Former police sergeants union head admits stealing $1 million – from union

The former head of the Chicago Police Sergeants Association pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $1 million from the sergeants union to fund a lavish lifestyle that prosecutors said included gambling trips, steak dinners and a down payment on a home on the city’s Northwest Side.

Sgt. John Pallohusky, 56, made a blind plea, which means he doesn’t have any deal with prosecutors. It will be up to Cook County Judge Diane Gordon Cannon to determine his sentence on June 1.

Pallohusky faces a possible sentence that could range from probation to 15 years in prison.

During a court hearing Tuesday at which Cannon tersely ordered Pallohusky to spit out his gum, defense attorney Rick Beuke said his client has enough in assets to pay back $1.1 million in restitution.

Pallohusky also still faces charges of official misconduct, money laundering and another theft charge, all tied to the same 2009 arrest, assistant state’s attorney LuAnn Snow and Bill Conway said.

Pallohusky, who left his union post, took the money to pay off a half dozen credit cards, trips to Las Vegas and the down payment on a home in the 6800 block of Wildwood, Conway said.

Pallohusky has been suspended without pay from the Chicago Police Department and relieved of all police powers, according to police spokeswoman Melissa Stratton.