These are the 10 best-known Illinois public officials convicted of crimes

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois has a well-documented history of corruption, extending beyond elected politicians to include appointed and career public officials whose actions have shocked the Land of Lincoln.

From embezzlement to bribery, these cases have fueled a reputation for misconduct across various levels of government.

Here are 10 of the best-known Illinois public officials charged with crimes, encompassing both elected and unelected figures.

class="wp-block-heading">Rod Blagojevich

The most charismatic official on the list, Blagojevich served as governor from 2003 to 2009. He was charged in 2008 with conspiracy for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat. He was impeached in 2009 and later convicted on 17 counts conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud. Blagojevich served nearly eight years of a 14-year sentence before a commutation in 2020 by President Donald Trump. Blagojevich is the second-consecutive Illinois governor to be sentenced to prison.

George Ryan

Governor from 1999 to 2003, Ryan was charged with a variety of crimes tied to a trucking license scandal while he was secretary of state from 1991 to 1999. Ryan also served as Illinois lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1991. He was convicted in 2006 of racketeering, tax fraud, and mail fraud. Ryan served 6 1/2 years in prison. He was released in 2013. He died on May 2, 2025.

Otto Kerner Jr.

Governor from 1961 to 1968, Kerner was charged with bribery, conspiracy, and tax evasion for racetrack stock deals while in office. He stood trial in 1973 while he was serving as federal judge. Kerner subsequently resigned from the bench in 1974 and was ordered to serve three years in prison but was released early after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Michael J. Madigan

Illinois House speaker from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2021, Madigan was charged in 2022 with racketeering, bribery, and wire fraud for a scheme with Commonwealth Edison. Convicted on 10 counts in 2025, he received a 7 1/2- year prison sentence.

Dan Rostenkowski

A U.S. representative from 1959 to 1995, Dan Rostenkowski was charged with mail fraud for misusing congressional funds, including postage stamps. He leading guilty in 1995 and he served 17 months in prison. Rostenkowski was later pardoned by President Bill Clinton.

Jesse Jackson Jr.

U.S. Representative (1995–2012), Jesse Jackson Jr. was charged with wire and mail fraud for misusing campaign funds on luxury items. Pleading guilty in 2013, he served 30 months in prison. His wife was also convicted in the case.

Edward Burke

Burke served as a Chicago alderman from 1969 to 2019. He was charged in 2019 with racketeering, extortion, and bribery for pressuring developers and was convicted in 2023. The longest-serving alderman in Chicago history, Burke was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and ordered to pay a $2 million fine.

Rita Crundwell

Dixon’s comptroller and treasurer from 1983–2012, Rita Crundwell was charged in 2012 with wire fraud after embezzling $53.7 million from the city, cash she used on a lavish lifestyle and to fund one of the top quarter horse breeding operations in the country. Crundwell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. She was released in 2021. Her sentence was commuted in 2024 by President Joe Biden.

Sally Claassen

While serving as Winnebago County’s purchasing director, Sally Claassen from 2014 to 2015, embezzled more than $400,000 from county coffers. She later pleaded guilty to theft and official misconduct and was ordered to serve three years in federal prison.

Bill Hintz

Former Winnebago County coroner Bill Hintz pleaded guilty in 2022 to theft of government property and official misconduct. The Illinois Attorney General accused Hintz of stealing $14,500 in cash that belonged to dead people. He also collected $2,500 from family members of the dead in exchange for county-funded cremations, cash he pocketed. Hintz was also accused of stealing $15,818 in government funds that he used for personal use. He was sentenced to six months in jail and four years’ probation. He also forfeited $130,000 of his pension.