A central Illinois state representative schemed to direct state grant money to her daughter, took kickbacks on bogus campaign expenses and lied to the FBI about it all, according to federal prosecutors.
State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice, along with her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons. He faces an obstruction of justice charge for allegedly instructing a potential witness to “muddy the waters” for investigators tracing them.
Rep. Ammons’ indictment comes on the heels of another controversy roiling the Illinois House. State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, resigned last week in the wake of a legislative inspector general’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations.
A House communications staffer assigned to Rep. Ammons referred questions to her district office, which didn’t respond to requests for comment. Nor did Aaron Ammons, who was elected clerk in 2018.
The six-term Rep. Ammons “devised a scheme to defraud the State of Illinois, its taxpayers, and donors and contributors to her campaign” from 2017 through June 2025, the indictment reads.
During the 2020 state budget season, Rep. Ammons allegedly “caused a change in an appropriation for a state grant” from one nonprofit to another that her daughter worked for, collecting $3,326 until being informed by the organization and state officials that “it was an impermissible conflict of interest,” according to the indictment.
Rep. Ammons didn’t assist that nonprofit the next year “after she learned that it could not pay her daughter,” but she helped two other organizations line up grant funding after hiring her daughter, “knowing full well it was a conflict of interest,” the indictment reads. The legislator and her daughter allegedly netted more than $100,000.
Meanwhile, payments were made from the Friends of Carol Ammons campaign fund to herself and family members “that were not legitimate payments for services actually rendered.” Other individuals allegedly received inflated payments and were expected “to provide cash kickbacks to her, sometimes referred to as ‘gifts,’” according to the feds.
“I’m home now but can catch you before board at the county building at 6 to grab the gift,” Rep. Ammons allegedly wrote in a 2022 text message.
Rep. Ammons — who’s unopposed in the November election being overseen by her husband’s office — failed to report some $25,000 in other supposed campaign expenses that included kickbacks, prosecutors said. She allegedly paid her daughter about $600 per month, totaling almost $16,000.
The legislator faces a false statement charge for telling an FBI agent she wasn’t aware of the conflict of interest in grant spending.
Her husband allegedly told a potential witness that “they should speak in code words about the ongoing federal investigation” and directed another to “muddy the waters” for agents tracking payments to Rep. Ammons.
Her campaign fund contained more than $67,000 as of March 31, according to state election board records.
Last month, Ammons’ daughter Titianna Ammons was indicted on three counts of wire fraud for allegedly claiming federal COVID-19 unemployment insurance benefits while she was serving on the Champaign County Board.
It wasn’t clear if she’s the unnamed daughter mentioned in the indictment of Rep. Ammons, who has three children, according to a biography posted on her General Assembly webpage. The legislator’s campaign fund has reported 28 payments over the years to Tatianni Ammons, mostly categorized as “staff salaries,” records show.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, called the allegations “extremely serious” and said he was “temporarily” removing Ammons from caucus meetings and committee assignments “[i]n the interest of upholding the integrity of the House and ensuring we can continue our important work without distraction.” Welch also ordered a budget review “to determins whether any funds need to be paused or reconsidered.”
“Every person under our system of justice is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process,” Welch said in a statement. “The U.S. Attorney will lay out evidence in court, where Representative Ammons will have the chance to defend herself against the allegations.”
In a statement, Gov. JB Pritzker said the indictment is “extremely concerning and needs to be taken very seriously to ensure elected officials are accountable to the people they represent.”
Pritzker’s office noted “the State of Illinois had identified and took steps to stop an impermissible conflict of interest with a state grant. The Governor’s Office will review all the other grants listed in the indictment to ensure we are taking all steps possible to protect taxpayer dollars.”
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said Ammons “should resign immediately.”
“Speaker Welch should join me in calling for her resignation,” McCombie said. “Leadership means holding your own members accountable, not waiting until political pressure becomes unavoidable. Elected officials are entrusted with serving the public, not enriching themselves, and the seriousness of these allegations demands accountability.”