Democratic Party Just-Resigned State Senator Terry Links Pleads Guilty to Income Tax Evasion, Spent Campaign Fund for Personal Purposes, Will Cooperate in Other Cases

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

Former Illinois State Senator Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Charge

CHICAGO — Former Illinois State Sen. TERRANCE P. LINK pleaded guilty today to a federal tax charge and admitted willfully underreporting his income for several years.

Terry Link

 Link admitted in a plea agreement that he willfully underreported his income on his tax returns for the calendar years 2012 through 2016. 

The conduct caused total losses to the IRS of at least $71,133, and to the Illinois Department of Revenue of at least $11,527, the plea agreement states. 

For the calendar year 2016, Link admitted that he underreported approximately $93,859, approximately $73,159 of which was money from a campaign fund – Friends of Terry Link – that Link spent on personal expenses, the plea agreement states.

Link, 73, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return, which is punishable by up to three years in federal prison.  He agreed to pay restitution of $71,133 to the IRS, and $11,527 to the Illinois Department of Revenue. 

U.S. District Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr., did not immediately set a sentencing date.  A status hearing was set for March 30, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Stetler and James P. Durkin.

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And from the Plea Ageeement:

Defendant agrees he will fully and truthfully cooperate in any matter in which he is called upon to cooperate by a representative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. This cooperation shall include providing complete and truthful information in any investigation and pre-trial preparation and complete and truthful testimony in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding. Defendant agrees to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his cooperation.

Link agrees to pay IRS $71,133 and the Illinois Department of Revenue $11,527.

The suggested sentence will be “10 to 16 months’ imprisonment.”

However, the Daily Herald reports prosecutors will recommend probation.

The Daily Herald also reports the following:

[Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher] Stetler and [Link attorney Catharine] O’Daniel acknowledged the tax evasion was unrelated to Link’s former employment as a state senator.

If unrelated, Link would receive a pretty good pension.


Comments

Democratic Party Just-Resigned State Senator Terry Links Pleads Guilty to Income Tax Evasion, Spent Campaign Fund for Personal Purposes, Will Cooperate in Other Cases — 6 Comments

  1. The only way the Democrats win anything this election is by stealing it.

    Their policies are anti-American and communist and they have insane leadership.

  2. So Terry Link’s original plan was to serve in the state senate and Lake County Democratic Party Chairman until September 15, and then go plead guilty the next morning.

    From Monday morning’s article on state senate resignation:

    http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/09/14/link1

    Didn’t realize he had a Sept. 16 court appearance, which is when his guilty plead is entered, and would have forced him out of state senate, anyway.

    So he resigns, effective 4 days until pleading guilty, but just after the deadline passes to force a special state senate election for voters to choose his successor.

    And Link’s been doing his under reporting of income for multiple years, not just 2016 tax year.

    I don’t care he is in his 70s, may Link get the book thrown at him and do real time, in addition to the combined $83K he owes the Feds and state.

    What a piece of work.

  3. Franks?

    Given he’s been in elective office since January of 1999, which means he’s not been convicted of a felony, my guess is no.

    He’s just double-dipping, living on both his GARS pension of 18 years, and drawing county salary.

    Now, once that conviction happens, then, Franks will be gone, and long before he’s in his 70s like Link.

  4. Links should have run in McHenry County as Patty O’Kenneally is the States Attorney solely to protect dipshits like himself as it takes one to know one!

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