A former southwest suburban school superintendent is now at the center of a felony case after prosecutors said he rang up at least $13,000 in unauthorized charges on a district credit card, including payments to adult-content websites. William Toulios, 46, who once led Argo Community High School District 217 in Summit, was arraigned Friday in Bridgeview, pleaded not guilty and was released ahead of trial. Prosecutors say the spending in question stretches from February 2021 through March 2024.
Charges and allegations
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office has charged Toulios with one count of theft of government property between $10,000 and $100,000, one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, one count of forgery and two counts of official misconduct, according to FOX 32 Chicago. An Illinois State Police investigation concluded that the disputed spending included more than $4,000 on adult-content websites, more than $4,000 on golf equipment and in excess of $5,000 in prepaid Visa gift cards, some of which were allegedly used for additional adult-content purchases.
Background
Concerns about Toulios' spending first surfaced through public records and a 111-page investigative report. As Patch reported, investigators said they uncovered payments pushed through various apps and invoices that appeared crafted to disguise what was actually being bought. Local coverage indicates that the district placed Toulios on paid administrative reassignment in April 2025 and accepted his resignation in November 2025 as questions mounted, according to Southwest Regional Publishing.
What prosecutors say
"Every dollar entrusted to a school district is meant to support students, classrooms and educational opportunities – not personal expenses," Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said in a statement, per FOX 32 Chicago. Prosecutors allege Toulios submitted a bogus invoice to a subordinate and then directed that staffer to generate additional fraudulent invoices to hide where the money was actually going.
Legal implications and next steps
Toulios' felony case will move forward through the usual Cook County court process. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 24. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said the matter is being handled by its Public Corruption Unit, which focuses on alleged abuses of public trust, and prosecutors will need to prove both intent and concealment if the case proceeds to trial. In the meantime, Argo Community High School District 217 has installed new leadership; local reporting shows Dr. Brandon Cotter stepped in as superintendent in May.
