Ex-clerk pleads guilty to stealing from village
A 70-year-old former Burnham village clerk has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $650,000 from her community, spending much of it at casinos.
As part of a plea deal, Nancy Dobrowski pleaded guilty Thursday at Chicago federal court to wire fraud and filing false tax returns.
She held the elected position of Burnham clerk for more than 30 years before she resigned last year.
Prosecutors say Dobrowski fixed records to conceal she was pocketing money paid for sewer services, liquor licenses, towing and for other fees or fines.
Dobrowski faces up to 23 years in prison when she's sentenced Sept. 9. But prosecutors will recommend she serve less time because she's accepting responsibility.
She'll also have to pay restitution, back taxes and fines totaling nearly $1 million.