Binny's, Double J Sports Bar To Testify Vs. Big Brothers-Big Sisters Former Joliet CEO

JOLIET — Patch continues to follow the ongoing criminal proceedings against Ted Brodeur, the retired Joliet Park District department head who became the CEO for the Joliet-based Big Brothers Big Sisters organization on Fairlane Drive. In the lead-up to Brodeur's trial, numerous local organizations and businesses have been called to testify against the former CEO.

In December, special prosecutor Bill Elward filed one felony theft charge against Brodeur of Shorewood. Brodeur is accused of stealing between $10,000 and $100,000. The charge indicates that Brodeur, now 59, committed the crime between Jan. 1, 2022 and Dec. 19, 2023.

As Brodeur's criminal case remains in the pretrial phase at the Will County Courthouse, Elward has filed at the Will County Courthouse his list of people the prosecution intends to call as witnesses in hopes of securing Brodeur's conviction at trial.

The list includes the following people and organizations:

• Will County Sheriff's deputies Hilary Lithgow and Nick Binnendyk
• Joliet Police Officer Trent Kreis
• Special Agent Gabriel Aragones of the Illinois State Police Gaming Board
• Amy Vicosio, Caitlyn Holcomb, Christine Vimarco, Mike Trafton, Neil Narine, Al Roechner, Katie Napier and Jenny Nasra of the Joliet Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Binny's Beverage Depot, keeper of records, Joliet store on Tonti Drive
• McBride's On 52, keeper of records, 2727 West Jefferson Street, Joliet
• Jeff Reid and Kevin Willis, director of security, Double J Sports Bar, 1001 Essington Road, Joliet
• Walmart on Route 59 in Joliet, keeper of records
• Walmart 2424 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, keeper of records
• Home Depot, on Route 59 in Shorewood, keeper of records
• Menards, Weber Road in Crest Hill, keeper of records
• Costco, near Route 30 and Interstate 55, keeper of records
• First Secure Bank in Sugar Grove, keeper of records
• Hobby Lobby, 1400 Larkin Ave. in Joliet, keeper of records
• Joliet Park District keeper of records and Brad Staab, executive director
• Kristy King of Joliet

Back in 2019, Joliet Patch reported that Brodeur walked away from the Joliet Park District with a taxpayer-funded payout of $98,699 after about 30 years on the job. After leaving Joliet Park District, Brodeur became the chief executive officer of the Joliet-based Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization in August 2019. He replaced Mike Trafton, who was the retired chief of police for the Joliet Police Department.

In 2018, Trafton and his brother Rick signed a five-year lease agreement with the Joliet Park District to open The Dock at Inwood restaurant. The following year, Brodeur left the Joliet Park District in good standing, retiring as the director of revenue facilities and golf operations, and his payout for leaving included $17,215, which was two months of regular salary, plus another $81,484 for his nest egg of unused vacation time and sick days.

In his criminal case, Brodeur is being represented by downtown Joliet lawyer Kristine Honiotes of the Honiotes Law Office on North Chicago Street.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Ted Brodeur, Ex-Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO, Faces Indictment