Markham, Ill. – The former head of a suburban Chicago school system stole thousands of dollars – including milk money and library fees – from one of the poorest districts in the state so he and his family could live the high life, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Police raided Thomas Ryan’s house last week and seized $730,000 in cash from a basement safe and envelopes scattered throughout the home, prosecutor Richard Devine said. Officers had to use laundry baskets to cart out the wads of cash.
Ryan spent about $70,000 in stolen money to pay for three daughters’ college tuition, prosecutors said. He also reimbursed himself for about $1,000 in Chicago Blackhawks hockey tickets and gave his daughters thousands in cash as graduation presents, Ryan said.
“Thomas Ryan was a reverse Robin Hood, stealing from the poor … to line his own pockets,” Devine said.
Ryan allegedly siphoned money from the district’s milk fund, stole library fees and demanded kickbacks from employees who earned overtime pay. He is accused of stealing from Sauk Village’s impoverished Community Consolidated School District 168, which doesn’t have enough money for music programs.
Ryan, who had been superintendent since 1990 and earned $183,000 a year, resigned Tuesday. His attorney did not return a message seeking comment.
If convicted, Ryan could face up to 30 years in prison.
Last week, prosecutors announced an indictment against former school board president Louise Morales. She was charged with 17 counts of official misconduct, theft and misapplication of funds for allegedly authorizing the use of public money for graduation gifts given to Ryan’s daughters.
