FOR RELEASE:
March 4, 2025
PRESS CONTACT:
communications@igchicago.org
A former employee of the Office of the City Clerk (OCC) pled guilty Thursday to Computer Fraud and Official Misconduct charges arising from an Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation.
As previously reported by OIG, Barbara Johnson was charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in November 2023 in a four-count indictment stemming from an OIG investigation which revealed that Johnson committed thefts of cash payments she received for the sale of City of Chicago stickers in her position with OCC. According to court records, while employed with the City of Chicago and in the course of her official duties, Johnson engaged in the theft from the City of physical currency totaling $150,000 and concealed that theft by altering the City’s computer records.
Johnson has been sentenced to 24 months of probation and has been ordered to pay restitution to the City in the amount of $150,000.
“We are very pleased with this outcome and very grateful for the partnership of the State’s Attorney’s Office,” said Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. “We will continue to aggressively pursue accountability for all those who abuse positions of public trust, and to do everything we can to see the City made whole.”
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The mission of the independent and nonpartisan City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying corruption, waste, and mismanagement in City government. OIG is a watchdog for the taxpayers of the City and has jurisdiction to conduct inquiries into most aspects of City government.
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