COOK COUNTY COURTHOUSE — An ex-Chicago cop who ripped off his police union to the tune of $1 million will spend less time than expected behind bars.
On Wednesday, fomer veteran officer John Pallohusky — who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison — pledged to repay $465,000.
Cook County Judge Diane Gordon Cannon agreed to shave four years after the 57-year-old's sentence in exchange.
Pallohusky dipped into Chicago Police Sergeants Association funds, cutting himself checks to gamble and charging dinners at swank restaurants and airfare to its accounts, the Sun-Times has reported.
After he was arrested and charged in 2009, Pallohusky and his attorneys spent more than two years in court fighting the case. Then, in April, Pallohusky took a plea deal.
Hoping for probation, he admitted to his misdeeds as part of a "blind" plea agreement, meaning he did not know in advance what sentence prosecutors would propose.
Pallohusky's attorneys argued during trial last year that his client intended to pay back the money. But Cannon hit him with the 12-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections — before he reduced it Wednesday
