NW Indiana Copblock

New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors accused him of selling a department gun tied to an active criminal case. Investigators said Mayo later tried to recover the pawned firearm and also allegedly possessed anabolic steroids without a prescription. The investigation began after a firearm trace uncovered inconsistencies between police evidence records and pawn shop documents.

A northwest Indiana police chief is accused of selling off a gun tied to an active criminal case, touching off an investigation that led to felony charges involving theft, misconduct and steroids.

New Chicago police chief charged

What to know:

A Lake County, Indiana, grand jury returned a multi-count indictment against New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo, alleging theft, official misconduct, obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of anabolic steroids tied to the sale and attempted recovery of a department firearm, court records show.

Mayo faces eight counts stemming from incidents dated April 29, 2025, and May 22, 2026, according to filings in Lake County, Indiana Superior Court.

Prosecutors say Mayo took a Ta**us G3 handgun owned by the Town of New Chicago without permission and sold it to a Lake County pawn shop on April 29, 2025, removing a gun that was connected to an active criminal case from police custody.

Court documents also alleged Mayo, while serving as a public official, committed theft in the course of his duties, constituting official misconduct.

A separate count alleges attempted obstruction of justice on Friday, after investigators say Mayo tried to recover the pawned firearm before it could be used as evidence in a criminal proceeding.

Additional charges allege Mayo possessed anabolic steroids, including Trenbolone and Equipoise, without a valid prescription.

The backstory:

Investigators say the case began when a firearm trace tied to an upcoming trial revealed discrepancies between evidence logs and pawn shop records. Detectives later determined the Ta**us G3 had been sold along with other fi****ms at Mega Cash Paw



n in Hobart on April 29, 2025.

According to investigators, a pawn shop manager confirmed Mayo personally sold multiple guns and later attempted to coordinate the guns return through intermediaries, including a city employee and another individual sent to retrieve the weapon.

Authorities also alleged a woman connected to Mayo attempted to destroy glass vials containing suspected steroids when confronted by investigators at his residence in Merrillville.

Detectives further allege Mayo made statements suggesting he kept items at his home that the feds would never find, including firearm suppressors.

The Lake County Sheriffs Department and Indiana State Police assisted in the investigation.

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Lake County Sheriff Officer Arrested Overnight

A Lake County Sheriff’s police officer faces a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he was arrested by Indiana State Police overnight, according to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez.

33-year-old Thaddeus Bilski was booked into the Lake County Jail early this morning and was later released on bond.

He has been a Lake County police officer for 2 and a half years and has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation, Martinez said.

No further details were released.

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