Michelle Sopko and her husband Charles Sopko are charged with felony theft.
They're accused of diverting the money from the fire district to their personal account.
He is deputy fire chief in Oak Forest.
Her job included handling payroll at the Palos Heights department.
"She pretty much had control over all the books and presented the reports and people in different positions trusted the information was correct," said Det. Jerry Wodka Palos Heights Police Department.
The Palos Heights Fire Chief noticed discrepancies in the district's finances and notified the Cook County Sheriff.
