Former State Sen. Hendon Owes IRS Some Coin

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 29, 2011 8:47PM

The Internal Revenue Service has filed a lien with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds against former State Sen. Rickey "Hollywood" Hendon.

According to the lien, Hendon owes $31,531 in unpaid federal taxes and penalties for the years 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Hendon resigned from his Senate seat in February. Federal investigators are also looking into state grants sponsored by Hendon regarding 50 organizations and 40 individuals. Several of those grants were for after-school and computer skills programs where the awardees declined to show how and where the money was spent.

Hendon also made himself the center of attention during last year's gubernatorial campaign when he called Republican nominee Bill Brady "idiotic," "homophobic" and "racist," drawing a rebuke from Gov. Quinn. Brady later refused to accept an apology from Hendon.

Hendon also was a brief candidate for mayor in which he called himself "the black Sarah Palin." He's denied the subpoenas for the grants he sponsored had anything to do with his dropping out of the mayoral race or resigning from the State Senate.