Schaumburg Police Stole Drugs, Cash: 3 Officers Arrested In Alleged Robbery, Drug Scandal

3 Suburban Cops Allegedly Stole Drugs, Cash From Dealers

Three police detectives in suburban Schaumburg, Ill. have been arrested and are each being held on $750,000 cash bond for allegedly stealing illegal drugs and money while working in concert with drug dealers.

The three veteran officers -- John Cichy, 30; Matthew Hudak, 29 and Terrance O'Brien, 47 -- face numerous charges including the manufacturing and delivering of illegal drugs, criminal drug conspiracy, official misconduct, armed violence and theft, ABC Chicago reports. If convicted, they could face up to 40 years in prison each.

According to the Daily Herald, the officers -- all of whom were assigned to the narcotics division -- were arrested Wednesday following a joint investigation by DuPage County and federal officials that began on Jan. 2.

An informant working with police reportedly met the three suspects while they were executing a search warrant at his home about six months ago, NBC Chicago reports. The officers allegedly asked the informant to begin selling illegal drugs on their behalf and supplied the informant with marijuana and cocaine they stole from other dealers or lifted from seizures but never submitted into evidence.

The suspects were reportedly heard discussing their schemes in undercover audio and video recordings played in court Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

A fourth individual -- Nicole Brehm, O'Brien's girlfriend -- was also charged in the investigation. O'Brien reportedly also has a wife and three children, according to ABC.

Schaumburg Police Chief Brian Howerton said in a statement that his department and the village "have been in contact with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and it has pledged its ongoing assistance to investigators going forward," CBS Chicago reports. The department has also launched an internal investigation into the theft.

The officers had been previously placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

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