Beavers: Jury selection fundamentally flawed

CHICAGO | A former Cook County commissioner has asked a judge to toss his tax-evasion convictions, alleging the system for picking would-be federal jurors in northeastern Illinois was fundamentally flawed and led to no black men on his jury.

Beavers convicted of tax charges

CHICAGO | An influential Chicago Democrat who famously compared himself to a virile hog was convicted Thursday after less than two hours of jury deliberations on charges of tax evasion for not declaring campaign cash he gambled away on slot machines as income.

Jurors withdraw to deliberate at Beavers tax trial

Cook County Commissioner William Beavers speaks to reporters, as his attorney Sam Adam Jr. listens, after Beavers' arraignment on federal tax-evasion charges in Chicago on March 2.

After vowing he would testify, Beavers doesn't

CHICAGO | Despite vowing for months that he would speak directly to jurors, an influential Cook County commissioner told a federal judge on Wednesday he would not be taking the stand at his tax-evasion trial.

After vowing he would testify, Beavers doesn't

Cook County Commissioner William Beavers speaks to reporters, as his attorney Sam Adam Jr. listens, after Beavers' arraignment on federal tax-evasion charges on March 2 in Chicago.

IRS agent: Beavers gambled at frantic pace

CHICAGO | A Chicago Democrat cashed multiple four-figure checks from his campaign to himself and then gambled the money away on slot machines at a feverish pace — sometimes within hours on a single day — an Internal Revenue Service agent testified on Monday at the Cook County commissioner's …

Casino: Beavers lost $500,000 on slot machines

CHICAGO | A powerful Chicago politician who earns just a five-figure salary gambled away nearly $500,000 playing slot machines over three years at a single casino, according to records entered into evidence by prosecutors Friday at the Democrat's tax-evasion trial.

Prosecutors: Beavers lied about campaign money

CHICAGO | A powerful Chicago politician fond of playing slot machines spent thousands of dollars from his campaign coffers at a casino and then falsely declared he'd spent it on authorized campaign expenses, a prosecutor told newly seated jurors Thursday.

Jury seated in Beavers tax trial

CHICAGO | A judge on Wednesday imposed a gag order on attorneys in the tax-evasion trial of a powerful Chicago Democrat after a defense lawyer claimed jury selection was "rigged" because no black men were in the 50-person pool from which jurors were selected.

Another new date set for Beavers' trial

CHICAGO | A federal judge has set another new date for a Chicago politician's tax-evasion trial.

New date set for Beavers' trial to resume

CHICAGO | A federal judge has set a new date for the delayed trial of an influential Chicago-area politician on tax charges.

Judge: Talk of repayments OK ... from witness stand

CHICAGO | An influential Chicago politician can tell jurors he put cash back into his campaign coffers and amended his tax returns as part of his defense at his upcoming tax-evasion trial, but only if he takes the stand and speaks to jurors directly, a judge ruled Friday.

Judge to rule on Beavers' I-paid-it-back defense

CHICAGO | A judge will decide whether an influential Cook County commissioner facing federal tax charges can tell a jury he paid back money borrowed from his campaign — although apparently only after realizing he was under investigation.

Bank deposit slip 'rebuts' tax charges, Beavers asserts

CHICAGO | An influential Cook County commissioner facing federal tax charges told reporters Thursday he has proof he paid back money borrowed from his campaign and never sought to evade payments to the IRS.

Judge sets December trial date for William Beavers

CHICAGO | A trial date has been set for Cook County Commissioner William Beavers, who has been indicted on federal tax-evasion charges.

Cook County official lambastes federal prosecutor

Cook County Commissioner William Beavers talks to reporters on Friday, after his arraignment on federal tax charges in Chicago. Beavers faces federal charges for allegedly diverting campaign money to personal use without paying taxes on it.