An ex-Illinois lawmaker died just three months he was supposed to enter prison for taking a $250,000 bribe.
Jeff Tobolski, 61, died Sunday morning ahead of a four-year prison sentence stemming from his 2020 conviction on federal corruption charges, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
He formerly served as the Cook County commissioner as well as the mayor of mayor of southwest suburban McCook, both of which are located in Chicago.
Tobloski was due to enter prison on January 16, more than five years after he confessed to pocketing more than $250,000 through a web of bribery and extortion schemes.
In recent weeks, Tobolski’s attorneys had successfully petitioned the court to delay his surrender date, citing serious health concerns.
His exact cause of death was not stated by the former lawmaker was first hospitalized on October 7 with heart and lung issues, including atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder, and a suspicious spot on his pancreas, according to court filings.
He remained hospitalized until October 15, but was readmitted by ambulance five days later and diagnosed with pneumonia.
Tobolski was released again on October 25 and had been scheduled for additional medical procedures through mid-December.
Jeff Tobolski, 61, a former Cook County commissioner and mayor of McCook, died just months before he was set to begin a four-year prison sentence for corruption (Pictured: Jeff Tobolski with his wife, Cathleen)
Tobolski became mayor of McCook in 2007 after his father’s death and was elected to the Cook County Board in 2010.
In 2019, FBI agents raided his home and McCook’s village hall, and by August 2020, prosecutors formally charged him.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and filing a false tax return, and agreed to cooperate with federal investigators, ultimately helping build cases against his former chief of staff, Patrick Doherty, and McCook’s former police chief, Mario DePasquale.
Patrick Doherty, Tobolski’s former chief of staff, admitted to bribery and tax-evasion schemes and was sentenced to 51 months (after a reduction from 64 months.
Mario DePasquale, former McCook police chief, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Tobolski to extort local businesses and was sentenced to 27 months.
Tobolski made seven secret recordings and worked with investigators for nearly three years.
One extortion scheme involved a restaurant operating on McCook-owned property. In 2016, the restaurant owner sought permission to host alcohol-related events.
Tobolski, who also served as liquor commissioner, agreed to grant that permission in exchange for cash payments.
He died on November 9 after a series of health issues, including heart and lung complications, pneumonia, and a suspicious spot on his pancreas
A McCook police officer acted as a go-between, delivering bribes from the restaurant owner to Tobolski.
In 2018 alone, Tobolski earned $279,668, including more than $10,000 in bribes, but reported only $214,270 on his tax return.
He filed false tax returns from 2012 through 2017, costing the IRS $56,268 and the Illinois Department of Revenue $9,338.
During sentencing, Tobolski’s wife, Cathleen, and daughter, Emily, said politics had changed him, but he later apologized and worked to repair their relationship.
