Washington Federal Bank investigation
Coverage of the Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Bridgeport failure and the federal investigation into the now-shuttered bank.
Jan Kowalski pleaded guilty last year to concealing assets from a bankruptcy trustee. She helped her brother, Robert Kowalski, hide more than $357,000 while representing him as an attorney in bankruptcy court.
The failure of Washington Federal Bank for Savings has led to criminal charges against 16 people. Among them: former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, who was convicted last year of lying to regulators and filing false income-tax returns.
Brian Fong is cooperating with prosecutors. Fifteen bank officials, workers and borrowers have been charged, and a Daley family member was convicted of cheating on his taxes in a related case.
He was a longtime friend, customer and business partner of John F. Gembara, the Washington Federal Bank for Savings’ CEO authorities say oversaw a massive embezzlement scheme.
The former Chicago City Council member from Bridgeport offered a glimpse Wednesday of his life behind bars as he fought to keep from having his license to practice law suspended for three years.
John F. Gembara, the late boss of Washington Federal Bank for Savings, schemed with attorney Robert M. Kowalski, prosecutors told jurors Tuesday. Representing himself, Kowalski blamed Gembara.
Key figure accused of embezzling from failed Bridgeport bank lost $1 million at casinos, sources say
Authorities are trying to determine whether the money Marek Matczuk lost gambling came from the millions he never repaid Washington Federal Bank for Savings.
The disgraced Bridgeport pol — a member of the city’s best-known political family — was found guilty in February of two counts of lying to regulators and five counts of filing false income tax returns.
The sentencing capped a stunning, mad-dash of a federal court case that in 14 months cost Thompson his 11th Ward seat on the City Council, his law license and his freedom. It likely ended his political career and marred not only his reputation, but his famous family’s.
“Everything we have worked for our entire lives has been depleted — financially, reputationally and even what we thought were solid friendships,” Thompson’s wife, Katie, wrote to the judge.
Boguslaw Kasprowicz pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the failure of Washington Federal Bank for Savings — the investigation that also ensnared ex-Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson.
Rosalie Corvite is cooperating with federal authorities in their continuing investigation of the failure of clout-heavy Washington Federal Bank for Savings.
The change of pleas come as the federal investigation into the $66 million embezzlement scheme continues.
Jane Iriondo is now the fourth person to plead guilty in connection with the $66 million embezzlement scheme at Washington Federal Bank for Savings. The bank was central to the trial of Patrick Daley Thompson.
Documents subpoenaed by prosecutors and other public records reflect a growing desperation as he tried to quadruple the amount of money he was borrowing from Washington Federal Bank for Savings.
James Crotty admitted helping embezzle $66 million from from Washington Federal Bank for Savings by falsifying records and lying to regulators. He’s cooperating with prosecutors.
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