Jeri L. Wright, daughter of President Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah, was indicted Wednesday on charges of money laundering and lying to federal authorities, U.S. Justice Department spokesman said, as reported by Reuters. Wright, 47, was accused of participating in a fraud scheme led by a former suburban police chief and the chief's husband that involved a $1.25 million state grant, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield.
Wright was charged with two counts of money laundering, two counts of making false statements to federal officers, and seven counts of giving false testimony to a grand jury, Reuters reported. The state grant was for a not-for-profit work and education program called We Are Our Brother's Keeper, owned by Regina Evans, former police chief of Country Club Hills, and her husband, Ronald W. Evans, Jr.
Wright, a close friend of the couple worth about $28,000 that were supposed to be for work related to the grant. About $20,000 of that was allegedly deposited back into accounts controlled by the Evanses.
The money laundering count Jeri Wright faces carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, while the other charges carry penalties of up to five years in prison. Prosecutor's office spokeswoman Sharon Paul did not know if she had yet retained a lawyer.
Jeremiah Wright had been Barack Obama's pastor in Chicago. His inflammatory church sermons featured rants which oft-times condemned U.S. attitudes on race, poverty, the Iraq War and other issues. It became such a focus during the 2008 presidential campaign that the future president tried to distance himself from him, saying his brand of preaching was outdated.
