Cook County Correctional Officer Charged With Theft

From the Cook County Sheriff’s Office

A joint investigation by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a correctional officer, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.

Fernando Munoz, 48, was taken into custody today. He has been charged with theft, a class 3 felony.

The Sheriff’s Office received information about a year ago that Munoz was engaging in conversations regarding stolen property with a detainee in Division 11, where Munoz was assigned to work. During those conversations, the detainee referred Munoz to an associate of the detainee to view property he believed to be stolen.

According to the investigation, on Oct. 31, 2013, Munoz met the associate at a storage facility in Chicago. Munoz was told the items in the storage locker were stolen. He did not purchase item at that time.

Unbeknownst to Munoz, the associate was cooperating with investigators.

Two weeks later, Munoz returned to the storage facility and had asked for a wristwatch that had a value of approximately $1,200. Investigators arrested Munoz as he left the facility.

Munoz, of Cicero, has been employed as a Cook County correctional officer for 12 years. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.

He is scheduled to appear in bond court today at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

This investigation is part of an ongoing effort by Sheriff Dart to root out corruption and officer misconduct at the Cook County Jail.

Sheriff Dart reminds the public that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.