Suburban Chicago village official charged with embezzlement

CHICAGO (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a suburban Chicago village treasurer embezzled more than $21,000 from the village's police pension fund.

They say 71-one-year-old James Griegel of Sauk Village was arrested Monday on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

The complaint alleges Griegel fraudulently issued pension fund checks to himself and forged the names of Sauk Village officials as signatories while listing the names of conferences and seminars on the memorandum lines of the checks to make the payments appear to be business-related. Griegel allegedly used the money for items including purchases at gas stations, restaurants and storage facilities.

Griegel was released on a personal recognizance bond after an initial court appearance.

His home telephone number was temporarily disconnected and he could not be reached for comment.