Cook County State's Attorney's Office:
Press Releases

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-3423
www.statesattorney.org

Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine today announced Class X felony theft charges against the superintendent of Sauk Village's Community Consolidated School District 168, one of the poorest districts in the state, for taking more than $100,000 from the District.

"Thomas Ryan was a reverse Robin Hood, stealing from the poor children in his district to line his own pockets, spending money on himself, his family and his friends," said State's Attorney Richard A. Devine.

"We allege that Ryan pilfered approximately $70,000 to pay for the college education of his three daughters between 1997 and 2005. Some of the money he stole was intended to pay teachers to tutor underachieving children after school hours. He also bullied subordinates to doctor paperwork to cloak his financial high jinks."

Ryan squandered school district funds by awarding a friend a $72,000 lighting contract without going through the bidding process, according to the charges. He obstructed justice by instructing two witnesses to create invoices to support the payments, the charges state.

"It is the worst case of financial fraud by a public official I have seen in my nearly nine years as State's Attorney," Devine said.

Ryan also gave his daughters nearly $2,000 in graduation gifts, paid himself $1,000 for tickets to Chicago Blackhawk hockey games, and treated his friends to fancy dinners and drinks, all at the taxpayers' expense in a district so poor that it cannot afford a music program, according to the charges.

Witnesses came forward during the investigation to describe Ryan as a physically imposing man who bullied them into cooperation and cover-ups in his far-reaching schemes. He demanded kickbacks and received them from employees who had earned overtime pay. He also milked the milk fund, stole library fees and made off with book fees. The financial havoc he wrought in the district will be felt for years.

Ryan was paid $183,000 a year in one of the poorest school districts in the state.

When investigators from our office-- assisted by the Illinois State Police-- raided his house with a search warrant they turned up $730,000 in cash from his home. That money will be sought as restitution and returned to the district.

Ryan is currently charged with theft of more than $100,000, which is a class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. He is also charged with intimidation, communication with a witness, harassment of a witness, obstruction of justice, bribery, and official misconduct. All are felonies, but carry penalties less than a Class X.

Charged earlier in the investigation was Louise Morales, 73, the school board president. Her next court date is Sept. 1 on charges of theft, official misconduct and misapplication of funds.

These are charges and the defendants have a presumption of innocence until proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation continues.

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