procurement of the CDL to Inspector General Dean Bauer and requested permission
to pursue the allegations. Inspector General Dean Bauer, in turn, notified
other high-ranking SOS Office officials of the allegations, including officials
in the SOS Department of Police.
15. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, beginning in December 1994,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL recommended terminating and reassigning certain IG
Department employees, in order to discourage the investigation into improper
political fundraising activities and related official misconduct benefiting
defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
16. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL created and
caused to be created written materials falsely justifying the decision to
dismantle the IG Department based on budgetary cutbacks at the SOS Office,
whereas in an internal SOS Office communication not intended for public
disclosure, defendant FAWELL articulated the intention to dismantle the IG
Department based, at least in part, on preventing investigations into SOS Office
fundraising activities to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
17. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about February 1995,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL personally terminated IG Agent One, who led the
Libertyville fundraising inquiry. In terminating IG Agent One, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL falsely represented to IG Agent One that he and other IG Agents were
being terminated due to the budgetary cutbacks, when in fact, a purpose of the
termination was to protect fundraising activities engaged in by SOS Office
employees on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN from public exposure, administrative
action and possible criminal prosecution.
18. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about June 1995, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL caused the termination of IG Agent Two who had participated in the
Naperville investigation and had made an inquiry into the fatal November 1994
incident. Defendant FAWELL also caused the reassignment of IG Agent Three, who
participated in the Naperville fundraising ticket inquiry, and at least four
other IG Agents to duties unrelated to the investigation of SOS Office employee
misconduct. As a direct consequence of these employment actions, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL disabled the IG Department from fulfilling its statutory duties
to, among other things, investigate all allegations of SOS Office employee
misconduct.
19. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, after the dismantling of the IG
Department, defendant SCOTT FAWELL directed and advised the Inspector General
to disregard issues relating to political fundraiser tickets by SOS Office
employees in the course of internal IG Department investigations.
The 1996 Presidential Primary Campaign
20.
Beginning in approximately the Spring of 1995, in conjunction with George
Ryan's endorsement of a Republican presidential candidate, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and another agent of CITIZENS
FOR RYAN, arranged for certain SOS Office employees to perform campaign
activities on behalf of the Ryan-endorsed Republican presidential campaign (the
"1995-96 presidential primary campaign").
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, during the 1995-96 presidential
primary campaign, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard
Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, authorized and otherwise
encouraged SOS Office employees to perform campaign work on state time and to
utilize state resources on behalf of the 1995-96 presidential primary campaign.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL conducted
meetings with SOS Office employees relating to the 1995-96 presidential primary
campaign at the offices of CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
C. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL arranged for certain
agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, including Richard Juliano and another CITIZENS FOR
RYAN agent, to be compensated relating to the 1996 presidential primary
campaign by a company affiliated with Vendor A ("Company A"). The
payments were made by Company A rather than by the presidential primary
campaign, at least in part, to conceal from public disclosure the identities of
SOS Office employees performing campaign activity, including campaign activity
on state time. In order to further conceal the payments and in anticipation of
receiving the payments, FAWELL received his payments in the name of his
consulting company, SRF Consulting, which FAWELL created shortly before receipt
of the first payment from Company A.
D. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, from approximately the Fall of 1995
through approximately February 1996, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, Richard Juliano
and another agent of CITIZENS FOR RYAN received a total of approximately
$30,000 in payments through Company A related to the 1995-96 presidential
primary campaign.
The 1996 Illinois House of Representative Races
21.
Pursuant to the Illinois Constitution, elections were held every two years for
each seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. Thus, in 1996, all 118
Illinois House of Representative seats were up for election. For the purpose of
maintaining a Republican majority in the House of Representatives, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL, Richard Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN agreed to
assist the House Republican Campaign Committee, the umbrella political
organization for Illinois House Republicans, in an effort to prevail in certain
targeted campaigns, whose outcomes were expected to determine which political
party would control the Illinois House of Representatives (the "House
races").
22. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about the Summer of 1996,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL gathered select SOS Office employees and volunteers of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN at the CITIZENS FOR RYAN office for meetings. In meetings, FAWELL
promised SOS Office work-related benefits and other compensation to numerous
SOS Office employees as a reward for, and in connection with, their campaign
efforts on behalf of the House races (the "1996 Campaign
Coordinators").
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in approximately August through
early November 1996, during the final stages of the House races, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL and agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN authorized and otherwise
encouraged the 1996 Campaign Coordinators to perform campaign work on state
time and to utilize state resources on behalf of the targeted campaigns.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that SCOTT FAWELL and other agents of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN caused the falsification of SOS Office records, including
personnel records, state vehicle logs and mileage reimbursement forms, on
behalf of certain 1996 Campaign Coordinators, in order to conceal the fact that
they were performing campaign activity on state time.
C. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL arranged for
the 1996 Campaign Coordinators to be compensated for their campaign work by a
company owned by Vendor A ("Company B"), at least in part, to conceal
the participation of the 1996 Campaign Coordinators, who were SOS Office
employees, routinely performing campaign work on state time.
D. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about October 1996, CITIZENS
FOR RYAN made a $100,000 loan to the House Republican Campaign Committee (the
"October 1996 loan"). In or about September 1997, $50,000 of the
October 1996 loan was repaid to CITIZENS FOR RYAN and the remaining $50,000 was
forgiven by CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
E. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, from approximately August 1996
through October 1996, defendant SCOTT FAWELL and selected 1996 Campaign
Coordinators received a total of approximately $100,000 from Company B for
their campaign work associated with the 1996 House races, including campaign
work performed on state time by the 1996 Campaign Coordinators.
The 1998 Illinois Gubernatorial Campaign
23. In or
about September 1997, Secretary Ryan announced that he was a candidate for the
Office of Governor for the 1998 election. On behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN and
beginning no later than February 1998, defendant FAWELL became the full-time
campaign manager and was employed by CITIZENS FOR RYAN. Richard Juliano became
the deputy campaign manager and was employed by CITIZENS FOR RYAN. On behalf of
candidate Ryan, CITIZENS FOR RYAN engaged in a statewide campaign to elect Ryan
as Governor of the State of Illinois.
24. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about October 1997, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL arranged for Richard Juliano to obtain an SOS Office employment
contract. At the time FAWELL procured the SOS Office employment contract for
Juliano, Juliano performed little or no SOS Office work. Rather, FAWELL
directed Juliano to perform campaign work on behalf of the 1998 gubernatorial
campaign. As directed, from in or about October 1997 until in or about February
1998, Juliano performed principally campaign work under the SOS Office contract
at FAWELL's direction, thus defrauding the state of his honest services.
25. It was
part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to reduce the payroll costs to
defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of
Richard Juliano and other agents for CITIZENS FOR RYAN, fraudulently diverted
SOS Office personnel for campaign use, thus causing the state of Illinois to
incur costs in order to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN and its campaign efforts.
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, for periods beginning in
approximately February 1998 through in or about August 1998, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR
RYAN, fraudulently obtained and caused to be obtained full-time CITIZENS FOR
RYAN work from numerous SOS Office employees for particular time periods during
the 1998 campaign, when these SOS Office employees remained on the SOS Office
payroll on at least a part-time basis during those time periods (hereinafter,
the "Diverted Employees"). The Diverted Employees were assigned to
work at CITIZENS FOR RYAN offices in Chicago, Homewood and Springfield.
B. In was further
part of the scheme that, in order to facilitate and conceal the campaign work
by the Diverted Employees, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of
Richard Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, caused and authorized
the falsification of personnel records to reflect part-time SOS Office status
for the Diverted Employees for particular time periods, when in fact, as
defendant SCOTT FAWELL and Richard Juliano well knew, they intended for the
Diverted Employees to work full-time or virtually full-time and the Diverted
Employees did in fact work full-time or virtually full-time for defendant
CITIZENS FOR RYAN. As a result, the SOS Office incurred substantial portions of
the salary and benefit expenses of the Diverted Employees.
C. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to facilitate the scheme,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, caused and directed certain Diverted Employees to falsify
timesheets and other records to reflect time spent on duty at the SOS Office,
when in fact, as defendant SCOTT FAWELL and Richard Juliano well knew, the
Diverted Employees were working full-time or virtually full-time for CITIZENS
FOR RYAN.
26. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to reduce the operating
costs for defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the
assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, diverted
SOS Office assets and resources to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN and took steps to
conceal the Diverted Resources, thus causing the state of Illinois to incur
costs on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN (the "Diverted Resources").
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in and around early 1998, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, caused SOS Office personnel to order and purchase quantities
of office supplies and equipment with SOS Office funds in order that these
assets be diverted for campaign use.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN utilized
state-issued vehicles, cell phones and other state-issued equipment to perform
campaign work on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
C. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to conceal the purchase
and use of the Diverted Resources on behalf of defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN forged and
falsified documents relating to the purchase and use of the Diverted Resources
and caused state identification tags to be removed from certain state-owned
personal property prior to the property being diverted for the benefit of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
27. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in addition to the Diverted
Employees, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and
other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, authorized, encouraged and otherwise
permitted additional full-time SOS Office employees to perform campaign work on
state time on behalf of the 1998 gubernatorial campaign (the "1998
Campaign Volunteers").
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, beginning in approximately the
Spring of 1998, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano
and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed SOS Office employees assigned
to the Information Systems Department to install campaign computer systems,
provide computer trouble shooting services and perform other computer services
in Chicago and Springfield on state time on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, beginning in approximately the
Spring of 1998 and continuing through early November 1998, an SOS Office
administrator ("SOS Office Employee B"), at the direction of
defendant SCOTT FAWELL and Richard Juliano, performed substantial amounts of
campaign work from SOS Office Employee B's state office, in order to benefit
CITIZENS FOR RYAN.
28. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about October 1998, defendant
SCOTT FAWELL, with the assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, caused the SOS Office to create SOS Office job positions and
related SOS Office job descriptions in order to place numerous full-time
CITIZENS FOR RYAN employees (the "1998 Campaign Employees") on the
SOS Office payroll for approximately two months following the 1998
gubernatorial election.
29. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL, with the
assistance of Richard Juliano and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, provided
SOS Office financial benefits and other governmental pecuniary benefits to the
1998 Campaign Volunteers as a reward for, and in connection with, campaign
efforts performed by SOS Office employees on behalf of the 1998 gubernatorial
campaign, including SOS Office salary increases following the November 1998
gubernatorial campaign.
30. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant CITIZENS FOR RYAN did not
report to the Illinois State Board of Elections the benefits CITIZENS FOR RYAN
obtained from the Diverted Employees, the 1998 Campaign Volunteers and the
Diverted Resources on CITIZENS FOR RYAN's D-2 Reports for the relevant 1998
reporting periods.
B.
The Performance Of Official Actions By The
SOS Office In Return For, And In Connection With, Campaign and Financial
Benefits
31. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL performed and
authorized the performance of official actions by the SOS Office in return for,
and in connection with, pecuniary benefits and the promise of pecuniary
benefits to defendants CITIZENS FOR RYAN and SCOTT FAWELL.
A. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL authorized
official actions by the SOS Office to benefit Vendor A in return for, and in
connection with, campaign benefits and promises of campaign benefits to
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, as well as financial benefits to defendant FAWELL.
i. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, beginning in or about August 1994,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL authorized the award of contracts relating to the
promotion and marketing of the Organ Donor Program, an SOS Office program
designed to develop public awareness for the cause of organ donations, for the
benefit of Vendor A (referred to herein as the "Vendor A Contracts").
