U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert is allowing Rick Jones of Wood River to travel to Minnesota to receive specialized medical care at the Mayo Clinic.
Jones, who pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to cheating on federal income taxes, posted $100,000 bond for release pending sentencing which is scheduled May 7.
One of the conditions for his release restricts travel outside of southern Illinois.
On March 12 his attorney, James Martin of Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis, filed a motion to travel outside the district for medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic.
"At this time, Mr. Jones wishes to leave Illinois on March 28 to drive to Minnesota. He anticipates returning to Illinois on or about April 8," the motion stated. "His medical evaluation will take up all his time when he is not in transit."
Gilbert previously granted Jones's request to travel to St. Louis to visit his doctors and lawyers.
"The Court hereby grants said Motion," Gilbert wrote March 17. "Defendant is permitted to leave the Southern District of Illinois on March 28, 2009 to travel to Minnesota for a medical examination at the Mayo Clinic and to return on or about April 8, 2009."
According to Jones's plea agreement, he also admitted to cheating BP Amoco North America.
The agreement requires restitution of $1,207,415.82 to BP Amoco, on top of a promise to pay $2.4 million in federal income taxes for 2002 through 2005 on sentencing day.
Jones pleaded guilty to dodging $1.2 million in 2003 taxes, and he admitted he evaded a similar amount before and after 2003.
He stipulated that his company, Triad Industries, received money from BP Amoco to clean up refinery pollution but spent it in other ways.
Jones provided documents to his accountant indicating that Triad invoiced BP Amoco for construction work that Triad and subcontractors performed, the plea agreement stated.
Judge grants Jones' request for travel to Mayo Clinic
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