Three Schaumburg Police Officers Accused Of Operating Drug Ring In Cook And DuPage Counties
WHEATON, Ill. - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jack Riley announced today that charges have been filed against three Schaumburg police officers accused of operating a drug ring in Cook and DuPage Counties. Matthew Hudak, Terrance O’Brien and John Cichy have each been charged with one count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, two counts of Armed Violence, one count of Calculated Criminal Drug Conspiracy, one count of Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy, one count of Official Misconduct, one count of Theft and one count of Burglary. The three men appeared in Bond Court this morning where Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bond at $750,000 full cash for each man.
Today’s charges are the result of an investigation led by the DEA, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Carol Stream Police Department into possible police officer involvement in the illegal sale of narcotics and cannabis in Cook and DuPage Counties. It is alleged that on numerous occasions and through the course of their work as narcotics investigators, the men routinely confiscated drugs from drug dealers. It is further alleged that instead of placing all the drugs into evidence at the Schaumburg police station, the men kept some of the drugs for themselves. It is further alleged that the men then sold the drugs on the streets through other sources and divided the profits between themselves. It is further alleged that the men also stole $20,000 from a storage facility believing the money belonged to a drug dealer.
“Today is a very difficult day for law enforcement,” Berlin said. “It is alleged that these three men abused their badges and violated their oath of office in an attempt to enrich themselves at the expense of others. It is heartening to know however, that once these allegations came to light, honest, hard-working law enforcement authorities acted swiftly and professionally to put an end to this alleged conduct. I would like to stress that these allegations are in no way an indictment on the entire Schaumburg Police Department. These charges are against three individuals and there is no indication whatsoever of any other officer involvement. I would like to thank the Schaumburg Police Department for their complete cooperation in this matter. I would also like to thank the DEA for their outstanding work in this case from beginning to end as well as Assistant State’s Attorney Audriana Anderson who has worked tirelessly on this case for the past several weeks.”
"Unfortunately, this is a sad day for the good guys. I've been in law enforcement for close to thirty years and this makes me sick," said SAC Riley. "The alleged actions of these officers are treasonous to the law enforcement community and I take it personally. Although this is a public corruption case, for me it's a drug case and as I've said before, I will follow these cases wherever they take me. Those who would use their public office to facilitate narcotic trafficking are a disgrace to the badge they carry," he added.
Also charged in the case was an acquaintance of O’Brien’s, Nicole Brehm. Brehm is charged with one count of Calculated Criminal Drug Conspiracy. It is alleged that Brehm allowed the men to use her house as a “stash house” for the drugs. She faces a penalty of up to six to thirty years in the IDOC. Her next court appearance is scheduled for January 29, 2013 in front of Judge Daniel Guerin. She is currently being held in the DuPage County Jail on $150,000 bond with 10% to apply.
“It is very disappointing to learn that three Schaumburg police officers are alleged to have broken the very laws they were sworn to uphold,” said Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz. “But, it is important that our community understands our commitment to hold officers that break the law fully accountable. That’s why the Schaumburg Police Department fully supports efforts to prosecute these officers to the fullest extent under the law.”
All three men are scheduled to appear in court on January 31, 2013 in front of Judge Blanche Hill Fawell. They each face a penalty of up to nine to forty years in the Illinois Department of (IDOC.).
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
