A former employee for a City of Chicago contractor working as a security guard pleaded guilty to theft of government property in a scheme to defraud the City of thousands in taxpayer money.
Christopher Williams, a security guard with City contractor SkyTech Security Services, pleaded guilty Monday morning before Circuit Court Judge Erica L. Reddick to one count of Class I felony of theft of government property (720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(2)). Williams admitted 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 from the individuals.
Judge Reddick ordered Williams to serve 30 months of probation, 240 hours of community service, and pay $9,096.85 in restitution.
The investigation was conducted by the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General, working in conjunction with the Illinois Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.