Roudell Kirkwood, 68, of Waukegan

Roudell Kirkwood, the alderman of Waukegan’s 4th Ward, turned himself in on Wednesday and was released on a recognizance bond after being charged with dozens of felonies for forgery and fraud.

Kirkwood, 68, of Waukegan, was charged with 26 counts of forgery, a Class 3 felony; two counts of wire fraud, a Class 3 felony; two counts of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony; and one count of theft by deception, a Class 1 felony.

An Illinois State Police spokesperson told Lake and McHenry County Scanner last Thursday that a regulatory investigation had been launched into Kirkwood.

The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police Statewide Gaming Command and the Illinois Gaming Board.

SGC and IGB agents discovered suspected official misconduct involving Kirkwood, the spokesperson said, adding that additional information was not available because the investigation is still ongoing.

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Kirkwood was indicted on the charges by a Lake County grand jury and the case was filed on July 17.

Kirkwood allegedly committed 16 acts of forgery by falsifying documents that were submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board on different occasions in 2019.

Roudell Kirkwood, 68, of Waukegan, is facing dozens of felony charges following a state police investigation into his businesses. | Photo: City of Waukegan

The indictment said Kirkwood committed an additional six acts of forgery by falsifying documents submitted to the City of Waukegan for a liquor license application.

Kirkwood also allegedly committed four acts of forgery by falsifying documents submitted to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

The indictment said that Kirkwood committed two acts of wire fraud by falsifying documents submitted to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

In those two instances, Kirkwood was delinquent in paying the City of Waukegan for food and beverage taxes but claimed he was not, the indictment said. He also claimed he was not a public official.

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The two counts of official misconduct stem from Kirkwood failing to acknowledge on the applications that he was a public official, the indictment said.

The indictment said that Kirkwood’s actions led to him fraudulently obtaining a video gaming license and making between $100,000 and $500,000 in gaming revenue.

Kirkwood is the president of Mac Dynasty Inc., which operates several Lake County restaurants, public records show.

“Iโ€™m very disappointed to learn that Alderman Kirkwood has been indicted on many serious charges, and I hope he puts his constituents first at this time,” Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said in a statement last week.

“While Iโ€™m a firm believer in our justice system and due process, as a former Alderman, I know that having a multi-count felony indictment is incompatible with the best interests of the residents and businesses of the 4th ward,” Taylor said.

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A warrant was issued for Kirkwood’s arrest but stayed, allowing Kirkwood to surrender himself voluntarily.

Kirkwood turned himself in to the Lake County Jail on Wednesday.

He appeared briefly in court Wednesday morning where a Lake County judge imposed a $30,000 personal recognizance bond.

Kirkwood, who was released from custody, is scheduled to appear in court on August 2 for an arraignment hearing.