Update: 3:15 p.m.: The Daily Chronicle received this statement from attorney William G. Sullivan on behalf of Northern Illinois Executive Vice President Eddie Williams:

“Dr. Eddie Williams has served Northern Illinois University for over 40 years in positions of increasing responsibility.  He is currently Executive Vice President for Administration and has served in that position for more than 12 years.  Dr. Williams was an associate professor of mathematics before entering the administration and earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University. 

“Separate from his university duties, Dr. Williams has  developed affordable housing resources in the DeKalb community.  Eden’s Gardens, a privately funded, two-phase project, is not affiliated in any way with Northern Illinois University, and it does not provide student housing.  Its sole purpose is to meet the housing needs of those in the community with limited financial resources.  Prospective Eden’s Gardens resident screening has been conducted for more than five years by Screening Reports Inc., a national provider of background screening service to the multi-family housing industry. 

“Dr. Williams is cooperating fully with the authorities and Eden’s Gardens has provided all materials requested, but Dr. Williams has no idea why he or the project is the subject of any government interest.”

We'll have more on this story as it develops.