Brian Towne was the state’s attorney for LaSalle County from 2006 to 2016. He was elected and subsequently lost the election to Karen Donnelly. Donnelly had previously worked for Towne’s office and is the daughter of a former state employee. Towne filed a lawsuit against Donnelly, claiming that she investigated his tenure and wrongfully prosecuted his son.
Donnelly accused of improper motives
Former state’s attorney Brian Towne, who served as the State’s Attorney in LaSalle County from 2006 to 2015, is now facing questions over his involvement in a controversial prosecution. In a lawsuit filed earlier this year, Towne accused Donnelly of improper motives. In his lawsuit, he alleges that Donnelly improperly accessed information related to the prosecution of his son, who is now serving four years in prison.
Towne’s lawsuit was filed on Monday. Anyone can file a lawsuit against a public official. Towne claims Donnelly used public funds for illegal activities, and it’s unclear if this is true or not. The suit also mentions a defunct State’s Attorney Felony Enforcement Team, which led to several lawsuits and wasted county resources.
Donnelly also argues that she had no motive to investigate the case and had absolute prosecutorial immunity. The Illinois Supreme Court found that this argument fails, and Donnelly has filed an appeal. It’s still unclear whether he will be convicted in this case.
The case alleges that Donnelly and others conspired to frame Cusick in a murder case. The defendants used fabricated evidence, suppressed evidence, and withheld exculpatory evidence in order to make a case against Cusick.
Donnelly was accused of paying personal expenses with money generated through the asset forfeiture program
Donnelly is under fire for allegations of official misconduct. The former state’s attorney has been accused of using public money to pay personal expenses and conducting political activity while on the clock. He is defending his actions, calling them a “vindictive abuse of power.” The charges are a slap on Donnelly’s political career after he lost his re-election bid last November. Donnelly’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
Donnelly’s appeal will continue. The district court should hold an evidentiary hearing to determine if the prosecutors are correct in their assessment of forfeiture. The government must prove that the money judgment was generated by fraud before it can apply the money judgment to a defendant’s assets. Otherwise, it cannot enter a forfeiture judgment.
Donnelly’s conviction stems from his role as a financial advisor and personal accountant. He convinced his elderly client to invest $385,000 in an investment vehicle owned by Kevin Brody. He assured his client that the investment would return the principal after a two-year waiting period.
The district court’s order to forfeit Donnelly’s assets is part of his sentence, but it also has a restitution component. Although the two types of punishment may appear to be a double whammy, they are distinct remedies that are intended to punish criminals. Donnelly was found guilty of fraud by a federal grand jury and has been sentenced to more than three years in jail.
Donnelly was accused of donating thousands of dollars in public funds to a local high school club
In 2016, Donnelly and her staff were accused of political activity during their hours in the office. This included donating thousands of dollars to a high school club. The money came from a controversial asset forfeiture program, known as SAFE. During the investigation, special investigators in Towne’s office seized hundreds of thousands of dollars.