Current:Home > InvestDeputy police chief in Illinois indicted on bankruptcy charges as town finances roil-VaTradeCoin
Deputy police chief in Illinois indicted on bankruptcy charges as town finances roil
View Date:2025-01-08 16:13:44
A federal grand jury has indicted an Illinois police official on charges of bankruptcy fraud and perjury.
Deputy Chief Lewis Lacey of the Dolton Police Department faces nine counts including bankruptcy fraud, making false statements and declarations in a bankruptcy case and perjury. Each charge carries a maximum of five years in prison.
Lacey, 61, underreported his income, hid bank accounts and, "made several materially false and fraudulent representations" in multiple bankruptcy cases filed since the 1980s, federal prosecutors say in a news release.
Prosecutors also allege that Lacey lied about being separated from his wife and that she did not live with him or contribute to the household financially. The allegations stem from Lacey's time as an officer before he became deputy chief.
Lacey is the second Dolton village official to face bankruptcy fraud charges as Keith Freeman, a senior administrator for the suburb about 20 miles south of Chicago, was indicted in April.
Lacey's arraignment date has not been set and he has maintained his innocence through is lawyer.
Federal charges come as suburb roils in financial crisis
The indictment comes as the Dolton Village Board is investigating the city's finances.
The investigation, led by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, found multiple instances of a small group of police officers receiving large amounts of overtime. Lacey received over $215,000 in overtime pay from 2022 to June of this year. The investigation also found that the city had not had an annual report or audit since 2021.
Lacey, who was Dolton's acting police chief, was placed on administrative leave then fired last week, according to Chicago NBC affiliate WMAQ-TV.
Lacey's lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, told Chicago ABC affiliate WLS that the charges are an attempt to get at Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who is the target of a federal investigation.
"The government and some people in Dolton have it out for the mayor. And so they decided to go and try to get to the mayor through other people that served under her," Pissetzky told the station.
The investigation found that Dolton is over $3.5 million dollars in debt and that credit cards for the city had been used to make unexplained purchases and fund travel under Henyard's watch. The credit card spending includes over $40,000 in purchases made on Jan. 5, 2023.
Lightfoot said that Henyard did not cooperate with the investigation in a presentation of the investigation's findings, according to WMAQ.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
- Mega Millions winning numbers for March 19 drawing: Lottery jackpot soars to $977 million
- March Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
- What to know about Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame's freshman star and ACC rookie of the year
- California farmers enjoy pistachio boom, with much of it headed to China
- MacKenzie Scott, billionaire philanthropist and Amazon co-founder, donates $640 million to hundreds of nonprofits
- I’m a Shopping Editor. Here’s What I’m Buying From the Amazon Big Spring Sale: $6 Beauty Deals and More
- What March Madness games are on today? Men's First Four schedule for Wednesday
- Deebo Samuel explains 'out of character' sideline altercation with 49ers long snapper, kicker
- Alabama lawmakers approve absentee ballot, anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bills
Ranking
- Harriet Tubman posthumously honored as general in Veterans Day ceremony: 'Long overdue'
- Which NBA teams could be headed for the postseason via play-in tournament games?
- Fire destroys senior community clubhouse in Philadelphia suburb, but no injuries reported
- California holds special election today to fill vacancy left by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
- CFP bracket prediction: SEC adds a fifth team to field while a Big Ten unbeaten falls out
- Judge clears way for Trump to appeal ruling keeping Fani Willis on Georgia 2020 election case
- ATF agent injured in shootout at home of Little Rock, Arkansas, airport executive director
- Summer House Star Paige DeSorbo's Amazon Spring Sale Picks Will Make You Feel Like a Total It Girl
Recommendation
-
Lala Kent Swears by This Virgo-Approved Accessory and Shares Why Stassi Schroeder Inspires Her Fall Style
-
Little Caesars new Crazy Puffs menu item has the internet going crazy: 'Worth the hype'
-
Blinken adds Israel stop to latest Mideast tour as tensions rise over Gaza war
-
Founders of the internet reflect on their creation and why they have no regrets over creating the digital world
-
Kalen DeBoer, Jalen Milroe save Alabama football season, as LSU's Brian Kelly goes splat
-
A southeast Alaska community wrestles with a deadly landslide’s impact
-
Brianna Maitland vanished 20 years ago. The FBI is now offering $40,000 to help solve the mystery.
-
GOP state attorneys push back on Biden’s proposed diversity rules for apprenticeship programs