City of Chicago Employee Charged with Official Misconduct for Attempting to Sell a Machine Gun (Chicago, IL) — Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced charges against an employee of the city of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) who attempted to illegally sell an MP-40 machine gun while on the clock at his government job. The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chicago Field Division (ATF), with assistance from the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General.
Raoul charged Charles Sikanich, 38, from Chicago, in Cook County Circuit Court with unlawful use of weapons – possession of a machine gun, a Class 2 felony punishable by three to seven years in prison; unlawful use of weapons – attempted sale of a machine gun, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to two to five years in prison; and official misconduct, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to two to five years in prison. Sikanich’s bond was set at $100,000.
“Seeking to illegally sell a dangerous firearm like a machine gun demonstrates at best indifference toward the public’s safety. However, to do so on government time using government property demonstrates a shocking disregard for the people government employees have committed to serve,” Raoul said. “I appreciate the investigative work done by the ATF and City of Chicago Office of Inspector General as we work collaboratively to hold accountable public employees who abuse their authority and the trust taxpayers have placed in them.”
While working for the city’s DSS, Sikanich allegedly arranged to sell an MP-40 fully automatic machine gun, which is illegal to possess in Illinois, to an undercover ATF agent. ATF agents staking out the prearranged meeting observed Sikanich arriving in a city of Chicago DSS vehicle. The Attorney General’s office alleges that a subsequent review of Sickanich’s DSS timesheets showed that he was clocked in at the time and should have been working at his government job. During the meeting, Sikanich allegedly indicated he would have his mother complete the illegal transaction, as he hoped to avoid complications to his role as a superintendent of Chicago’s 45th Ward.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Deputy Bureau Chief Jonas Harger is handling the case for Raoul’s Public Integrity Bureau.
City of Chicago Employee Charged with Official Misconduct for Attempting to Sell a Machine Gun