In awarding the Vendor A Contracts beginning in 1994, defendant SCOTT FAWELL
arranged for the contracts to be awarded in the name of a third party entity,
in order to conceal Vendor A's participation in the contract. In return for,
and in connection with, the award of the Vendor A Contracts, Vendor A agreed to
raise campaign funds on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN and to provide certain
professional services to benefit CITIZENS FOR RYAN the value of which services
and other things of value could have been used for the benefit of the State of
Illinois in any one of a number of ways including negotiating a lower price for
the contract.
ii. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in or about the Fall of 1996,
Vendor A agreed to make $100,000 in payments to the 1996 campaign coordinators
from Company B, including $10,000 to defendant SCOTT FAWELL through SRF
Consulting, for campaign work performed on behalf of the 1996 House races, as
alleged above. Shortly after the 1996 elections, in or about December 1996,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL and another SOS Office official authorized the creation
of an SOS Office position to benefit Vendor A for the principal purpose of
fraudulently enhancing Vendor A's state pension benefits.
iii. At
the time of the creation of the SOS position on behalf of Vendor A, defendant
FAWELL caused the creation of false and fraudulent personnel records indicating
that hiring Vendor A was an "emergency" and necessary for a critical
SOS Office project. Less than two months later, in or about February 1997,
having done little or no work, but having qualified for the enhanced pension
benefits, Vendor A resigned from the SOS Office position. In so doing and with
defendant FAWELL's assistance and connivance, Vendor A falsely and fraudulently
increased his annual state pension and thereby defrauded the state.
iv. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, between at least 1991 and 1998,
defendant FAWELL accepted and agreed to accept, free and heavily-subsidized
vacations and related vacation benefits to Costa Rica; Door County, Wisconsin;
and Lake Ontario, Canada, from Vendor A. Such benefits, which exceeded $500 per
year on certain trips for certain years, included the payment and partial payment
of travel, lodging and personal service benefits, including prostitution
services in Costa Rica, for the benefit of defendant FAWELL.
B. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that defendant SCOTT FAWELL authorized
and facilitated the award of low- digit and specialty license plates, on
certain occasions, in return for, and in conjunction with, political
contributions to CITIZENS FOR RYAN and a second political campaign fund
("Political Fund B").
32. It was
further part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to conceal certain
benefits conferred upon defendant SCOTT FAWELL by Vendor A, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL failed to disclose those benefits on his federal income tax forms and
Statement of Economic Interest forms as required by law.
C. Destroying Documents and Computer Material
Evidencing The Scheme
33. It was
further part of the effort to conceal the scheme that, during the 1998
gubernatorial campaign, defendant SCOTT FAWELL and other agents of CITIZENS FOR
RYAN discarded and destroyed documents and computer material that reflected
elements of the scheme to defraud, in the face of media scrutiny and state
criminal investigations.
i. In or
about late September 1998, defendant SCOTT FAWELL and other employees and
agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN learned that a television reporter was preparing to
broadcast a news report indicating, among other things, that in conjunction
with the 1996 House races and related campaign efforts, SOS Office employees
and resources were improperly used and diverted for campaign purposes. On or
about September 30, 1998, defendant SCOTT FAWELL and other agents of CITIZENS
FOR RYAN directed a CITIZENS FOR RYAN employee working out of the Homewood
office ("1998 Campaign Employee One") to destroy and discard certain
documents relevant to the media inquiry that were also relevant to a state
criminal investigation.
ii. It was
further part of the effort to conceal the scheme that, after receiving the
FAWELL directive, 1998 Campaign Employee One directed the shredding and destruction
of documents at the Homewood, Illinois CITIZENS FOR RYAN office late into the
evening. Such shredded documents included SOS Office lists purloined by agents
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN; SOS Office volunteer lists; documents tracking SOS Office
volunteer participation, and other documents linking SOS Office employees to
the 1998 campaign effort.
iii. It
was further part of the effort to conceal the scheme that, after the shredding
was complete, 1998 Campaign Employee One directed that the garbage bags full of
shredded material be disposed of away from the CITIZENS FOR RYAN office in
order that media and, potentially, law enforcement not learn of this
destruction of documents.
iv. It was
further part of the effort to conceal the scheme to defraud that, in or about
September 1998, after learning of a state police criminal investigation into,
among other things, diversion of state equipment for campaign benefit,
defendant SCOTT FAWELL and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN caused the use of
computer "wiping" equipment to delete, from state computers, all
files created by SOS Office employees that contained campaign-related material.
