Ex-Joliet Park District Official Pleads Guilty To His Embezzlement Crime As CEO Of Big Brothers Big Sisters

JOLIET, IL — Ted Brodeur, the former high-ranking Joliet Park District official who was investigated for allegations of embezzlement of funds from the Joliet-based Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Will and Grundy Counties, pleaded guilty to felony theft on Tuesday at the Will County Courthouse.

According to the criminal complaint, Brodeur stole somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000 between Jan. 1, 2022 and Dec. 19, 2023.

Will County Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Cavera informed Joliet Patch on Tuesday that Brodeur was ordered to repay $40,000 in total restitution as part of his sentence. Brodeur had to repay $20,000 at the time of Tuesday's guilty plea and sentencing and he must repay the remaining $20,000 when his court supervision ends two years from now.

Brodeur was sentenced by Will County Judge John Connor to 24 months of court probation.

"I am so disheartened that the kids of BBBS had to suffer because of Ted’s crimes. These are children who need these services, but I was told that some services had to be suspended due to lack of funds. He should have to repay ALL the money he pilfered for gambling. This just makes me so sad for all the children that suffered because of him!" one Joliet Patch reader named Jodie commented on the Joliet Patch Facebook page.

Brodeur does not have to do any jail time as punishment for his crime.

"Our detectives did a helluva job," Cavera told Joliet Patch. "It was essentially a year-old investigation They reviewed video footage from merchants, stores, bank records."

Cavera said the two lead detectives assigned to investigate Brodeur's embezzlement schemes at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization were Hilary Lithgow and Nick Binnendyk.

"Unfortunately, not only are people who donated to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization victims, but so are the kids, because of some of the services they provide," Sgt. Cavera pointed out.

Cavera said that the $40,000 in restitution is approximately the amount that Will County Sheriff's Office detectives believe they could prove that Brodeur stole from Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

When asked by Joliet Patch if he believes that Brodeur may have stolen more, perhaps a lot more, than the $40,000 figure, Cavera had this response.

"I think Ted Brodeur knows the true amount that was taken. Essentially, around $40,000 is what we can definitely prove."

Brodeur was represented by downtown Joliet attorney Kristine Honiotes of Honiotes Law Office. She did not return phone calls from Joliet Patch seeking comment for this story.

Last year, Nat Freeman, the lieutenant who oversees the Will County Sheriff's Office criminal investigations unit, told Joliet Patch that Brodeur had admitted to using ATM cards issued to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization for his own personal use to obtain cash. Freeman said the misuse of funds was in excess of $10,000.

Brodeur took over as chief executive officer of the Joliet-based Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization in August 2019 immediately after working for more than 30 years with the Joliet Park District where he served as one of the top park district officials.

In 2019, Brodeur left as the Joliet Park District in good standing, retiring as its director of revenue facilities and golf operations. In total, Joliet Patch determined Brodeur was paid out $98,699 to part ways with the Joliet Park District after about 30 years on the job. His taxpayer-funded payout included $17,215, which was two months of regular salary, plus another $81,484 for his enormous nest egg of unused vacation time and sick days.

Because Brodeur was issued a summons to appear at the Will County Courthouse at the time his criminal charges were filed in 2024, a mugshot was never available. Brodeur was not booked into the Will County Jail in connection with his felony theft charge. Brodeur lives in Shorewood's Hidden Creek Estates, one of the subdivisions along Seil Road near Troy Fire Station No. 2.

Last April, Joliet Patch reported that special prosecutor Bill Elward intended to call the following people and organizations to testify against Brodeur if his case proceeded to a trial:

• Will County Sheriff's deputies Hilary Lithgow and Nick Binnendyk
• Joliet Police Officer Trent Kreis
• Special Agent Gabriel Aragones of the Illinois State Police Gaming Board
• Amy Vicosio, Caitlyn Holcomb, Christine Vimarco, Mike Trafton, Neil Narine, Al Roechner, Katie Napier and Jenny Nasra of the Joliet Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Binny's Beverage Depot, keeper of records, Joliet store on Tonti Drive
• McBride's On 52, keeper of records, 2727 West Jefferson Street, Joliet
• Double J Sports Bar, 1001 Essington Road, Joliet
• Walmart on Route 59 in Joliet, keeper of records
• Walmart 2424 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, keeper of records
• Home Depot, on Route 59 in Shorewood, keeper of records
• Menards, Weber Road in Crest Hill, keeper of records
• Costco, near Route 30 and Interstate 55, keeper of records
• First Secure Bank in Sugar Grove, keeper of records
• Hobby Lobby, 1400 Larkin Ave. in Joliet, keeper of records
• Joliet Park District keeper of records and Brad Staab, executive director
• Kristy King of Joliet