State Senator Emil Jones III was hit with bribery charges linked to the red light camera probe.

State Senator Emil Jones III was named in the Illinois legislature three years after he was accused of lying to the FBI about whether he agreed to protect the politically connected red light camera company SafeSpeed ​​LLC. was indicted on federal bribery charges.

The vice-majority leader, the South Side Democrat, has worked in Congress since 2009 and is the son of former Illinois Senate Speaker Emil Jones Jr. Young Jones has been charged with making false statements to the federal government on Sept. 24, 2019.

it was the same day Agents raided the home of then-State Senator Martin Sandoval and the State Capitol. Those who died in 2020.

Prosecutors have filed an indictment against Jones III in documents known as information. This usually indicates the defendant’s plan to plead guilty. He will become the second senator to plead guilty to federal criminal charges this year, after Thomas Cullerton.

The timing of the indictment creates a scenario where Jones III, who is running for reelection, is likely to show up on the November ballot regardless of how his case unfolds. But if he does end up resigning from the Senate, someone will likely be appointed to complete his four-year term, which begins in January.

Jones III was not immediately available to comment on the charges. However, his father said in a statement that they “do not reflect his man.”

“Everyone knows he is a conscientious and hardworking member of Congress,” said the former Senate Speaker. “I will fight him and stand by his side through this process.”

Illinois Senate Speaker Don Harmon on Tuesday called on Jones III to resign from his leadership position and his role as chairman of the Senate’s Authorization Activities Committee. About his $10,000 scholarship was paid for the role of chairman.

“These are serious allegations. Senators and all public servants must maintain high ethical standards so that the public can have trust and confidence in our work,” Harmon said in a statement.

House GOP Majority Leader Jim Durkin (Republican, Western Springs) said in his statement, “The Democrats of Illinois have become an organized crime family whose sole purpose is to sway Illinois taxpayers.” rice field.

The federal indictment points to a Senate bill filed in February 2019 calling for a statewide investigation of automated traffic law enforcement systems, including red light cameras.

According to federal officials, Jones III agreed to limit such research to systems used in Chicago in exchange for benefits provided by Safespeed partner Omar Mahni, telling Safespeed agreed to “exclude from the study” “many other municipal” systems served by

Jones III is also said to have told Maani he would defend SafeSpeed ​​from legislation at the General Assembly in exchange for $5,000 and the work of an unnamed associate. The state senator then allegedly lied to the FBI about his role in the scheme on Sept. 24, 2019.

The bill identified in the accusation was submitted during the denial session just before the session ended, so it is unlikely to move forward. This is a law that goes nowhere but aims to “fetch” campaign donations.

Meanwhile, Jones III joins a long list of individuals indicted in connection with federal investigations into the SafeSpeed ​​transaction.

Other politicians indicted in connection with SafeSpeed ​​include: Sandoval, Former Crestwood Mayor Luis Presta, Former Worth Township Supervisor John O’Sullivan When Former Oak Brook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci.

Mani, who played a central role in many of the schemes outlined by the prosecutor, is also charged with a separate charge.Mani entered into a so-called deferred prosecution agreement We agreed to work with the federal government and work with them in 2020.

SafeSpeed ​​has not been charged with cheating and portrays Maani as a cheating actor. In a statement on Tuesday, the company said it was “shocked and saddened to learn that one of his former colleagues was involved in criminal activity.”

Jones III’s father led the Illinois Senate from 2003 to 2009. He considered himself the “political godfather” of Barack his former President Obama. Elder Jones said he served in the General Assembly for 35 years.

To the surprise of many, Jones Jr. appointed his then 31-year-old son to the Senate in 2009.

State Rep. Robert Rita, a longtime ally of Jones Jr. and heir to his own political legacy, D-Blue Island, saw Jones III seize the opportunity to win his father’s Senate seat. said there was nothing wrong with it.

“Give him a chance to prove himself,” Rita said in 2008.

Jones III worked in the state from May 1999 to November 2006, but was temporarily off payroll. He was hired in April 2007 as an administrator for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office, even though he did not have a college degree.

He serves on eight committees of the Illinois Senate and is Vice Chairman of the Public Safety Commission. Jones III also chairs the Licensed Activities Committee.

Jones III represents the 14th Senate District, which includes the Far South Side districts of Alship, Oak Forest, Crestwood, Blue Island, and Cook County in the Southern Suburbs. After the reorganization, the district will expand to other areas of the Southwest Suburbs, such as Orlando Park and Oak Forest.

Jones III had $136,936.72 in cash on hand at the end of June, according to Illinois Election Commission records. He has since received his $57,500 donation.