CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Former 22nd Ward alderman Ricardo Munoz misused political funds to pay for personal expenses such as jewelry and sports tickets, federal prosecutors said.
Munoz, 56, faces 15 counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to an indictment announced Thursday.
The feds say Munoz withdrew money from a political action committee formed by the Chicago Progressive Reform Caucus so that he could pay for merchandise, including jewelry, clothing and cell phones, and vacations and sports tickets. He also used some of the money to pay for a relative’s tuition, the government alleged.
“Munoz attempted to conceal the fraud scheme by making materially false representations to the Illinois State Board of Elections and staff members and contractors of the CPRC,” a news release explaining the indictment said.
Munoz served as chairman and treasurer of the Chicago Progressive Reform Caucus, of which some aldermen were members, prosecutors noted. Munoz served on the City Council from 1993 to 2019.
An arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment against Munoz came as the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago also announced bank-fraud charges against sitting Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, a grandson of legendary Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley.
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