Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Chicago Sun-Times
by Kim Janssen

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s former deputy chief of staff has filed for unemployment benefits after she was fired for allegedly stealing $300,000 from taxpayers.

Carla Oglesby, who faces felony public corruption charges and is free on bail, filed the claim with the Illinois Department of Employment Security on October 10,  six days after she was arrested, a source said.

The so-called “24-9’’ contracts fell just below the $25,000 threshold that would require approval by county commissioners.The 41-year-old lost her job October 5 after details emerged of how she allegedly handed no-work contracts to businesses, including her own PR company.

Cook County officials were shocked to receive notice of Oglesby’s claim Tuesday and now have an opportunity to dispute her benefits claim.

An application for unemployment benefits may be denied if the job was lost through misconduct, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Commissioners Larry Suffredin and Tony Peraica both said the claim should not be paid.    

“There are a lot of people with great chutzpah in life,” Suffredin said. “My reading is that she would not qualify.”

Said Peraica, “She’s obviously still believes she did nothing wrong.” But, he said, “she’s charged with a criminal offense — she’s not entitled to compensation.”

The County ethics board Wednesday also forwarded  a report on the 24-9 contracts to Stroger.