Former Summit Police Chief Sentenced To 3 Years For Taking $10K Bribe: US Attorney

SUMMIT, IL—A former police chief accused of taking a $10,000 bribe was handed a three-year sentence in a federal prison. John Kosmowski, 59, the former chief of the Summit Police Department, was convicted last year by a jury on charges of bribery conspiracy, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

Kosmowski, a resident of Lockport, was accused of conspiring with a Summit building inspector, William Mundy, in 2017, to accept $10,000 from Krzystof Hodurek, owner of the Fire Station Pub, 6336 S. Harlem Ave., Summit. Hodurek wanted to transfer the liquor license to his son. Neither the chief nor the building inspector had the authority to approve the transfer of liquor licenses, the feds said. In exchange, prosecutors said Kosmowski and Mundy agreed to pull some strings with the mayor.

>>> Ex-Police Chief Convicted By Federal Jury Of Taking $10K Bribe From Bar Owner

After receiving the cash from Hodurek, Kosmowsky is said to have split the amount with Mundy. The pair tried to cover it up by telling federal agents that the money was for a loan when confronted by federal authorities.

The disgraced building inspector began cooperating with the FBI following his arrest in 2020. Mundy, who resides in Summit, was the star witness for the prosecution in Kosmowski’s trial. Most of Mundy’s testimony consisted of wiretapped conversations with his buddy, the police chief.

After Mundy received his half of the bribe, prosecutors said he called Mayor Sergio Rodriguez, identified as “Individual C” in the criminal complaint. With Kosmowski listening, he persuaded the mayor to approve the transfer of the bar’s liquor license. Rodriguez has not been charged with wrongdoing.

Mundy pleaded guilty prior to trial to bribery and tax offenses. He is awaiting sentencing. Hodurek pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge in connection with an unrelated scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits from the state of Illinois. As part of his guilty plea, Hodurek admitted to participating in the bribery scheme with Kosmowski and Mundy. Hodurek is awaiting sentencing.

Kosmowski was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger.

“[The] defendant was a sworn law enforcement official who put personal profit over the public that he had a duty to protect,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Corruption by law enforcement officials strikes at the heart of government, eroding public confidence in those very officials that the public trusts to ensure their safety.”