Following his conviction for embezzlement of public funds, Charles Griffin has resigned as mayor of Ford Heights, his lawyer confirmed Friday.
“The regulation in Illinois is that when the phrase ‘responsible’ comes out of the decide’s mouth, he’s faraway from workplace,” mentioned Phillip Turner, Griffin’s Chicago-based lawyer. “Obviously you must resign, and in making an attempt to assist the village, you resign… in order that they do not find yourself in chaos.”
Griffin was convicted of stealing between $10,000 and $100,000 in public funds “for his personal private and financial profit” from 2014 to 2017, each throughout and after his first time period as mayor of Ford Heights, the county decide dominated Monday. Cook County James Obbish. Despite being indicted after secret accounts containing $147,000 in public funds had been found and reported to authorities by the mayor who succeeded Griffin in 2017, Griffin was elected mayor of the small, impoverished village for a second time in 2021.
Turner has maintained that Griffin is harmless and mentioned he plans to ask the decide to overturn the conviction. He mentioned the proof prosecutors offered in the course of the trial was “woefully inadequate,” together with testimony that the previous mayor made purchases at retailers reminiscent of Walmart and Sam’s Club for the good thing about himself or individuals near him and used funds public to pay for marketing campaign indicators when he was operating for re-election.
Post-trial motions, together with potential sentencing, are scheduled for Oct. 27. Turner mentioned if the decide refuses to overturn Griffin’s conviction, he’ll enchantment the choice.
Ford Heights Village Clerk Nyree Ford, who testified on Griffin’s behalf in the course of the trial, declined Friday to touch upon Griffin’s sentencing or present his letter of resignation. The village board is now tasked with electing certainly one of its trustees as mayor till the place is up for election, on this case, in 2025. The subsequent assembly is scheduled for Wednesday.
