Jurors withdraw to deliberate at Beavers tax trial

CHICAGO (AP) — Jurors have withdrawn to begin deliberations at a Cook County commissioner's tax-evasion trial in Chicago.

The 12 men and women who will determine William Beavers' fate received instructions from Judge James Zagel Thursday after closings. Zagel said they'd start deliberating after eating lunch.

The 78-year-old Beavers pleaded not guilty to one count of obstructing the IRS and three of filing false tax returns from 2006 through 2008. Each carries a maximum three-year prison term.

In her closing, prosecutor Carrie Hamilton told jurors the Chicago Democrat dipped into his campaign coffers for gambling money and then failed to declare it as income.

Defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. alleged government attorneys had twisted the evidence. In a booming voice he told jurors the prosecutors, in his words, "are trying to bamboozle you."