Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert leaves federal court after his sentencing hearing in Chicago on April 27, 2016. Hastert, imprisoned to 15 months on charges of fraud and lying to federal agents, has been released from federal prison to a halfway house or to home confinement. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI |
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July 18 (UPI) -- Bureau of Prisons records show former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, imprisoned on charges of fraud and lying to federal agents, has been released from prison in Minnesota and into home confinement or a halfway house.
The prison agency's inmate locator tool indicates the 75-year-old Hastert -- full name John Dennis Hastert -- is under the supervision of a central Chicago Residential Reentry Management field office. Hastert's move out of federal prison was first reported on Monday.
By being under the supervision of Chicago RRM, Hastert is likely either in a halfway house or in home confinement. Hastert's official release date is scheduled for Aug. 16.
Hastert was sentenced last year to 15 months in prison. Prosecutors said Hastert sexually abused four boys between the ages of 14 and 17 when he worked as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in the small town of Yorkville, Ill., west of Chicago, between 1965 and 1981.
The former Republican Party leader pleaded guilty in October 2015 to bank fraud for "structuring" withdrawals from his bank account to evade mandatory reporting requirements.
Hastert admitted he arranged the payments to cover up decades-old alleged sexual misconduct. He also admitted lying to the FBI when questioned in 2014 about the bank withdrawals.
Hastert, who served as House speaker for eight years, said he agreed to make the payment to settle "past misconduct" against that person.
He attracted the attention of federal regulators for making numerous cash withdrawals in amounts less than $10,000 -- the threshold at which banks are required by law to report them -- to pay off the former student.
In court, he initially admitted to the abuse, saying he "mistreated" some wrestlers he coached, saying, "They looked to me, and I took advantage of them."
"What I did was wrong and I regret it," He added.
Northern District of Illinois Judge Thomas M. Durkin -- who called Hastert a "serial child molester" -- said during sentencing that Hastert should enroll in a sex-offender treatment program.
Although Hastert previously did not admit to sexually abusing the boys, when Durkin directly asked if Hastert sexually abused the victims, Hastert's reply was "yes."
