Ex-Illinois congressman convicted of failing to file income taxesCHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Illinois U.S. congressman Mel Reynolds was found guilty in federal court on Thursday for failing to file federal income tax returns, marking the latest legal trouble for the one-time Democratic Party rising star.  Reynolds, 65, faced four counts of failing to file a federal return after not filing in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois.  U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman gave the verdict after a bench trial in federal court in Chicago, prosecutors said.  The ruling followed Reynolds’ previous convictions for sexual assault, child pornography, bank fraud and misusing campaign funds.   Reynolds, who represented himself during the trial, declined comment to Reuters. However, he told the Chicago Tribune he planned to appeal the verdict.  “I disagree with the judge finding me guilty of a misdemeanor, and I’m going to be addressing all of the issues for a new trial in a motion that I’m filing early next week,” Reynolds told the newspaper.  Reynolds’ sentencing will be scheduled later, prosecutors said. Each count comes with a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  Reynolds received gross income exceeding the minimum amount required to file a tax return, prosecutors said.  Prosecutors argued Reynolds collected $433,000 for consulting work he did in Africa during the four-year period he failed to file tax returns, the Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times said. But Reynolds said the money was not income, rather it was for travel and other expenses, and as such, it did not need to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service, the Tribune said.  Reynolds, first elected to Congress in 1992, was indicted in 1994 for having a relationship with a 16-year-old campaign worker and was re-elected that year in his Chicago district without opposition. The case ended with a conviction on sexual assault and child pornography charges in 1995 and Reynolds resigned. Before his scheduled release from prison in 1997, Reynolds was convicted of bank fraud and misusing campaign funds and sentenced to serve additional time. He was released in 2001. Reynolds tried politics again but in 2013 lost a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives seat of Jesse Jackson Jr., who had resigned before pleading guilty to fraud charges. politicsNews
congressman convicted failing file income taxeschicago reuters former illinois congressman mel reynolds found guilty federal court thursday failing file federal income tax returns marking latest legal trouble democratic party rising star reynolds faced four counts failing file federal return filing according statement attorney office northern district illinois district judge robert gentleman gave verdict bench trial federal court chicago prosecutors said the ruling followed reynolds previous convictions sexual assault child pornography bank fraud misusing campaign funds reynolds represented trial declined comment reuters however told chicago tribune planned appeal verdict i disagree judge finding guilty misdemeanor i going addressing issues new trial motion i filing early next week reynolds told newspaper reynolds sentencing scheduled later prosecutors said each count comes maximum sentence one year prison fine reynolds received gross income exceeding minimum amount required file tax return prosecutors said prosecutors argued reynolds collected consulting work africa period failed file tax returns tribune chicago said but reynolds said money income rather travel expenses need reported internal revenue service tribune said reynolds first elected congress indicted relationship campaign worker year chicago district without opposition the case ended conviction sexual assault child pornography charges reynolds resigned before scheduled release prison reynolds convicted bank fraud misusing campaign funds sentenced serve additional time he released reynolds tried politics lost bid house representatives seat jesse jackson resigned pleading guilty fraud charges politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Ex-Illinois congressman convicted of failing to file income taxesCHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Illinois U.S. congressman Mel Reynolds was found guilty in federal court on Thursday for failing to file federal income tax returns, marking the latest legal trouble for the one-time Democratic Party rising star.  Reynolds, 65, faced four counts of failing to file a federal return after not filing in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois.  U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman gave the verdict after a bench trial in federal court in Chicago, prosecutors said.  The ruling followed Reynolds’ previous convictions for sexual assault, child pornography, bank fraud and misusing campaign funds.   Reynolds, who represented himself during the trial, declined comment to Reuters. However, he told the Chicago Tribune he planned to appeal the verdict.  “I disagree with the judge finding me guilty of a misdemeanor, and I’m going to be addressing all of the issues for a new trial in a motion that I’m filing early next week,” Reynolds told the newspaper.  Reynolds’ sentencing will be scheduled later, prosecutors said. Each count comes with a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  Reynolds received gross income exceeding the minimum amount required to file a tax return, prosecutors said.  Prosecutors argued Reynolds collected $433,000 for consulting work he did in Africa during the four-year period he failed to file tax returns, the Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times said. But Reynolds said the money was not income, rather it was for travel and other expenses, and as such, it did not need to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service, the Tribune said.  Reynolds, first elected to Congress in 1992, was indicted in 1994 for having a relationship with a 16-year-old campaign worker and was re-elected that year in his Chicago district without opposition. The case ended with a conviction on sexual assault and child pornography charges in 1995 and Reynolds resigned. Before his scheduled release from prison in 1997, Reynolds was convicted of bank fraud and misusing campaign funds and sentenced to serve additional time. He was released in 2001. Reynolds tried politics again but in 2013 lost a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives seat of Jesse Jackson Jr., who had resigned before pleading guilty to fraud charges. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: congressman convicted failing file income taxeschicago reuters former illinois congressman mel reynolds found guilty federal court thursday failing file federal income tax returns marking latest legal trouble democratic party rising star reynolds faced four counts failing file federal return filing according statement attorney office northern district illinois district judge robert gentleman gave verdict bench trial federal court chicago prosecutors said the ruling followed reynolds previous convictions sexual assault child pornography bank fraud misusing campaign funds reynolds represented trial declined comment reuters however told chicago tribune planned appeal verdict i disagree judge finding guilty misdemeanor i going addressing issues new trial motion i filing early next week reynolds told newspaper reynolds sentencing scheduled later prosecutors said each count comes maximum sentence one year prison fine reynolds received gross income exceeding minimum amount required file tax return prosecutors said prosecutors argued reynolds collected consulting work africa period failed file tax returns tribune chicago said but reynolds said money income rather travel expenses need reported internal revenue service tribune said reynolds first elected congress indicted relationship campaign worker year chicago district without opposition the case ended conviction sexual assault child pornography charges reynolds resigned before scheduled release prison reynolds convicted bank fraud misusing campaign funds sentenced serve additional time he released reynolds tried politics lost bid house representatives seat jesse jackson resigned pleading guilty fraud charges politicsnews