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November 21, 2024

Former Senator Cullerton Sentenced To One Year In Federal Prison –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On June 21, 2022

Chicago, IL. (ECWd) –

Former Illinois State Senator Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Receiving Salary and Benefits From Labor Union

CHICAGO — Former Illinois State Sen. THOMAS E. CULLERTON was sentenced today to a year in federal prison for fraudulently receiving salary and benefits from a labor union.

Cullerton, 52, of Villa Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal embezzlement charge.  U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman imposed the year-and-a-day sentence after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General in Chicago.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu and Erika L. Csicsila.

Cullerton was hired in 2013 by Teamsters Joint Council 25 as a purported union organizer and remained on the payroll until February 2016.  In addition to receiving a salary, monthly car and telephone allowances, and bonuses, Teamsters Joint Council 25 funded Cullerton’s participation in Teamsters Local Union 734’s health and pension funds, which enabled Cullerton to receive health and welfare benefits.

Cullerton admitted in a plea agreement that he did little to no work as an organizer during the time he was on the union payroll.  When his supervisors requested that he perform his job duties, Cullerton routinely ignored them.

Cullerton fraudulently obtained from Joint Council 25 and its members approximately $169,488 in salary, bonuses, and other benefits, approximately $57,662 in health and pension contributions, and approximately $21,678 in reimbursed medical claims.  Cullerton admitted that he used the embezzled money to pay personal expenses, such as his mortgage, utilities, and groceries.

See Department of Justice Press Release.

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6 Comments
  • Mags
    Posted at 07:47h, 25 June

    Getting off way too easy! He should not be eligible for his pension or be eligible to run for any public office again. This sentence does not deter any other politician from doing what he has done.

  • Greg G
    Posted at 13:18h, 23 June

    His prison nickname will be Ben Dover! Enjoy it Ben you earned!

  • Dave
    Posted at 09:11h, 22 June

    This is yet another reason why the General Assembly needs to remove Amendment 1 from the Nov. ballot.

  • Dave
    Posted at 17:18h, 21 June

    Democrats Madigan, Cullerton, and Acevedo, I’m sure i’m forgetting someone….. the pins are falling

  • James R "Jim" Eckert
    Posted at 15:05h, 21 June

    Do you suppose someone from the union (or several from the union) were “in” on it and also need to be prosecuted. Of course, no one in union management has ever done something illegal. 🙂

    • Dave
      Posted at 09:08h, 22 June

      It is very curious that the Union wasn’t punished, its obvious to me why the union was paying Cullerton. “Teamsters Joint Council 25 also funded Cullerton’s health and pension benefits through Teamsters Local Union 734, all totaling $248,828.”

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