Illinois Pol Who Resigned Over ‘Cyber’ Issues Fell For Woman’s Sextortion Scam

Former Illinois state Rep. Ron Sandack (R), who abruptly resigned in July over “cyber security issues,” said in a statement on Friday that he was lured into illicit online conversations by a woman who was part of an “international crime ring.”

“I took their bait and fell for it hook, line and sinker,” Sandack said in the statement, which was released after local police released more details about their investigation.

According to police, Sandack first started chatting with a woman who friended him on Facebook on July 7. By July 13, he received a message demanding money, which he sent to the Philippines over a Western Union wire transfer.

Sandack said in the statement, via the Chicago Sun-Times:

This past July, I was the target of an international crime ring focusing on high profile individuals luring them to engage in inappropriate online conversations with the intent of extortion. I took their bait and fell for it hook, line and sinker. Subsequently, counterfeit social media accounts were created jeopardizing my online identity. Nonetheless, I was a victim. Poor decisions on my part enabled me to be a victim and, as a responsible citizen, I reported it and have been working with the police throughout their investigation. I want it to be clear that no aspect of my involvement in this incident was related to my position as a State Representative nor was the computer state property.

I’m human. I made a mistake for which I am remorseful and ashamed; especially because I have hurt my family, and there is no greater self-inflicted wound than that.
I’m human. I made a mistake for which I am remorseful and ashamed; especially because I have hurt my family, and there is no greater self-inflicted wound than that.