Photo Credit: vodolton.org
Dolton Deputy Police Chief Lewis Lacey, 61, from Matteson, was indicted on bankruptcy charges by a federal grand jury in Chicago. Lacey faces charges of bankruptcy fraud, making false statements in a bankruptcy case, and perjury.
Each charge could lead to up to five years in prison.
Dolton Deputy Police Chief Lewis Lacey was indicted Monday on bankruptcy charges by a federal grand jury in Chicago. https://t.co/qsHhDiTQrZ
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) August 13, 2024
Last week, the village board put Lacey on administrative leave, which Mayor Tiffany Henyard, a Lacey supporter, called political retaliation.
Prosecutors claim Lacey has filed multiple bankruptcy cases since the 1980s. Recent filings in 2019 and 2020 were said to delay the enforcement of a $55,000 settlement from a 2017 lawsuit. They allege Lacey still owes $43,000 of this amount.
The charges include making false statements about his monthly income, bank accounts, and marital status. Prosecutors say Lacey claimed to be separated from his spouse, who he said did not contribute to his income or mortgage, which they allege is false.
Lacey, a Dolton police officer during this time, is the second Dolton official recently charged with bankruptcy fraud. Dolton Village Administrator Keith Freeman was indicted on similar charges in April.
Lacey’s arraignment is yet to be scheduled. His lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, stated that Lacey maintains his innocence and is being targeted to get at Mayor Henyard, who is under federal investigation.
Pissetzky added that Lacey had been a long-serving, outstanding police officer in Dolton.
ABC 7 Chicago contributed to this report.