Ex-South Suburban Water Supervisor Convicted On 11 Counts

Former Crestwood water department supervisor Theresa Neubauer was convicted on all of the 11 counts she faced for lying to environmental regulators about the village’s secret use of a toxic well, the Chicago Tribune Reports.

Neubauer’s lawyer tried to explain that she was merely a pawn in the larger money-saving scheme crafted by former Mayor Chester Stranczek and other village officials. 

"The fact that other people were involved doesn't change the fact that she (Neubauer) was a key part of the scheme," Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Chapman responded in his closing statement. Neubauer did not testify, and Chapman did not call any witnesses on her behalf. 

According to the Tribune, there was no discussion of the carcinogenic compounds found in the poisoned well which “could have contributed to ‘significantly elevated’ cancer rates in Crestwood.” Keeping the poisoned well online saved the village around $380,000 in water maintenance fees.

Neubauer is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 2.

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