11 current and former Ford Heights officials, employees charged with misusing municipal funds, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/11-current-and-former-ford-heights-officials-employees-charged-with-misusing-municipal-funds/ar-AA2cZfNS?ocid=BingNewsVerp)

Eleven current and former Ford Heights elected officials and municipal employees have been charged by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for allegedly misusing municipal funds for personal gain.

According to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the individuals took part in a scheme where public taxpayer funds were used to cover personal expenses, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and lavish spending at casinos during trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Michigan City, Indiana.

A total of 79 felony counts were filed, encompassing charges of theft of government property and official misconduct. The 11 individuals charged are:

• Former Ford Heights Mayor Annie R. Coulter (74)

• Village Clerk Nyree D. Ford (53)

• Current Village Trustee Mary Matthews Graziano (65)

• Current Village Trustee James E. Morgan (48)

• Former Village Trustee Scottie L. Hatten (38)

• Former Village Trustee LaDell L. Jones (61)

• Former Village Trustee Antoina T. McMichales (56)

• Antone Adams (59)

• Allis Franklin (78)

• Johnny A. Griffin (67)

• Dedra D. Lee (65)

The charges followed an all-day search warrant execution by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office at the Ford Heights Municipal Hall, where investigators assisted the Attorney General’s Office and were seen removing boxes of evidence. All 11 defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on September 30.