Illinois Deputy Police Chief in Dolton Accused of Bankruptcy Fraud

The Deputy Chief of the Dolton Police Department in Illinois, Lewis Lacey, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bankruptcy fraud and perjury. The charges against him include underreporting income, hiding bank accounts, and making false statements in multiple bankruptcy cases since the 1980s. Lacey is the second village official from Dolton to face bankruptcy fraud charges. The charges come at a time when the city is facing a financial crisis, with investigations revealing financial mismanagement including large amounts of overtime pay for police officers and lack of financial reports or audits since 2021. Lacey, who was fired from his position last week, maintains his innocence through his lawyer. The lawyer claims that the charges are an attempt to target Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who is also under federal investigation for financial mismanagement. The investigation found that the city is over $3.5 million in debt, with credit cards being used to make unexplained purchases and fund travel. Henyard did not cooperate with the investigation, according to reports. The indictments against Lacey and other officials raise concerns about financial management and possible corruption within the city government of Dolton.

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