4:45 p.m. (CDT)

Dennis Hastert was a little-known lawmaker from a suburban Chicago district when he became the speaker of the U.S. House in 1999.

He succeeded conservative firebrand Newt Gingrich. Hastert went on to become the GOP's longest-serving speaker. He served until 2007.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced bank-related charges against Hastert.

Hastert was generally viewed as a congenial lawmaker, typically called "coach" by his GOP colleagues.

He did not immediately return message seeking comment Thursday about the federal indictment against him.

The 73-year-old Illinois Republican is charged with withdrawing $952,000 in cash in small amounts to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He's also charged with lying to the FBI.

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4:30 p.m. (CDT)

The Associated Press has left messages seeking comment from former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert about federal bank-related charges against him.

A message left with a person at Hastert's Washington, D.C., office was not immediately returned Thursday. An email sent to Hastert also was not immediately returned.

A statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago says the 73-year-old Illinois Republican is charged with structuring a withdrawal of $952,000 in cash to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He's also charged with lying to the FBI.

Each of the two counts he faces carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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4:20 p.m. (CDT)

Federal prosecutors have announced bank-related charges against former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

A statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago says the 73-year-old Illinois Republican is accused of structuring the withdrawal of $952,000 in cash in order to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He's also accused of lying to the FBI.

Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

From 2010 to 2014, Hastert withdrew a total of approximately $1.7 million in cash from various bank accounts and provided it to a person identified only as Individual A, according to the indictment.

In December last year, "Hastert falsely stated that he was keeping the cash" when questioned by the FBI, the prosecutor's statement says.

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4:15 p.m. (CDT)

Federal prosecutors have announced bank-related charges against former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

A statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago says the 73-year-old Illinois Republican is accused of structuring the withdrawal of $952,000 in cash in order to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He's also accused of lying to the FBI.