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Dirksen Federal Courthouse | Sun-Times file
Robert Czernek, 69, has been charged along with others with honest services wire fraud.
Federal prosecutors say a suburban road district commissioner took hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the owner of an excavation company and is the latest in a series of elected officials to face criminal charges.
Bloomingdale Township Road District Commissioner Robert Czernek, 69, allegedly took more than $280,000 in kickbacks from Debra Fazio, owner of Bulldog Earth Movers Inc. in Bloomingdale, as well as from her employee Mario Giannini.
In exchange for the kickbacks, the feds say Czernek used his township position to steer payments for stone delivery, dump leveling and storm sewer invoices to Fazio’s company, even though he knew much of the work had not actually been performed.
Prosecutors say the scheme lasted eight years and led to Bloomingdale Township cutting more than $700,000 in checks to Bulldog Earth Movers.
Czernek allegedly left handwritten notes for Giannini on Bloomingdale Township Highway Department property as part of the scheme.
The 20-count indictment charges Czernek, Fazio and Giannini with 14 counts of honest services wire fraud. Fazio is also charged with six counts of money laundering. Arraignments for the trio have not been scheduled.
Federal authorities in January sought various records from the Bloomingdale Township Highway Department, including its surveillance systems, Czernek’s desk calendar and “any handwritten notes describing construction, excavation and/or road work purportedly performed.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Source:: Chicago Sun Times
