Long Time Chicago Politician Sentenced for Gambling With Campaign Funds

CHICAGO - (UPI) -- A longtime Chicago politician will serve 6 months in jail after being convicted of tax evasion and mishandling campaign funds, prosecutors said.

William Beavers, 78, a Democratic Cook County commissioner since 2007 and before that Chicago's 7th ward alderman since 1983, was convicted of tax evasion in March for concealing his under-reporting of income, U.S. Attorney Gary S. Shapiro said Wednesday.

Beavers took approximated $226,000 from three campaign accounts from 2006 to 2008, telling campaign staff he was reimbursing himself for campaign-related expenses when he used the cash for personal expenses or gambling. At various points he doctored documents to avoid detection on Illinois campaign finance disclosure forms.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced Beavers to 6 months in prison followed by a year of post-release supervision. During that time he must perform 400 hours of community service and refrain from entering casinos or racetracks. Zagel also fined Beavers, a former police officer, $10,000 and ordered him to pay $30,848 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.