Current, former Ford Heights, Illinois, officials appear in court on charges of misusing funds
Eleven current and former Ford Heights, Illinois, officials were trusted to run their village, but now stand accused of using money for lavish trips.
On Wednesday morning, three of those 11 defendants appeared for an arraignment hearing at the suburban Cook County Courthouse in Markham, where they got a chance to answer the accusations.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the defendants intentionally stole from taxpayers. They are accused of participating in a scheme to use the funds to pay for airfare, hotel accommodations and "exorbitant spending excursions" in casinos while vacationing in Las Vegas and Michigan City, Indiana.
At the hearing Wednesday, some of the 11 defendants had private attorneys, some asked for public defenders, and one told a judge he didn't even know why he was there. Due to the number of defendants, the hearing took about an hour and a half.
Because of some attorney issues, only three of the 11 defendants were arraigned Wednesday.
James Morgan, 48, of Ford Heights, is a current Ford Heights village trustee. He pleaded not guilty to nine counts of theft of governmental property exceeding $100,000 and official misconduct between August 2020 and April 2021.
Scottie Hatten, 38, of Hazel Crest, is a former Ford Heights village trustee. He pleaded not guilty to six counts of theft of governmental property between $10,000 and $100,000 and official misconduct between August and November 2020.
Antone Adams, 59, of Chicago Heights, is a janitor. He pleaded not guilty to theft of governmental property between $500 and $10,000 and official misconduct dating back to April 2021.
Adams told reporters he paid for his own hotel in the incident in which he is accused, and he does not understand what he did wrong.
Raoul filed a total of 79 felony counts for charges including theft of government property and official misconduct against the following people in addition to Morgan, Hatten, and Adams:
- Former mayor Annie R. Coulter, 74, of Ford Heights
- Village clerk Nyree D. Ford, 53, of Ford Heights
- Allis Franklin, 78, of Ford Heights
- Mary Matthews Graziano, 65, of Ford Heights.
- Current village trustee Johnny A. Griffin, 67, of Ford Heights
- Former village trustee LaDell L. Jones, 61, of Ford Heights
- Dedra D. Lee, 65, of Ford Heights
- Former village trustee Antoina T. McMichales, 56, of Ford Heights
On Thursday of last week, the Cook County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Ford Heights Municipal Hall for most of the day, with officers seen bringing boxes out from time to time. The sheriff's office said they were assisting the attorney general's office with an investigation.
A day after the raid, the Illinois Attorney General's office confirmed the bombshell allegations against the current and former Ford Heights officials.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart put it this way: "The abuses of power alleged in this case are an affront to the people of Ford Heights."
Former Mayor Coulter, whose arraignment was postponed for another month or so, was asked if she had any comment as she walked by in the Markham Courthouse. She did not reply.
Current village clerk Ford also did not reply when asked for comment.
Defendant Jones was set to be arraigned on Thursday because his private attorney appeared by Zoom. The judge requires attorneys to appear in person.
The other defendants will be back in court with private attorneys at an unspecified time on Thursday, Nov. 19.
This is not the first case of corruption for the small south Chicago suburb. Two years ago, former Ford Heights Mayor Charles Griffin was convicted of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the village.
