Schaumburg IL Jan 18 2013 Three Schaumburg police officers conspired to steal drugs they had seized during legitimate busts, then split the profits after their informant put the drugs back on the streets, with one of the officers later admitting he did it for “the thrill of it," according to prosecutors.
John Cichy, 30, Matthew Hudak, 29, and Terrance O’Brien, 47, were captured on video surveillance and audio recordings stealing money and drugs from the dealers, and all three have made incriminating statements, prosecutor Audriana Anderson said in court this morning.
"Everything you have on tape, I did. You got me on that," Anderson quoted Hudak as telling authorities. O'Brien told investigators they did "it all for the thrill of it," she said.
Authorities said they began investigating the officers more than two weeks ago after a search warrant was executed on a storage locker in Carol Stream and 275 grams of cocaine were recovered.
The person who had control of the locker told authorities the officers had been using him since the middle of 2012 to buy and sell cocaine and marijuana from the cash and drugs they stole while executing search warrants. Investigators then set up a sting, with the informant wearing a wire, authorities said. The officers were arrested Wednesday.
"What began as a routine narcotics investigation quickly evolved into something far more sinister," DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said after the court hearing.
Defense attorney Thomas Glasgow, who represents Hudak, said his client was falsely accused by an unreliable "snitch" set up the officers. "In order to collar the bad guy, you have to look like the bad guy," Glasgow said.
Judge Elizabeth Sexton set a cash bail of $750,000 for each of the officers. Sexton granted a prosecution request requiring the officers to remain in custody until a hearing is held to ensure any money posted as bail was not obtained through illegal means.
"I believe these guys have nothing to lose," the judge said. "And they are a flight risk."
Defense attorneys had sought to lower the bonds, arguing the officers could not come up with that much money.
A girlfriend of one of the officers was also charged with drug conspiracy, accused of allowing her Hoffman Estates home to be used as a "stash house," Anderson said.
Anderson said authorities recovered six pounds of marijuana and some cocaine from the garage of Nicole Brehm, 44. She was ordered held on $150,000 bail.
Cichy and Hudak were each charged with manufacturing or delivering between 100 and 400 grams of cocaine, armed violence, criminal drug conspiracy, conspiracy to manufacture or deliver between 100 and 400 grams of cocaine, official misconduct, theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in a school or place of worship, and burglary.
O'Brien was charged with manufacturing or delivering between 100 and 400 grams of cocaine, armed violence, drug conspiracy, official misconduct, theft of stolen property between $10,000 and $100,000 from a school or place of worship, and burglary.
Authorities said Schaumburg police officials have fully cooperated in the investigation. About 20 search warrants were executed Wednesday at the police station, the officers' homes and their cars.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, but authorities do not believe any other officers were involved in the scheme.
"This is not a good day for the good guys," said Jack Riley, special agent-in-charge of the DEA's Chicago field division. "No matter who you are -- federal, state, or local law enforcement -- your badge took a ding and, for me quite frankly, it makes me sick to my stomach."
"I really do believe we have successfully removed the cancer within that (Schaumburg police) department," he added.
Berlin said dealers were arrested under lesser charges under the scheme so the charged officers could steal part of the confiscated drugs for their own profit.
Berlin said there is only one case in DuPage County in which the officers were involved, and he has spoken with Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to determine how many criminal prosecutions may have been compromised there.
Criminal defense experts said prosecutions could be tainted because of questions about the officers' credibility and their unavailability to testify in cases.
To that end, a representative of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office said the office has already begin assembling an inventory of cases involving the officers to determine if those cases were compromised and, if so, to seek the dismissal of charges.
Slonim said one defendant in a pending case, whom he did not name, has an upcoming hearing at which “I’m confident that the State’s Attorney’s Office will do the right thing. The credibility of those officers will not stand up in court.”
Also today, Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz released a new statement the village is disappointed in the officers and reiterating that the village will cooperate with authorities.
“The Village of Schaumburg fully supports efforts to prosecute these officers to the fullest extent under the law,” the statement said. It added that the village took immediate steps to place the men on leave when officials learned Wednesday of their arrests and will seek to have them terminated if the allegations prove true.
Relatives and neighbors of Hudak expressed shock at his arrests.
Hudak’s uncle, Michael Magazzine of Ohio, said he didn’t believe his nephew would be capable of the crimes prosecutors are alleging. Magazzine said Hudak grew up in the Cleveland-area and the uncle said he still sometimes sees his nephews at holidays.
“He’s a good kid. I changed his diaper,” Magazzine said.“I can’t see him selling (drugs). … That’s not the man I know.”
Howard Bean, Hudak’s neighbor in Algonquin, said he had “nothing but good things to say about” Hudak and his wife. “He’s a good man, a good father, he’s been a good neighbor.”
Howard’s wife Arlene said she has baby sat for the Hudaks’ two young children.
Source-tribune.com