Dolton, Ill. (ECWd) –
According to recent bankruptcy filings of Keith Freeman, the Village Manager of Dolton, Illinois, and employee of Thornton Township, Freeman’s only employment is Thornton Township.
We emailed Freeman on Feb 5th at both his township and village email addresses seeking clarification of his filing, and asking if it was a mistake – he has not responded.
According to the January 29, 2024, 2-week village payroll, Freeman’s payroll for this pay period was $3,846.15 with no Social Security or Medicare taken out of his check. The monthly income would be around $7,692.30. *This data came from a whistleblower, and we are unable to verify it at this time since the village refuses to provide these records to us under the Freedom of Information Act. We do believe it to be accurate.
Freeman’s per-pay-period income from Thornton Township is $2,692.32 according to the township’s December 2023, payroll. Monthly would be around $5,384.64. *This data came from a whistleblower, and we are unable to verify it at this time since we have not received this data under the Freedom of Information Act, and public release of it by the township is basically nonexistent. We do believe it to be accurate.
However, according to “Schedule I: Your Income” on his Petition for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy filed on January 3, 2024, his sole employment is Thornton Township as Municipality Manager. His “estimated monthly income” from that one and only job is listed as $5,833.36. He did list “Other Monthly Income” as reimbursements in the amount of $2,345.00, with a total monthly income (take home) listed as $7,167.67. Freeman was required to file an additional sheet for any additional jobs held, but none were filed.
Under another schedule for his Chapter 7 filing, Freeman listed his total monthly income as $8,283.36.
Regardless, according to our calculations, his monthly income exceeds $15,000 when we add up his payments from the Village of Dolton and Thornton Township, and his monthly “reimbursement” payment from the township.
On Feb 6th, we asked Freeman and his bankruptcy attorney to review this article for any inaccurate statements, they have yet to respond to our email request for comment. As of late last night, there were no amendments to his court filings.
This bankruptcy filing could become problematic, and we urge Mr. Freeman to amend it to reflect his actual income from all sources.
21 Comments
Jack Tarleton
Posted at 13:36h, 08 FebruaryThe relevant legal factors to keep in mind are that Form 122 (CMI) is a lookback calculation, which examines income from the six months preceding filing, not including the filing month of filing. So that would be July through December ’23. For Schedule I, we are looking forward, so it would be from January 2024 forward. So those could differ substantially. What is NOT ok is for both of those schedules to fail to take into account aa job that he has held in the past 6 months or will hold going forward. Also relevant is the statement of financial affairs (SOFA) which should address all income earned in the preceding two years. As a cross-check, he should have submitted to the bankruptcy trustee all of his tax returns for the past two or four years depending on the trustee’s preference. Should be an interesting examination, under penalty of perjury, btw.
Mr Hugh Janus
Posted at 14:22h, 08 FebruaryI looked at the document Page 2 and in the reported payroll deductions is a payroll deduction for “insurance” at $1.99 a month.
Is there some kind of a mistake?
That might be really crappy insurance if it only costs $1.99 a month.
There oughtta be a law against really crappy insurance!
Then again who knows?
It can’t be really good health insurance for $1.99 a month could it?
If it’s health insurance through Thornton Township and it is at least half way good coverage then that $1.99 a month seems like a steal of a deal!
I hear lots of people pay at least treefiddy for their insurance and they are always complaining about the high deductibles and denied claims.
Don’t even think to get them started on what they pay for premiums!
Do all the township employees get the same $1.99 a month deal?
It’s enough to make a person wonder.
Robert Zeigler
Posted at 21:15h, 08 FebruaryAwesome work on this article, hits the nail on the head of the problems with many elected officials. They seem to feel that rules a ND laws do not apply to them.
Val Spencer
Posted at 01:25h, 09 FebruaryAmazing information
Tdub Williams
Posted at 07:45h, 09 FebruaryWho files for bankruptcy at an income as his?
That’s unimaginable and irresponsible of a guy who holds positions as his!
Paul Baumgartner
Posted at 11:40h, 09 FebruaryPlease keep this investigation going. Makes me insane these people in Dolton put up with that mayor and her cronies. Dolton and Thornton township are obviously a hotbed of corruption and it needs to stop and these people need to be prosecuted and restitution paid.
Lthall
Posted at 12:36h, 09 FebruaryThanks for reporting
This is insane
Bailey Alston
Posted at 13:38h, 09 FebruaryGreat information! How is it they still have jobs?
Jimmy John
Posted at 13:55h, 09 FebruaryBlack people are still in a humanitarian cricid here in America U.S.A.
wes pink
Posted at 16:44h, 12 FebruaryWHAT IS THAT AGAIN? SPELLING?
Jeff Williams
Posted at 14:03h, 09 FebruaryPlease send your article to the Bankruptcy Trustee. Just sayin’.
Pete Marwick
Posted at 15:36h, 09 FebruaryHow can someone have two full-time jobs at the same time? I read in a different article he was being paid as a contractor at the Village and issued a 1099 tax form. I would not be surprised if IRS would say he does not qualify as a contractor.
Gary barr
Posted at 16:09h, 09 FebruaryA city manager who runs the Financials of a city files for personal bankruptcy???
What does this say
wes pink
Posted at 16:46h, 12 FebruaryWERE ALL SCREWED NOW BE REAL BUT WAIT THEY HIRE PEDOPHILE TO GO INO HOMES SO? RAELLY NOT A SURPISE BUT JUST SO TYPICAL RIGHT?
Dean Vollette
Posted at 16:14h, 09 FebruaryApparently Dolton is a den of thieves. I know people in Dolton. I feel worried for them now.
Chucky Benzie
Posted at 16:42h, 09 FebruaryHey, it’s Dolton! What more can I say?
Steve leamy
Posted at 16:52h, 09 FebruaryThe FBI needs to run point on this. Oops. I forgot, it’s part of the DOJ. Enough said
Dwayne Thrash
Posted at 21:33h, 09 FebruaryReady for all the madness to ✋️
Hugh Askew
Posted at 19:39h, 11 FebruaryGood god I must be old, I can remember back when robbers wore masks and used guns!
Javier Carrillo
Posted at 19:29h, 14 FebruaryF.B.I where are you??? Please come and save this village and township from these thieves!..
LaVerne Banks
Posted at 13:05h, 07 MarchThe reason she hires crooks is because she is one. They showed a mug shot of her. She was arrested for breaking into cars.