On Tuesday, former Republican State Senator Sam McCann was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for stealing almost $700,000 in campaign funds and attempting to cover up his actions with false reports to state election authorities. McCann, who represented a rural district in Illinois, pleaded guilty in February to multiple charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. His plea came only after prosecutors had nearly completed their presentation of evidence against him in a trial that began earlier this year.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless, who handed down the sentence, highlighted McCann’s lack of accountability until the last moment as a significant factor in her decision. She expressed particular concern over McCann’s continued theft while presenting himself as a “God-fearing public servant.” Dressed in the gray-and-black striped uniform of the Macon County Jail, where he has been held since just before his trial began, McCann addressed the court, claiming he was grateful for his time in jail and the relationships he was forming with other detainees and correctional officers. He also mentioned gaining a new perspective on how some of his votes in the General Assembly impacted the criminal justice system.
McCann’s political career began with his election to the Illinois Senate in 2010, where he served until 2018. Known for occasionally breaking from his party to support organized labor, he eventually left the Republican Party to form his own “Conservative Party” and ran for governor in 2018. His campaign received $3 million from the International Union of Operating Engineers, a move perceived as a strategy to draw votes away from then-Governor Bruce Rauner, who was unpopular with labor unions.
Prosecutors alleged that McCann’s misuse of campaign funds began in 2015 and escalated during his gubernatorial run in 2018. Evidence presented at trial showed McCann used campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, including mortgages, loans, vehicles, and vacations. Despite federal agents warning him about lying, McCann continued his illegal activities until mid-2020, even after several interviews with investigators.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Bass called McCann’s ongoing misuse of funds “brazen,” noting that he continued spending campaign money on personal expenses long after his failed gubernatorial bid. McCann was indicted in early 2021 and spent the next three years maintaining his innocence, ultimately representing himself at trial before pleading guilty.
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On Tuesday, McCann’s attorney, Jason Vincent, requested a 12-month prison sentence, citing letters of support from McCann’s family, friends, and former constituents. However, Judge Lawless opted for a 42-month sentence, emphasizing the broader context of public corruption and the need for accountability. In addition to his prison term, McCann was ordered to pay $683,816.61 in restitution, to be divided between Local 150 and the Illinois Education Association, which had funded his campaigns before 2018.
