Urbana Democrat State Representative Carol Ammons and her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple felony counts.
The indictment alleges that Carol Ammons used her campaign committee to issue overpayments and then took cash kickbacks disguised as "gifts." She is accused of causing campaign funds to be paid to herself and family members through excess checks and then receiving cash kickbacks to hide the scheme.
Carol Ammons allegedly used her position as a state lawmaker to steer massive state grants to friendly nonprofits that then put her daughter Titianna Ammons on the payroll. Prosecutors say Ammons and her daughter received financial benefits in excess of $100,000 through this web of campaign misuse and grant steering between 2017 and roughly 2023.
The indictment also alleges that Carol Ammons helped secure over $1.6 million in state grants for nonprofits, including Bridgewater Sullivan Community Life Center, Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, and Hood Vote. Her daughter Titianna was paid nearly $70,000 by these organizations.
Aaron Ammons is accused of witness tampering, telling a potential witness that the actions were "nothing illegal" and directing them to "muddy the waters" with investigators. He allegedly used code words and passed notes that were later destroyed.
Carol Ammons is also accused of lying to an FBI agent in 2024 about her knowledge of the conflicts.
These charges come just one month after Carol Ammons' daughter Titianna Ammons was federally indicted on three counts of wire fraud for allegedly collecting COVID-era unemployment benefits while being paid by her mother's campaign.
The indictment gets even uglier, with prosecutors alleging that Carol Ammons and her husband conspired to obstruct the federal investigation.
The couple is facing multiple felony counts, including wire fraud, false statements, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
