Today, May 04, 2016, Christopher Williams, was arraigned on criminal charges including the alleged theft of over $10,000 from the City of Chicago. The indictment, delivered on April 20, 2016, charges Williams with a Class 1 felony for theft of government property, a Class 2 felony for theft of property, and six counts of Class 3 felonies including one count of theft by deception and four counts of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges that while employed by a City vendor as a security guard stationed at Department of Revenue payment centers, Williams received money from individuals under the pretense that he would settle and pay their fines and fees with the City. Williams then used a blank City of Chicago Department of Family and Social Services check to pay the fines and fees at a City payment kiosk, while keeping the money he had collected.
Williams is scheduled to appear before Judge Reddick on July 20, 2016, at 9:30 am. The charges are collectively punishable by up to $25,000 in fines or up to 15 years of jail time. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.