Michelle Sopko Gets 8-Year Prison Sentence for Embezzling from Palos Heights Fire District

The Oak Forest woman who embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Palos Heights Fire Protection District as an administrative assistant was sentenced to eight years in prison on Monday.

Michelle Sopko, 46, pleaded guilty before a Cook County judge to one count of theft of government property valued at more than $100,000 in a plea agreement. Prosecutors said she redirected more than $350,000 into the bank account she shared with her husband. Her schemes included paying herself overtime and paying salaries for two “ghost” employees.

She worked for the fire district from 2008 to 2012.

She and her husband, Charles Sopko, were arrested in December 2013. Charles Sopko was Oak Forest’s deputy fire chief. He faces charges of felony theft, conducting a financial criminal enterprise and forgery. He’s currently on paid leave.

In January, Michelle Sopko resigned her seat on the Arbor Park school board.

She waved to her family as she was led out of the courtroom Monday, reports the Chicago Tribune, after she told the judge “my terrible choices will affect them for the rest of their lives.”

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