By Eric Stock
CHICAGO – An attorney, who studies fraud cases, said former McLean County Board chairman Matt Sorensen would likely be looking at prison time if he is convicted in his wire fraud case.
Sorensen is expected to change his not-guilty plea in federal court on charges that he and a co-defendant defrauded State Farm out of several hundred thousand dollars for billing consulting work that was never done.
The hearing, which had been scheduled for Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, has been rescheduled for Nov. 2.
Tom McClure, an attorney who teaches politics and government at Illinois State University, said Sorensen could be spared prison if he were to help the prosecution.
“That’s a possibility and that would be if he would provide enough help to the government in prosecuting the co-defendant,” McClure said.
McClure said the prosecution seems to have it sights set on co-defendant Navdeep Arora.
“That’s what it appears,” McClure said. “It appears (Arora) was the leader of the scheme.”
McClure said sentencing takes into consideration two main factors – the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.
He added sentencing range would be 37 to 46 months with $15,000 to to $150,000 in fines plus restitution.
None of the allegations against Sorensen have anything to do with his work on the County Board.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
