Prosecutors: Ray LaHood pays $40,000 fine to resolve federal investigation Chris Kaergard Journal Star (TNS) April 1, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., in 2013.Jacquelyn Martin | AP Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood paid a $40,000 fine as part of a deal with federal prosecutors after making “misleading” statements to federal agents and failing to disclose a $50,000 payment on two government ethics forms, the Department of Justice disclosed Wednesday. The announcement about the former Peoria lawmaker came as part of a broader federal inquiry into a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire, prosecutors in California said. Gilbert Chagoury agreed to pay $1.8 million to resolve claims that he conspired to violate federal law by making illegal campaign contributions to candidates for president and Congress.