Overview
- Federal prosecutors unsealed a 10-count indictment that accuses Rep. Carol Ammons of wire fraud, making a false statement to the FBI, and conspiracy and obstruction related to a scheme dated from about 2017 through June 15, 2025.
- Prosecutors say Ammons steered state grant appropriations to nonprofits that employed her daughter, including a roughly $605,431 grant to Hood Vote, and that campaign committee funds were directed to family and others with alleged cash ‘gifts’ returned to her.
- The charging document quotes text messages prosecutors say refer to kickbacks and alleges Ammons and her daughter received over $100,000 in illicit benefits while some campaign payments were inflated or falsely described.
- Her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, is charged with conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction for allegedly directing witnesses to “muddy the waters” with investigators and for advising witnesses to use coded language.
- House Speaker Chris Welch removed Ammons from committees and caucus activities and House Republicans filed a petition under House Rule 91 to form a special investigating committee while Ammons denies wrongdoing, says she will remain in office, and federal court proceedings move forward.