CHICAGO _ Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno has been charged with insurance fraud and obstruction of justice after falsely reporting that his Audi sedan had been stolen in January, according to Chicago police.
Moreno was taken into custody Tuesday night on an arrest warrant and was due in bond court Wednesday on the felony charges.
Moreno, 1st Ward, reported to police on Jan. 4 that he returned home from a trip to find that his leased black 2016 Audi A6 sedan missing from his Wicker Park property. He told officers no one else had access to the car.
Police found the car in February when they saw a woman driving it and initially charged her with misdemeanor trespass to a motor vehicle, authorities said.
But the woman, Liliya Hrabar, told the Chicago Tribune that Moreno _ whom she said she dates on and off _ let her use the car.
Cook County prosecutors dropped the charge against Hrabar and police opened an investigation into a possible false police report.
Moreno lost his bid for reelection to newcomer Daniel La Spata. His term is slated to end May 20.