The purpose of the "wiping" was to conceal from criminal
investigators the performance of campaign work by state compensated employees
on state time and, more specifically, the use of state computers by SOS Office
employees for campaign related activities.
II. Defendants' Obstruction Of Justice Offenses
34. In
September 1998, after defendant SCOTT FAWELL became aware of the federal criminal
investigation, including the Grand Jury Investigation, defendant FAWELL and
other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN destroyed, discarded, burned, removed and
failed to preserve documents that were relevant and material to the Grand Jury
Investigation.
35. On or
about September 8, 1998, after learning of the existence of the federal
criminal investigation, including the Grand Jury Investigation, defendant SCOTT
FAWELL and other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN directed SOS Office employees to
destroy and remove campaign related documents from the SOS Offices in Chicago.
A. In
anticipation of further federal criminal investigative actions after September
3, 1998, defendant FAWELL directed an SOS Office official (hereinafter
"SOS Employee C") located in the Chicago executive offices of the
SOS, to collect, shred and otherwise discard documents on SOS Office premises.
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 created and
maintained by SOS Office employees.
B. After
the shredding was complete, SOS Office Employee C directed that the area around
the shredder be cleaned up in order that law enforcement not learn of this
destruction of documents. Furthermore, another SOS Office employee transported
the numerous garbage bags full of shredded material away from the SOS Office in
order that federal law enforcement not learn of this destruction of documents.
36. In or
about September 1998, after learning of the existence of the federal criminal
investigation, including the Grand Jury Investigation, defendant SCOTT FAWELL directed
CITIZENS FOR RYAN employees and agents to destroy and remove campaign related
documents located in the CITIZENS FOR RYAN offices in Springfield. In response
to that directive, employees of CITIZENS FOR RYAN shredded, burned and
otherwise discarded documents that were relevant and material to the Grand Jury
Investigation, including documents relating to SOS Office employee fundraising
and various SOS Office volunteer efforts related to the 1998 campaign.
37. In or
about September 1998, after learning of the existence of the federal criminal
investigation, including the Grand Jury Investigation, defendant SCOTT FAWELL
directed and caused other agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN to discard and remove
documents from the CITIZENS FOR RYAN offices in Chicago that were relevant and
material to the Grand Jury Investigation, and responsive to the September 8,
1998 grand jury subpoena. In addition, in response to the federal criminal
investigation and the September 8, 1998 grand jury subpoena, defendant FAWELL
took no efforts to preserve relevant and material documents and, instead,
altered existing document retention policies so as to prevent the communication
of material documents to the SPECIAL JUNE 1997 Grand Jury. Such discarded
documents included documents relating to SOS Office employee fundraising and
other matters then under investigation by the Grand Jury.
38. On or
about October 13, 1998, defendant SCOTT FAWELL, as custodian of records for
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, knowingly made false and misleading statements to the
SPECIAL JUNE 1997-2 grand jury investigating improper conduct by SOS Office and
agents of CITIZENS FOR RYAN. In particular, FAWELL provided false and
misleading statements under oath to a federal grand jury regarding, among other
things, his knowledge of and involvement with political fundraising activities
by SOS Office employees.
39. In or
about October 1999, defendant SCOTT FAWELL caused others, including a former
CITIZENS FOR RYAN employee, to shred, burn, destroy and otherwise dispose of
documents and to attempt to destroy a computer "zip drive" containing
information relevant and material to the Grand Jury Investigation, including
numerous documents that revealed portions of the scheme.
THE PATTERN OF RACKETEERING ACTIVITY
40. The
pattern of racketeering activity, as defined in Title 18, United States Code,
Sections 1961(1) and 1961(5), consisted of the following acts:
Racketeering Acts Related To Scheme To Defraud
Racketeering Act #1
Racketeering
Act #1 consists of the following racketeering acts set forth in subparagraphs
(a) and (b) below, either one of which alone constitutes the commission of
Racketeering Act #1.
