Illinois quick hits: Former police chief convicted of bribery; man sentenced for fraud

Illinois quick hits: Former police chief convicted of bribery; man sentenced for fraud

December 11, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Former police chief convicted of bribery

A federal jury has convicted a former Summit, Illinois police chief of bribery offenses for corruptly accepting money from a local businessman to facilitate the transfer of a liquor license.

Prosecutors say John Kosmowski, 57, of Lockport conspired with Summit building inspector William Mundy to accept $10,000 from a businessman in 2017.

Kosmowski’s sentencing is set for March 27, 2026.

Man sentenced for fraud

An Indian national has been sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution for his involvement in an imposter scheme to defraud 11 identified victims, including elderly residents from Edwardsville and Effingham, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Ligneshkumar H. Patel, 38, pleaded guilty several fraud charges.

According to court documents, Patel worked within a major conspiracy that included at least 85 additional victims with an intended loss of more than $6.9 million.

Gift card crime warnings

The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association is sounding the alarm about gift card fraud.

The group says organized criminal groups tamper with cards, hack online accounts and scam victims into providing redemption codes.

ILORCA pointed to a list of warning signs offered by Homeland Security Investigations at the agency’s website.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Trump says U.S. in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels in Caribbean

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump told Congress that the U.S. is engaged in "armed conflict" with drug cartels in the Caribbean shortly after ordering four military strikes...
Policy experts unimpressed with SBA’s ‘record’ capital delivered to small businesses

Policy experts unimpressed with SBA’s ‘record’ capital delivered to small businesses

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Small Business Administration announced it will close Fiscal Year 2025 with record-breaking capital delivered to small businesses, but policy experts are unimpressed by the...
City taxpayer burden swells, as Chicago pension debt rises

City taxpayer burden swells, as Chicago pension debt rises

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers now face unfunded debt from its municipal, laborers, police, fire and teachers’ pensions that...
Poll: Voters like candidates supporting war on Alzheimer's

Poll: Voters like candidates supporting war on Alzheimer’s

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Republican congressional candidates are more likely to win competitive districts if they support the war on Alzheimer’s, according to a new poll in California, Arizona,...
U.S. LNG exports at new record in September on strong Louisiana shipments

U.S. LNG exports at new record in September on strong Louisiana shipments

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square U.S. LNG exports hit a record high in September at 9.4 million metric tons, up from a previous record 9.3 million metric tons in August,...
Conservatives push Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger

Conservatives push Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of conservative and free-market groups is urging federal regulators to approve the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, saying the deal...
Hamas agrees to release hostages; demands further negotiations

Hamas agrees to release hostages; demands further negotiations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After an ominous warning from President Donald Trump, Hamas has reportedly agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages; however, they have yet to agree to...
Report: Bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment policy

Report: Bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment policy

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A new study reveals strong bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment, yet only 16 states have strong laws enabling it. The report by Reason Foundation,...
'End the political idiocy': Republicans lambast Dems for tanking funding bill again

‘End the political idiocy’: Republicans lambast Dems for tanking funding bill again

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The ongoing government shutdown will span at least five days as U.S. senators depart for the weekend after voting down both short-term funding options for...

WATCH: U.S. military strikes another suspected drug boat, killing four

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the U.S. military destroyed a fourth suspected drug boat on Friday carrying enough drugs to kill tens of thousands of Americans....
Des Moines Public School system hired superintendent with extensive criminal history

Des Moines Public School system hired superintendent with extensive criminal history

By Bethany Blankley reporterThe Center Square The Des Moines Public School Board hired a Guyanan national who had been living in the U.S. illegally for years and has an extensive...
Pro-life group calls FDA’s approval of generic abortion pill ‘unconscionable’

Pro-life group calls FDA’s approval of generic abortion pill ‘unconscionable’

By Tate MillerThe Center Square A pro-life organization called the FDA’s approval of the generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone “unconscionable,” stating that abortion is the leading cause of...
USDOT puts $2.1 billion of taxpayer funds for CTA under review

USDOT puts $2.1 billion of taxpayer funds for CTA under review

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than $2 billion in federal taxpayer infrastructure funding granted by the Biden administration for Chicago Transit...
No UPCODE Act could be part of shutdown solution … and more

No UPCODE Act could be part of shutdown solution … and more

By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Days into the federal government shutdown, health care funding is perhaps the key issue in talks to end the partisan stalemate. A...
Health care policy remains sticking point in Senate's govt shutdown talks

Health care policy remains sticking point in Senate’s govt shutdown talks

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square It’s day three of the government shutdown, and U.S. lawmakers are no closer to a government stopgap compromise, with both parties believing they’ll win the...