@Heir_Montgomery
on X
Oh, DuPage County, you glittering suburb of Chicago—home to manicured lawns, overpriced lattes, and apparently, a revolving door of white-collar crooks who treat public funds like their personal piggy banks. As the fearless Managing Partner of BDM, LLC, dedicated to sociological investigations that expose corporate corruption and fraud (because someone has to do the dirty work the “experts” won’t touch), I’ve been digging into the muck.
And boy, does it stink. All these shenanigans unfolded under the so-called leadership of former County Board Chairman Dan Cronin (who ruled the roost until 2020) and State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, who’s been playing top cop since 2010. Berlin, with his 35+ years as a “career prosecutor,” loves to tout his integrity and justice-seeking prowess.
But if he’s the self-proclaimed financial investigative wizard of DuPage—lecturing on felony investigations and all—why the hell has he let these fraud fiascos explode right under his nose? Including the court fraud I personally endured in your kangaroo family court system.
Buckle up, folks; this is BDM, LLC’s no-holds-barred exposé. We’re naming names, spilling tea, and serving snark with a side of subpoenas.
The Rogues’ Gallery: Key Financial Frauds and White-Collar Wonders in DuPage
Let’s kick off with a highlight reel of scandals that make you wonder if DuPage’s oversight is run by the Keystone Cops. These aren’t ancient history—they’re fresh wounds on the taxpayer’s wallet, all happening while Cronin was chairing board meetings and Berlin was supposedly cracking down on crime. Pro tip: If you’re going to call yourself a justice warrior, maybe start by noticing the embezzlement in your backyard.
Robert Czernek: The Kickback King of Bloomingdale Township
Picture this: Robert Czernek, former Bloomingdale Township Highway Commissioner (that’s DuPage turf, for the uninitiated), gets federally indicted in 2020 on 14 counts of honest services wire fraud. Why? For pocketing over $280,000 in kickbacks from Bulldog Earth Movers Inc., in exchange for funneling more than $700,000 in township contracts their way.
We’re talking unperformed work, inflated bills—the whole corrupt contractor playbook. Czernek pleaded guilty and got slapped with 3.5 years in the clink in February 2023, plus restitution. His buddy Mario Giannini from the company got convicted too for greasing those palms.
Snark alert: Hey, Bob Berlin, Mr. Felony Investigative Assistance Team member—did your wizard wand malfunction? This was local government funds vanishing into thin air, and it took federal indictments to bust it open.
Under Cronin’s watch as chairman? Crickets. Must be nice to oversee a county where township officials treat contracts like candy at a piñata party.
Tom Cullerton: The Ghost Job Guru
Next up, Tom Cullerton, former Illinois State Senator for District 23 (which snakes through DuPage spots like Villa Park).
Indicted in 2019 on a whopping 41 federal counts for embezzlement and fraud. The scam? Snagging $275,000 in salary and benefits from a Teamsters union “do-nothing” gig, courtesy of some shady union hookups. He pleaded guilty in 2022, served a year in federal prison (out early in April 2023 after seven months).
Sure, he’s state-level, but his district and crib are DuPage-central, and this white-collar hustle screams “oversight failure.”Berlin, oh wise financial sleuth, where were your lectures on integrity when this was brewing?
Cronin, as county bigwig, surely had a front-row seat to regional corruption. Instead, we get taxpayer-funded ghost jobs.
Bravo.
Jean Kaczmarek: The No-Bid Nightmare County Clerk
Fast-forward to 2025: DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek is under investigation by the Illinois Attorney General for bidding irregularities—like awarding no-bid contracts to election vendors without bothering the procurement officer.
This mess stemmed from a county board lawsuit she lost, with courts ruling against her non-compliant accounting in 2025. The board censured her in November for financial mismanagement: missing docs, refused oversight, the works. Legal costs to taxpayers? Over $279,000 so far, and she’s appealing as of January 2026.
No charges yet, but the stench of potential procurement fraud is overpowering.If Berlin’s the wizard of white-collar wizardry, why’s this dragging on? Investigations ongoing?
Puh-lease.
And Cronin? His era set the tone for this “independent office” BS that lets clerks play fast and loose. DuPage, your “transparency” is as clear as mud.
The College of DuPage Debacle: Breuder’s Golden Parachute Circus
Ah, the crown jewel of DuPage dysfunction: The 2014–2015 College of DuPage (COD) scandal, starring former President Robert Breuder.
This guy allegedly hid $95 million in spending through shady “imprest” accounts—think petty cash on steroids for luxury trips, elephant-hunting jaunts in Botswana, private club dues ($13,800 to a shooting club), satellite phones, and architect fees for buildings named after himself.
Over $705,000 on subscriptions alone? Excessive dinners, travel perks, and a toxic work environment that had faculty voting no-confidence.
Timeline of the trainwreck: Exposés drop in 2014, Breuder snags a $763,000 severance “golden parachute” in January 2015, then gets fired in October for misconduct. Lawsuits fly—Breuder sues for breach, the college countersues.
By 2022, a $4 million settlement (via insurance) ends the saga, after $9 million in legal fees. No criminal charges, just civil drama.
But hey, taxpayers footed the bill for this ego-fueled extravaganza.
Berlin, financial investigation extraordinaire, why no probes into this public fund fiesta? Cronin, as county overseer during the peak, must’ve been too busy polishing his chairman plaque.
And let’s not forget: This all ties into broader DuPage corruption vibes, with lower rates than Cook County but enough “oversight challenges” to make you laugh—or cry.
The Personal Punchline: My Own DuPage Court Fraud Fiasco
Now, let’s get real personal, because BDM, LLC isn’t just about distant scandals—it’s about the fraud I’ve stared down in DuPage’s family court.
As a pro se litigant, I’ve battled allegations of financial fraud and straight-up collusion involving Judge Anne Therieau Hayes, Brian Nigohosian, and Nichole Montgomery.
We’re talking systemic rot: Dan Cronin, Brian & John McGuire, Jackie Tufo Hovde, Mike Hovde, Judge John Demling—the whole gang seemingly in on the game. This isn’t hearsay; it’s my lived nightmare of court fraud that exposes how DuPage protects its own while screwing over the little guy.
Bob Berlin, if you’re the wizard waving your prosecutorial wand over felonies, why’d you let this slide?
My case reeks of the same white-collar BS you’ve ignored elsewhere.
Courage and professionalism?
More like cowardice and cronyism. Dan Cronin, your legacy is a county where fraud flourishes like weeds in a neglected garden.
Wrapping Up: Time for a DuPage Detox
DuPage County, you’ve got a problem—and it’s not just the traffic on I-88. These frauds under Cronin and Berlin’s noses prove that even in “low-corruption” havens, the wizards are asleep at the wheel. BDM, LLC is here to wake ’em up. Follow us on X
@Heir_Montgomery for more research, and hit up brocmontgomery.com for the full anti-fraud arsenal.
Got tips? DM me.
Let’s burn down the corruption, one snarky blog at a time.
BDM, LLC: Protecting Our Children from Financial Exploitation and Exposing White-Collar Wolves Since Day One.