Former mayor facing embezzling conviction

Upon leaving office, a mayor may expect a clean transfer of power as they pursue a new career path. But a former Chicago suburb mayor’s future is in jeopardy after he was convicted on Monday for embezzling gambling revenues. The allegations arose after the mayor — Charles Griffin of Forth Heights, Illinois — left office and his successor, Annie Coulter, found disturbing irregularities and issued a report that initiated the investigation.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the initial allegations asserted that Griffin stole nearly $150,000 for “his own personal and economic benefit.” Though the number was later dropped to more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, the judge overseeing Griffin’s conviction said the prosecution delivered “a mountain of evidence” demonstrating his crimes.

Griffin attempted to hide the expenses from discovery

Part of that evidence came from financial statements for a debit card in Griffin’s name. The judge observed that Griffin attempted to hide the expenses from discovery by having the financial statements sent to his home. The Sun-Times reports that “a former romantic partner of Griffin’s claimed the bank statements were sent to his home to safeguard them from theft, an assertion the judge described as ‘laughable.’”

Funneled gambling revenues into secret accounts

Charges brought against Griffin in 2018 further alleged that he stole money by “funneling gambling revenues from the State of Illinois into two secret bank accounts of which he had sole control.”

Allegations further state that Griffin stole money by cashing $13,500 worth of checks at a currency exchange. If he’d stopped there, all might have been fine, but Griffin kept the money and used it to “make personal purchases at Walmart, Home Depot, Menards, and LA Fitness.” The Associated Press notes that the former mayor surrendered to authorities and spent the night in jail. Depending on post-trial motions and sentencing set for Thursday, October 24, that may be the first of many nights the mayor spends behind bars.

We were disappointed, but we respect the court’s verdict.”

Griffin’s lawer Phillip Turner said: “We were disappointed, but we respect the court’s verdict. We will go forward step by step… The prosecution was pushing for it to be over 100,000… The judge specifically found that it was less than 100,000, which, as you can imagine, makes a significant difference.”