Categories: Chicago

Prosecutors indict Senator Tom Cullerton with 40 counts of embezzlement charges

US attorney’s office said that Tom Cullerton, Senator from Illinois, received the salary from a labor union without doing any work. He was indicted on 40 counts of embezzlement charges.

US attorney’s office gave details of the charges and said, “Cullerton was charged with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefit plan”. The office added that he also faced 39 counts of embezzlement from a labor union. One charge of making a false statement related to the health care matter was also the part of the indictment.

Cullerton is a democratic senator and he has represented 23rd District since 2013. He was the member of Teamsters Local Union 734 before taking the office of senator, according to the prosecutors. Prosecutors say that he was not eligible for health and pension fund of the union after taking his office. He was hired, as a union organizer, by the president of Teamsters Joint Council 25 in March 2013. This hiring happened two months after he took the office.

The indictments said that he misused the pension and health funds of Local 734 due to this purported employment. Cullerton received salary, car and telephone allowances on a monthly basis, and several bonuses from the labor union in the next three years from 2013 to 2016, according to the allegations. The supervisor of Joint Council 25 requested him several times to perform his duties but he ignored them, prosecutors say.

The indictments said that he received a fraudulent salary, allowances, and bonuses of $188320 from Teamsters Joint Council 25 and he also obtained $21678 from Teamsters Local Union 734’s health and welfare fund. John Theis, attorney of Cullerton, denied the allegations on his clients. He said, “The charges are not true and I will defend them in the court.” Theis also said that Mr. Cullerton was a highly respected public servant.

Ivan Cease

Senior editor of the Chicago Morning Star

Recent Posts

OpenAI May Launch GPT-5 in August

OpenAI is on track to launch its next-generation artificial intelligence model, GPT-5, as early as August, according to a report…

10 hours ago

Smoke and Panic as American Airlines Jet Evacuated in Denver

A dramatic evacuation unfolded at Denver International Airport on July 26 when an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 experienced…

10 hours ago

Storm Await Diggins’ Return as Road Trip Begins

The Seattle Storm are bracing for the possible return of Skylar Diggins as they begin a three-game road trip Thursday…

3 days ago

USOPC Aligns With Executive Order on Women’s Sports

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced a policy update on July 21, confirming that women’s teams at the…

3 days ago

Kraft Heinz Mulls $20B Split to Revive Growth

Kraft Heinz is considering a sweeping corporate restructuring that could unwind its landmark 2015 merger, as the packaged food giant…

4 days ago

Illinois State Fair Offers Extended Hours, Deals for 2025

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The 2025 Illinois State Fair is making it easier and more affordable for families to enjoy this…

4 days ago