Former Illinois State Representative Luis Arroyo has pleaded guilty in his federal corruption case related to the legalization of sweepstakes machines and is now seeking supervision.
Was Arroyo able to evade a prison sentence?
Legitimate gray place Sweepstakes
The program started with an illicit lobbying effort for sweepstakes machines. Despite not being classified as gambling, these machines operate in a shadowy legal gray area.
Players insert money into the machine and receive online coupons in exchange. These coupons can then be used to access electronic gambling games available on the internet.
Sweepstakes machines, such as those found in sweepstakes casinos, do not require players to spend money to play. They are allowed in jurisdictions where video poker and other types of gaming machines are prohibited.
Critics argue that unregulated machines intentionally bypass the law, but the Illinois Gaming Board and state legislature are working to regulate them.
A obvious money get
In the autumn of 2018, Arroyo & rsquo became involved in the sweepstakes scandal. CEO James Weiss of Collage LLC began making explicit demands to Arroyo under the threat of an attack.
These payments were made to promote a policy that supported prize machines.
Sparticus 3 LLC, a consulting company owned by Arroyo & Rquo, was responsible for managing cash payments to Weiss & rsquo. Prosecutors claim that Arroyo did not disclose these payments to state officials, amounting to a total of $7,500.
After receiving payment, Arroyo advocated for the prize legislation act in Illinois House of Representatives meetings. He also held meetings with representatives from both the legislative and executive branches.
widespread fraud
Weiss and Arroyo’s plan for legalizing sweepstakes grew in scope as they devised a strategy to bribe state senators in 2019.
During the trial, Assistant US Attorney James Durkin stated that Weiss and Arroyo proposed a monthly payment of $2,500 to a senator in exchange for help with lottery legislation.
In 2019, State Senator Terry Link joined Weiss and Arroyo for a meal where they discussed the possibility of legalizing sweepstakes. During the gathering, Arroyo proposed offering Sen. Link a monthly stipend to assist with the upcoming expenses related to introducing the legislation.
Senator Link has a cable around him.
Three weeks after the dinner meeting in Highland Park, Arroyo made the first payment of $2,500 to Link.
Arroyo was unaware that Link was secretly wearing an FBI listening device.
Authorities discovered an email from Weiss to Link, in which Weiss expressed gratitude for Link’s support and assistance in the ongoing campaign to legalize prize.
Weiss and Arroyo also arranged a transaction with Collage LLC for Senator Link, who was obligated under the agreement to conceal the $2,500 payments.
Arroyo & rsquo’s case for probation
Arroyo faces a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of $250,000 for his conviction. Nevertheless, his attorneys argue that imprisoning Arroyo as a way to combat political corruption is as ineffective as attempting to empty Lake Michigan with a spoon.
Moreover, they argue that Arroyo has taken heed of his past mistakes and has since distanced himself from politics.
Arroyo’s age is also a consideration, as his attorneys argue that a 67-year prison sentence would essentially be a death sentence for him. They further argue that any prison term would negatively impact his wife’s health, as she is also battling a serious illness.
Despite Arroyo’s agreement to provide money and attempt to bribe an Illinois state senator, his efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
The legalization of gambling prizes never gained traction, leading Arroyo’s attorneys to believe that his illegal actions do not warrant a prison sentence.