(a) In or about August 1994, in Chicago, in the
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and elsewhere,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN
defendants herein, attempted to
commit extortion, which attempted extortion obstructed, delayed and affected
commerce, in that defendant SCOTT FAWELL agreed to obtain property, in the form
of political funds raised through Vendor A for the benefit of CITIZENS FOR
RYAN, with Vendor A's consent induced under color of official right. In return
for the promise of political funds raised through Vendor A for and on behalf of
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, defendant SCOTT FAWELL arranged for Vendor A to obtain the
Vendor A Contracts from the SOS Office in the name of a third party entity.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Sections 1951 and 2.
(b) On or about October 2, 1994, at Chicago
Heights, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter and to be sent and
delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a
state of Illinois check in the amount of $114,500 for payment relating to the
Vendor A Contracts and addressed to:
Grafcom
Corporation
1717 East End Avenue
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
In violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #2
On or about June 21, 1995, at
Joliet, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, SCOTT R. FAWELL
and CITIZENS FOR RYAN, defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the
aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to be delivered
by private or commercial interstate carrier according to the direction thereon
a package containing layoff notification and reassignment information to:
IG Agent Two
Chicago, IL
In violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Sections
1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #3
The
defendants committed the following acts, either one of which alone constitutes
the commission of Racketeering Act #3.
(a) On or about May 2, 1996, at Chicago, in
the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN
defendants herein, together with
Larry Hall and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, committed bribery,
in violation of 720 ILCS 5/33-1 (d), in that defendant FAWELL received,
retained and agreed to accept property, namely campaign contributions to
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, through Larry Hall, which he was not authorized by law to
accept, knowing that the property was promised and tendered with the intent to
cause defendant FAWELL to influence the performance of acts related to his
employment as SOS Office Chief of Staff, namely, causing the issuance of a
low-digit plate to Requestor A.
(b) On or
about May 2, 1996, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN
defendants herein, together with
Larry Hall and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, committed official
misconduct, and solicited, aided and abetted the commission of this offense, in
violation of 720 ILCS 5/33-3(c), in that FAWELL, with the intent to obtain a
personal advantage for CITIZENS FOR RYAN, that is, a CITIZENS FOR RYAN campaign
contribution, performed acts as SOS Office Chief of Staff in excess of his
lawful authority, namely causing the issuance of a low-digit plate to Requestor
A in return for a CITIZENS FOR RYAN campaign contribution.
Racketeering Act #4
The defendants committed the
following acts, either one of which alone constitutes the commission of
Racketeering Act #4.
(a) On or
about September 17, 1996, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois,
Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL,
defendant herein, together with
Larry Hall and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, committed bribery,
in violation of 720 ILCS 5/33-1 (d), in that defendant FAWELL received,
retained and agreed to accept property, namely campaign contributions to a
campaign committee, through Larry Hall, which he was not authorized by law to
accept, knowing that the property was promised and tendered with the intent to
cause defendant FAWELL to influence the performance of acts related to his
employment as SOS Office Chief of Staff, namely, causing the issuance of a
low-digit plate to Requestor B.
(b) On or
about September 17, 1996, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois,
Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL,
defendant herein, together with
Larry Hall and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, committed official
misconduct, and solicited, aided and abetted the commission of this offense, in
violation of 720 ILCS 5/33-3(c), in that FAWELL, with the intent to obtain a
personal advantage for another, that is, a campaign contribution to a campaign
committee, performed acts as SOS Office Chief of Staff in excess of his lawful
authority, namely causing the issuance of a low-digit plate to Requestor B in
return for and in exchange for a campaign contribution to Political Committee
B.
