Federal authorities have expanded their investigation of ghost payrolling in the Cook County treasurer’s office, subpoenaing the employment records for more than a dozen past and present workers.
Sources said Wednesday that those under scrutiny include a state senator, a state representative and a former Cook County clerk.
They also include the roommate of Treasurer Edward Rosewell who once listed his occupation as window washer but is now employed as a top aide to Rosewell at more than $62,000 a year.
The subpoenas are part of the growing investigation into whether dozens of employees in various parts of city and county government used their political clout to obtain jobs that provided them paychecks but required them to show up for work rarely, if at all.
The investigation has touched City Hall but has also spread into the Board of (Tax) Appeals and the sheriff and treasurer’s office.
Sources said federal prosecutors delivered subpoenas to Rosewell’s office Nov. 2, seeking a variety of personnel records including payroll, time sheets and job histories for the workers. In addition, authorities have been visiting the homes of other employees in the office to take statements.
Among those whose personnel records were secured last week is state Rep. Miguel Santiago, a Chicago Democrat, who works in the treasurer’s office as a $54,000-a-year finance director.
Santiago’s name has already surfaced in the investigation of the Board of (Tax) Appeals because of his close ties to Joseph Berrios, one of two members of the appeals board. Santiago once employed Berrios as a $10,000-a-year legislative aide and his son once had a $16,000-a-year job with the appeals board.
Sources said the investigation is also focusing on state Sen. Bruce Farley, who was paid more than $47,000 as an administrator in the treasurer’s branch office in Skokie until he quit in August.
The U.S. attorney’s office has also subpoenaed employment records for former County Clerk Stanley Kusper. Rosewell gave Kusper a job doing legal work in the office after Kusper lost a bid to be elected County Board president in 1990, but the former clerk kept the job for less than a year.
In addition, investigators have obtained records for Rodney Zobjeck, who now works as a top aide to Rosewell. According to court records, six years ago Zobjeck was working as a window washer and in February 1994, he was hired for a clerical job in the treasurer’s office. But in less than a year, Zobjeck, who lives with Rosewell, was elevated to a position as an assistant treasurer and his salary nearly doubled.
