Ex-cop admits he dodged taxes in Wrigleyville rooftop scheme

A former suburban cop pleaded guilty Tuesday to dodging about $140,000 in federal taxes in connection with a fraud scheme at a Wrigleyville rooftop business.

Richard Zasiebida, 37, admitted he underreported his 2009 income to the IRS by more than $100,000, a crime that could land him in prison for as many as three years. But if Zasiebida testifies truthfully against former Skybox on Sheffield co-owner Marc Hamid, prosecutors will likely try to put him away for less than a year.

In his plea agreement, the former Oak Park and Crestwood cop acknowledged he cheated the IRS out of $139,566 by underreporting the money he made between 2007 and 2011 from the ticket brokerage Just Great Seats Inc. and from an illegal sports betting operation. In 2009, his income was about $256,000, but he only reported $148,199.

"I knew that I needed to report that to the IRS," Zasiebida told U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin.

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