Racketeering Act #5
On or about October 16, 1996, at
Galva, in the Central District of Illinois, SCOTT FAWELL, defendant herein, for
the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did
knowingly cause to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter and
to be sent and delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope
containing a mileage reimbursement request and addressed to:
Secretary
of State
Vehicle Services Department
Room 461
Howlett Building
Springfield, Illinois 62756
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #6
On or about October 28, 1996, at
Bridgeview, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter and to be sent and
delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a
check from Company B to a 1996 campaign coordinator and addressed to:
1996
Campaign Employee One
Bloomingdale, IL
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #7
On or about
October 28, 1996, at Bridgeview, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN
defendant herein, for the purpose of
executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to
be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter and to be sent and
delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a
check from Company B to a 1996 campaign coordinator and addressed to:
1996
Campaign Employee Two
Riverton, IL
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #8
On or about
October 28, 1996, at Bridgeview, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL, and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN
defendant herein, for the purpose of
executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause to
be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter and to be sent and
delivered by mail according to the direction thereon an envelope containing a
check to a 1996 campaign coordinator from Company B and addressed to:
1996
Campaign Employee Three
Galva, IL
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #9
On or about
January 31, 1998, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter an envelope
containing a $2,500 check relating to the SOS Office employment of Richard
Juliano and addressed to:
Richard
Juliano
Park Ridge, IL
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #10
On or about
March 31, 1998, in Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division, and Springfield, Illinois,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, knowingly did cause
to be placed in the United States mail, to be delivered by the United States
Postal Service according to the directions thereon, an envelope addressed to:
Office
Furniture Warehouse
P.O. Box 668
Springfield, IL 62705
which envelope contained an SOS
Office check, which represented payment for the industrial shredder diverted to
the CITIZENS FOR RYAN campaign.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #11
On or about
April 13, 1998, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter an envelope
containing a state of Illinois check for payment of office supplies and
addressed to:
Boise
Cascade
P.O. Box 92735
Chicago, IL 60675-2735
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #12
On or about
May 5, 1998, in Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division, and Springfield, Illinois, SCOTT R. FAWELL and CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme, and
attempting to do so, knowingly did cause to be placed in the United States
mail, to be delivered by the United States Postal Service according to the
directions thereon, an envelope addressed to:
Beatty
Televisual Inc.
1287 Wabash Ave.
Springfield, IL 62704
which envelope contained an SOS
Office check, which represented payment for a television set and VCR
combination unit diverted to the CITIZENS FOR RYAN campaign.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #13
On or about
July 30, 1998, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did cause to be
deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter an envelope containing an
executed lease agreement relating to parking spaces located at 177 N. Wells,
Chicago, and addressed to:
Mr.
James Doria
General Parking Corporation
111 West Jackson Blvd. Ste. 1900
Chicago, IL 60607
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #14
On or about
June 11, 1998, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter an envelope containing
a salary earnings statement and addressed to:
Diverted
Employee One
Homewood, IL
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #15
On or about
June 26, 1998, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be deposited in an authorized depository for mail matter an envelope containing
a salary earnings statement and addressed to:
Diverted
Employee Two
Springfield, IL
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Act #16
On or about
August 4, 1998, at Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme, and attempting to do so, did knowingly cause
to be delivered by private or commercial interstate carrier according to the direction
thereon a State of Illinois check relating to the purchase of copier paper and
addressed to:
Atlas
Stationers
227 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60606
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1346 and 2.
Racketeering Acts Related To Obstruction Of Justice
Racketeering Act #17
The
defendants committed the following acts, either one of which alone constitutes
the commission of Racketeering Act #17.
(a) On or about September 8, 1998, in Chicago,
Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
persuaded another person, with intent to cause and induce any person to destroy
and conceal an object with intent to impair the object's integrity and
availability for use in an official proceeding, namely, that defendant SCOTT
FAWELL, on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed SOS Office employees to
destroy and remove campaign related documents from the SOS Offices in Chicago.
In response to that directive, employees of the SOS Office, including SOS
Office Employee C, collected and then shredded and otherwise discarded
documents relevant and material to the Grand Jury Investigation. In violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(b)(2)(B) and 2.
(b) On or
about September 8, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois, Northern District of Illinois,
Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
influenced, obstructed and impeded and endeavored to influence, obstruct, and
impede the due administration of justice; namely, that SCOTT FAWELL, on behalf
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed SOS Office employees to destroy and remove
campaign related documents from the SOS Offices in Chicago. In response to that
directive, employees of the SOS Office, including SOS Office Employee C,
collected and then shredded and otherwise discarded documents relevant and
material to the Grand Jury Investigation.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1503(a) and 2.
