The controversy surrounding Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard continues to escalate as her top aide, Lewis A. Lacey, was indicted on Monday by a federal grand jury on bankruptcy fraud charges. The indictment alleges that Lacey, the former deputy chief of police, concealed assets and income to avoid paying creditors and settling a lawsuit. The charges stem from two bankruptcy petitions Lacey filed in 2019 and 2020.
Lacey, a staunch supporter of Henyard, has been a central figure in the ongoing scandal that has plagued the mayor for months. Henyard herself has faced accusations of financial impropriety, including using taxpayer money for personal luxuries, weaponizing police raids, and engaging in questionable spending practices.
The indictment against Lacey is part of an ongoing federal investigation into Henyard’s activities. He faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty on all charges. His lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, claims the indictment is part of a larger scheme by the government to target Henyard, asserting Lacey’s innocence.
Adding to the growing concerns about Henyard’s leadership, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, hired as a special investigator to examine Dolton’s financial situation, presented a report to residents last week detailing shocking findings.
Lightfoot revealed that Dolton’s general fund balance plummeted from $5.61 million in April 2022 to a deficit of $3.65 million by May 2024. She also disclosed that Henyard used the village credit card for personal purchases at major retailers like Amazon, Target, Walgreens, and Wayfair. One particularly striking revelation highlighted a $33,000 purchase on Amazon on January 5, 2023.
The investigation also uncovered excessive overtime pay for two police officers, with one officer receiving $114,800 in overtime for a fiscal year salary of $87,295 and another receiving $102,077 in overtime for a $73,515 salary.
These financial irregularities have triggered an ongoing FBI investigation into Henyard’s conduct. The accusations of financial misdeeds have raised alarm bells among Dolton residents, who are concerned about the town’s financial stability under Henyard’s leadership.
The allegations against Henyard extend beyond financial impropriety. She has also faced accusations of sexual assault by one of her allies during a trip to Las Vegas, with the alleged victim claiming to have been fired after speaking out. Additionally, her cancer charity is under scrutiny.
Henyard, who typically addresses meetings through a golden microphone, has been a subject of intense scrutiny and criticism. Her actions have been widely seen as out of touch with the needs of her constituents, particularly considering the town’s median income of $24,000, compared to her combined salary of nearly $300,000.
The federal investigation into Henyard’s activities continues, with the indictment against her top aide adding another layer to the complex and troubling situation in Dolton. The residents of Dolton are left to grapple with the consequences of Henyard’s actions and the uncertain future of their town.
