Scion of longtime Chicago Democratic political family indicted

The Cullerton Democrat family political dynasty dates back to the year of the Chicago Fire--that happened in 1871--when the first Cullerton was elected to the Chicago City Council.

For 144 years there was always a Cullerton in that sad, corrupt body.

Yesterday a scion of that dynasty was indicted, and it could be part of a new wave of criminal accusations.

From WBEZ-FM:

A Democratic state senator from DuPage County was named Friday in a 41-count federal embezzlement and conspiracy indictment related to an alleged scam where he received payments from a Chicago labor union for little to no work.

A federal grand jury charged state Sen. Thomas Cullerton, D-Villa Park, in the alleged scheme, where Cullerton is accused of receiving more than $274,000 in payments and benefits from Teamsters Joint Council 25 for being a purported union organizer.

The indictment alleged Cullerton routinely did not show up for work with the union after he landed the lucrative gig from former Teamsters Joint Council 25 President John Coli Sr., who this week pleaded guilty to federal extortion and tax fraud charges.

A federal judge agreed to put off sentencing for Coli after he pledged his cooperation in additional cases.

Cullerton's cousin, John Cullerton (D-Chicago), is the president of the Illinois Senate.