Prosecutors will recommend six months of prison time for a former state lawmaker who pleaded guilty to mail fraud. Connie Howard (D-Chicago) admitted to raising nearly $77,000 for scholarships. But she only gave out a handful and kept $28,000 for personal use and for her campaign. Under the terms of the deal, prosecutors agreed to recommend Howard serve a maximum of six months in prison, and six months of home confinement. Howard's attorney, Michael Metnick, says he'll argue for no time behind bars.
"We'll just bring to the court's attention all of the good that Constance Howard did as a state representative and as a citizen during her lifetime," Metnick said.
Howard is out on bond. She'll be sentenced in November. She resigned as a Representative last July, amid reports of a federal probe into an unrelated matter involving state grants.
Illinois Public Radio's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.