Illinois attorney fired for working second job illegally

An attorney from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was fired for working a second job while on state time, according to a recent watchdog report. Deborah Riley held the position of senior regional counsel while also working at a local bank. This dual employment violated state rules, as she was collecting a paycheck from DCFS at the same time. The Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) found that Riley was completing tasks for the bank during regular business hours. While she claimed in November 2022 that she only worked part-time on weekends for the bank, the investigation revealed she was often working many hours for both jobs simultaneously. At one point, she reported working up to 86 hours at the bank and 82 hours at DCFS in a two-week pay period. The report raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially since Riley was appointed to be an administrative law judge overseeing hearings for child abuse or neglect cases. During the investigation, she misled a DCFS ethics officer, stating her bank work only occurred on weekends, while text messages suggested otherwise. In one message, she indicated she was doing bank work during a DCFS workday. Following the investigation, the OEIG recommended severe disciplinary action, including dismissal. Riley was ultimately fired in August 2024. The DCFS ethics officer noted that, while Riley’s supervisor had not observed productivity issues, she was still prohibited from conducting bank work during DCFS hours. Attempts to contact Riley through her law office were unsuccessful.