Racketeering Act #18
The
defendants committed the following acts, either one of which alone constitutes
the commission of Racketeering Act #18.
(a) In or
about September 1998, in Chicago, Illinois, Northern District of Illinois,
Eastern Division, and elsewhere,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
persuaded another person, with intent to cause and induce any person to destroy
and conceal an object, with intent to impair the object's integrity and
availability for use in an official proceeding, namely, defendant SCOTT FAWELL,
on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed and caused the removal, discarding and
destruction of campaign related documents at CITIZENS FOR RYAN Offices in
Chicago and Springfield. Such actions included the discarding of documents
responsive and relevant to a September 8, 1998 grand jury subpoena and
otherwise altering existing document retention policies so as to prevent the
communication of responsive documents to the SPECIAL JUNE 1997 GRAND JURY.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512 (b)(2)(B) and 2.
(b) In or
about September 1998, in Chicago, Illinois, Northern District of Illinois,
Eastern Division, and elsewhere,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
influenced, obstructed and impeded and endeavored to influence, obstruct, and
impede the due administration of justice; namely, that SCOTT FAWELL, on behalf
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed and caused the removal, discarding and
destruction of campaign-related documents at CITIZENS FOR RYAN Offices in
Chicago and Springfield. Such actions included the discarding of documents
responsive and relevant to a September 8, 1998 grand jury subpoena and
otherwise altering existing document retention policies so as to prevent the communication
of responsive documents to the SPECIAL JUNE 1997 GRAND JURY.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1503(a) and 2.
Racketeering Act #19
On or about
October 13, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
influenced, obstructed and impeded and endeavored to influence, obstruct, and
impede the due administration of justice; namely, that SCOTT FAWELL, on behalf
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, knowingly made false and misleading statements to the
SPECIAL JUNE 1997-2 grand jury investigating, among other things, improper
conduct by SOS Office and CITIZENS FOR RYAN employees. In particular, FAWELL
provided false and misleading statements under oath to a federal grand jury
regarding, among other things, his knowledge of and involvement with political
fundraising activities by SOS Office employees.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1503 (a).
Racketeering Act #20
The defendants
committed the following acts, either one of which alone constitutes the
commission of Racketeering Act #20.
(a) In or
about October 1999, in Chicago and Mundelein, Illinois, Northern District of
Illinois, Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
persuaded another person, with intent to cause and induce any person to destroy
and conceal an object, with intent to impair the object's integrity and
availability for use in an official proceeding, namely, defendant SCOTT FAWELL,
on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed and caused the shredding, burning,
disposal, and destruction of documents and attempted destruction of a computer
"zip drive" containing information relevant and material to the Grand
Jury Investigation.
In
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512 (b)(2)(B) and 2.
(b) In or
about October 1999, in Chicago and Mundelein, Illinois, Northern District of
Illinois, Eastern Division,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL and
CITIZENS
FOR RYAN,
defendants herein, corruptly
influenced, obstructed and impeded and endeavored to influence, obstruct, and
impede the due administration of justice; namely, that SCOTT FAWELL, on behalf
of CITIZENS FOR RYAN, directed and caused the shredding, burning, disposal, and
destruction of documents and attempted destruction of a computer "zip
drive" containing information relevant and material to the Grand Jury
Investigation. In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1503(a)
and 2. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(c).
COUNT TWO
1. The
allegations in paragraphs 1 and 23-30 of Count One of this indictment are
hereby realleged and incorporated herein as if fully set forth herein.
2. On or
about March 31, 1998, in Chicago, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division, and Springfield, Illinois,
SCOTT
R. FAWELL,
CITIZENS FOR RYAN, and
RICHARD JULIANO
defendants herein, for the purpose
of executing the aforesaid scheme to obtain money and property by means of
materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and
attempting to do so, knowingly did cause to be placed in the United States
mail, to be delivered by the United States Postal Service according to the
directions thereon, an envelope addressed to: