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Former police chief pleads guilty to fraud charges

Posted January 26, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A former suburban Chicago police chief has pleaded guilty to federal fraud, money laundering and tax evasion charges in connection with a nonprofit organization established in 2005.

Former Countryside Chief Timothy Swanson was accused of misusing more than $250,000 that he raised for a suburban Chicago police helicopter program.

Prosecutors said the 56-year-old Swanson of Bourbonnais founded Illinois Regional Air Support Service while working as police chief of Countryside. Prosecutors contended Swanson claimed the organization would use helicopters to support law enforcement activity.

He continued to run the organization after taking a Kankakee County Sheriff's Department job in 2009. He no longer has that job. Swanson allegedly solicited about $350,000 in donations for the organization from police departments, corporations and individuals.

Swanson is scheduled to be sentenced in May.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

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