By MICHAEL TARM and JOHN O'CONNOR
Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A former Illinois state senator has pleaded guilty to accepting around $250,000 in bribes for protecting the interests of a red-light camera company.
Martin Sandoval entered the plea in an agreement with prosecutors during a hearing in Chicago Tuesday, federal prosecutors listed charges against him.
Under the plea deal, the 56-year-old promises to cooperate with federal prosecutors in ongoing public corruption investigations.
Sandoval is well connected in the Illinois Democratic Party, and his decision to cooperate comes after more than a year of home and office raids against multiple Democrats, several of whom have been charged.
