Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that his office filed charges against a former road commissioner in DeWitt County for allegedly using a township credit card to make personal purchases and submitting forged receipts.

Raoul’s office charged Eldon Cusey, 68, of Wapella, Illinois, with theft, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; four counts of official misconduct, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison; and 17 counts of forgery, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison. Cusey’s next court date is scheduled for March 14.

Raoul said in a statement, government employees have an obligation to use government funds and property responsibly. Taxpayers must be able to trust that those who serve on their behalf use their authority for the public good and not to enrich themselves.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) led the investigation into Cusey’s alleged misconduct.

ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said in a statement Thursday, the public must be able to trust public officials to use their tax dollars ethically. ISP’s Special Investigative Unit will continue to investigate public corruption and work with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to bring to justice those who break the law.

In documents filed with the DeWitt County Circuit Court Thursday, Raoul alleges that, when Cusey served as road commissioner, he used the township credit card to buy personal items, including home goods, pet food, alcoholic beverages and live chickens. Cusey allegedly submitted altered receipts to conceal these purchases. Cusey resigned from his position with the road commission in 2022.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assistant Attorneys General Mara Somlo and Haley Bookhout are handling the case for Raoul’s Public Integrity Bureau.