Willard Alderman Hendrickson resigns, guilty of embezzlement

Former mayor stole $300,000 from employer Prime, likely prison bound
Former Willard Alderman Corey Hendrickson resigned his position Tuesday, Oct. 24, the same day he pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $300,000 from his former employer, Prime Inc.
Hendrickson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to the charges the same day they were filed—both charges felonies. A former mayor of Willard for three terms—before being beaten by Sam Snider, he pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to court documents. The guilty plea was part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Hendrickson could face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud alone; aggravated identity theft could also mean up to five years behind bars.
The charges stem from Hendrickson’s time at Prime Inc., a company for whom he worked while he served as Willard mayor. According to court documents, Hendrickson was a fleet dispatcher for the trucking company, during which time he had access to the personal information of drivers in the fleet, including their Social Security Number. He used this information to access the business accounts of these individuals, taking money that would be used for resupplying fuel. The amount stolen totaled nearly $300,000 when all was said and done. Hendrickson allegedly stole from 500 different accounts between September 2016 and August 2021. About 1,000 different fraudulent transactions were made by Hendrickson during this time according to the documents.
Seat open
At the Willard Board of Aldermen meeting Monday, Oct. 30, then-alderman Sam Baird discussed filling Hendrickson’s vacated seat in Ward 1. Baird and the board decided that interviews for the position are to take place on Thursday, Nov. 2, the first part of which will be in open session, providing transparency for citizens.
“We have had candidates submit resumes on the Ward 1 position already,” said Baird.
The Willard Board of Aldermen is now down to just four aldermen after the resignation of one, and the promotion to mayor (Baird) of the other.
Baird said in the meeting that he is hopeful the position will be filled soon because of the amount of coverage the government, and specifically Hendrickson, have been receiving.