A township supervisor in Illinois refuses to resign despite admitting to misusing government funds at a casino.

Sally Rodriguez, Canteen Township Supervisor, acknowledged using the township's debit card for personal transactions at the Horseshoe Casino St. Louis. Banking records revealed six casino transactions and multiple unauthorized checks.

Rodriguez withdrew $6,000 in cash at the casino and cashed two township checks made out to herself, plus a third check written to cash. Though she claims these transactions were mistakes, township officials disagree.

Trustee Rickie Thomas challenged Rodriguez's explanation, questioning how someone could make the same mistake multiple times, particularly noting the matching PIN numbers between personal and township cards.

The township board discovered the misuse after receiving anonymous tip packages detailing the alleged theft. Despite calls for her immediate resignation, Rodriguez refuses to step down. Township attorneys confirm that trustees cannot forcibly remove her from the position, even though she was appointed rather than elected in May 2023.

The scandal impacts a community where the median household income is $41,530, with an employment rate below 50% and nearly 40% of residents living in poverty.

This incident adds to Illinois' history of political scandals, following other notable cases like Governor Rod Blagojevich's Senate seat scandal and Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard's controversial Las Vegas expenses charged to taxpayers.

It remains unclear whether Rodriguez will repay the funds or if she gambled with the money taken from township accounts.

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