Ex-State Sen. Thomas Cullerton to plead guilty in ghost payroll scheme with Teamsters
Former Illinois state Sen. Thomas E. Cullerton leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after pleading not guilty, Aug. 16, 2019, in federal court to embezzlement charges.
Cullerton pleaded guilty in a telephone hearing Tuesday to one count of embezzlement. He faces up to 18 months in prison under preliminary sentencing guidelines and has agreed to pay back about $250,000 in ill-gotten gains to the Teamsters. In all, Cullerton was accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $250,000 in salary, bonuses and other perks from the Teamsters between 2013 and 2016, ,including cellphone and vehicle allowances as well as health and pension contributions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu said.