Ford Heights Mayor Charles Griffin was convicted Monday of embezzling village funds, though he was not held accountable for stealing the full $147,000 prosecutors claimed.
Cook County Judge James Obbish said Griffin is guilty of a felony in the embezzlement of between $10,000 and $100,000 in public funds “to benefit himself, his family and his friends” from 2014 to 2017, both during and after his first tenure as Ford Heights mayor.
Griffin was mayor of the town of 1,750 residents from 2009 to 2017, and despite being under federal indictment was elected again to the post in 2021.
Attorneys presented all evidence last week with closing arguments presented Tuesday.
“A person is not eligible to take the oath of office for a municipal office if that person … has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony …,” according to present Illinois law.
Prosecutors charged Griffin after secret accounts holding $147,000 in public funds were discovered and reported to authorities by former Mayor Annie Coulter’s office shortly after she took office in 2017.
Griffin was taken to jail in August 2018 and released shortly after on bond. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx released a news release at the time condemning “theft by a person in a position of public trust,” saying it “will not be tolerated.”
“Soon after Griffin left office, the village discovered irregular activity in accounts at BMO Harris Bank under the village’s name that did not appear to have been previously disclosed to the village trustees and or other village officials,” Foxx said in the release.
Two funds listed Griffin’s personal address, authorities said. One of the accounts contained deposits from the state treasurer’s office that represented the village’s share of taxes on video gaming, the state’s attorney alleged.
“Significant portions of the funds withdrawn from this account were used for Griffin’s personal expenses,” the office said in 2018, adding debit card transactions include spending at Walmart, Home Depot, Menards, L.A. Fitness and various restaurants.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com