Former Sen. Tom Cullerton Gets 1 Year For Embezzlement Conviction

VILLA PARK, IL — Former Illinois Sen. Thomas Cullerton, 52, (D-Villa Park), was sentenced to a year in federal prison Tuesday in connection with charges that he fraudulently received a salary and benefits from a labor union.

In August 2019, Cullerton was indicted by a federal grand jury on 41 counts that included embezzlement. He pleaded guilty to the federal embezzlement charge in early March 2022.

Cullerton, who was formerly a member and organizer of Teamsters Local Union 734, had been accused of having "fraudulently obtained from Joint Council 25 and its members approximately $169,488 in salary, bonuses, and other benefits, approximately $57,662 in health and pension contributions, and approximately $21,678 in reimbursed medical claims," according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The former senator also reportedly received monthly funds to pay for his phone and transportation.

In March, Cullerton, who resigned in late February, admitted to neglecting his job duties and doing "little to no work as an organizer during the time he was on the union payroll," a news release said. Cullerton also admitted to using the funds he received to pay for groceries, home utilities and his mortgage.