Ex-Illinois lawmaker was bilked by Philippine extortion ring: police
Source: Reuters
U.S. | Fri Sep 16, 2016 | 7:13pm EDT
Ex-Illinois lawmaker was bilked by Philippine extortion ring: police
By Dave McKinney | CHICAGO
Police on Friday released new details about the mysterious resignation in July of an Illinois lawmaker, outlining how he fell prey to an online extortion ring based in the Philippines.
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.
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