POSEN – The former president of the village of Posen pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges he embezzled money from the south suburb and spent it at casinos, the Northern District of Illinois' U.S. Attorney's office reported Friday.
Donald Schupek, 79, of Posen, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus mandatory restitution. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for Sept. 12, 2019, at 10:30 a.m.
Schupek admitted in the plea agreement that he converted the funds to his own use, including gambling expenses at two casinos in Joliet.
During the spring session, the Illinois legislature passed a measure adding six more casinos in Illinois, including one for the south suburbs – not far from Posen.
According to his plea agreement, Schupek, while serving as Posen president, directed the village bookkeeper to issue checks on the village’s checking account made payable to Schupek. From June 2014 to August 2016, Schupek directed the issuance of nine checks, totaling $27,000, the plea agreement states. At the time, Schupek did not inform the village treasurer nor the village board that he had issued these checks to himself.
