Cullerton, 49, is charged with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefit plans, 39 counts of embezzlement from a labor union, and one count of making false statements in a health care matter, according to an indictment made public Friday.
The indictment states that in March 2013, Cullerton was hired as a union organizer from the union he worked for prior to becoming senator. This was a full-time, salaried position that included health and pension funds. As a state senator, he was not allowed to receive those funds.
The charges allege that for the next three years, Cullerton did little or no work as an organizer, but was paid approximately $188,000 for the job, plus $64,000 in health and pension benefits and another $21,000 in reimbursed medical claims.
Arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
This comes just two days after former Teamsters boss John Coli Sr. pleaded guilty to corruption charges and agreed to cooperate in a federal investigation.
