Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on wire fraud and obstruction charges. Her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, was also indicted for the same alleged scheme on two obstruction-related charges. 

According to the indictment, Carol Ammons “devised a scheme to defraud” the state and campaign donors “to obtain money and property by means of materially false pretenses, promises and representations.”  

The indictment alleges this included obtaining state funds for local organizations that would benefit her and her daughter financially, falsifying campaign documents to disguise payments to herself and daughter and overpaying out of her campaign fund for services in order to benefit from the excess money.  

The indictment states that Carol Ammons paid her daughter, former Champaign County Board member Titianna Ammons, $600 a month out of her campaign fund, totaling $15,585.  

Titianna Ammons was indicted in June on wire fraud charges for allegedly defrauding the federal government and state during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The indictment for Carol Ammons alleges she omitted or falsified her campaign records, including failing to disclose upward of $25,000 in payments, a portion of which were paid back to Carol Ammons, and falsely claiming more than $15,000 was paid to a consulting firm when the payments were paid to an individual who gave a portion back to her.  

Carol Ammons assisted multiple organizations in obtaining state funding who would then provide Carol Ammons cash kickbacks as a “gift” or pay her daughter, according to the indictment.  

The indictment alleges the scheme, which continued until June 2025, led Carol Ammons and her daughter to receive upward of $100,000.  

Along with eight counts of wire fraud, Carol Ammons is charged with making a false statement after allegedly lying to an FBI agent, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one count of obstruction of justice.  

In a statement Wednesday, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Chicago) said he would temporarily remove the state representative from the Democratic caucus and her committee assignments, as well as direct staff to review the current state budget to “determine whether any funds need to be paused or reconsidered.” 

“The allegations in this indictment are extremely serious,” Welch said. “Every person under our system of justice is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process. The U.S. Attorney will lay out evidence in court, where Rep. Ammons will have the chance to defend herself against the allegations.”  

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie called for Carol Ammons to resign.  

“Public officials must be held to the highest ethical standards and Rep. Carol Ammons should resign immediately,” she said in a statement. “Speaker Welch should join me in calling for her resignation. Leadership means holding your own members accountable, not waiting until political pressure becomes unavoidable. Elected officials are entrusted with serving the public, not enriching themselves, and the seriousness of these allegations demands accountability.”  

Carol Ammons had $67,366 in her campaign fund at the end of the first quarter. Second quarter reports are due July 15.  

She has been in the House since 2015 and is running for reelection in November. She does not have a Republican opponent.  

The state representative did not respond to a request for comment.