County Commissioner vows appeal of guilty verdict

CHICAGO (AP) — An influential Chicago Democrat reacted defiantly to his conviction by a jury on federal tax charges.

Outside the courtroom on Thursday afternoon, 78-year-old Cook County Commissioner William Beavers told reporters that he did not do anything illegal and he plans to appeal the verdict, calling it only the "first round" of his legal battle.

The jury deliberated for just a couple hours before convicting Beavers on all four tax counts — each of which carries a maximum three-year prison term.

During her closing argument, prosecutor Carrie Hamilton told jurors that Beavers dipped into his campaign coffers for gambling money and then failed to declare it as income. But defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. alleged government attorneys had twisted the evidence.