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Ex-state
Representative Ron Sandack, known as an adamant defender of
Republican Governor Bruce Rauner's initiatives on the floor of
the Democratic-dominated House, was up for re-election in
November.
Police in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove disclosed in their
report that Sandack twice wired an undisclosed amount of money
to a source in the Philippines after engaging in a mid-July
conversation via Skype with a woman he described as in her 20s.
Sandack, 52, told police more than two fictitious Facebook
accounts were later created bearing his name, and additional
demands for money ensued. Significant portions of the police
report were redacted, leaving unclear any specific threats made
against the lawmaker.
Within two days of his initial contact with the woman, Sandack
contacted Facebook to have the fictitious accounts closed and
informed police about the developments, the report said.
Downers Grove police established the funds were wired to an
address in the Philippines, the report said. But after
contacting the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which declined
to open an investigation, Downers Grove police closed their
probe.
In a statement on Friday, Sandack voiced regret that he had
engaged in improper online conversations but stressed he was a
victim of a criminal enterprise.
“This past July, I was the target of an international crime ring
focusing on high-profile individuals luring them to engage in
inappropriate online conversations with the intent of extortion.
I took their bait and fell for it hook, line and sinker,” he
said.
Sandack is a Chicago lawyer and former mayor of Downers Grove.
He was appointed in 2010 to the Illinois Senate to fill in for a
senator who resigned. He went on to be elected to the House for
his district.
Sandack also expressed regret for the harm his actions took on
his family.
“I’m human,” he said. “I made a mistake for which I am
remorseful and ashamed; especially because I have hurt my
family, and there is no greater self-inflicted wound than that.”
Efforts to reach Sandack for further comment on Friday were
unsuccessful.
(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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