Embattled Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard is accused of launching police raids against local businesses that won't 'pay the queen's ransom' of making donation to her sponsored event as FBI launches corruption investigation

Embattled Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who is under investigation by the FBI, has been accused of launching police raids against local businesses, according to reports. 

Several local businesses in Dolton, a small town of 23,000, were raided by local police after 'not paying the ransom' of donating to Henyard's events, Fox News reported. 

Some of those business owners, including U-Haul rental and trucking business owner Lawrence Gardner, said they have spoken with FBI agents who are probing Henyard for corruption. 

'They seemed very serious,' Gardner who got in touch with the FBI several months ago following a police raid on his business, told Fox. 

Gardner said he also struggled to renew his business license and was later shut down by the police. 

Embattled Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard is under investigation by the FBI after launching police raids against local businesses, according to reports

Mayor Tiffany Henyard is also accused of overspending on police overtime for her personal security detail 

Business owners, including U-Haul rental and trucking business owner Lawrence Gardner (pictured), said they have spoken with FBI agents

The FBI is also using electronic surveillance as part of its investigation, according to Fox.

The agency is also looking into Henyard's use of tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fund lavish out of town trips, overtime for police in her personal security detail and holding up licenses for businesses unduly.

'I'm sure that they were asked to donate, make a donation, and most likely they didn't make a donation' Dolton trustee Tammie Brown told Fox. 

'So you don't get a chance to stay open if you don't pay the queen's ransom.'

'I heard I was on the wrong team' local restaurant owner Dwayne Wood told Fox. 

Wood, owner of Wood's Kitchen, has been trying to renew his license for more than a year.

He believes his permit is being denied because he has provided catering to several Dolton trustees who are engaged in a political spat with Henyard, who controversially makes a $300,000 salary. 

'I think I've been targeted because of my association with a certain group of people, I've cooked for the trustees' Wood explained.

Gardner said he struggled to renew his business license and was later shut down by the police

After a recall bid failed, Henyard posted this defiant image on Instagram declaring she 'forever will be Dolton's mayor'

Henyard is pictured stepping out of a chauffeured SUV in one of her stylish outfits. She's been blasted for spending taxpayer cash on security, as well as professional hair and makeup artists 

Henyar has not forthcoming about how those professional hair and makeup teams are funded

'They just rushed in here. Put police at the front door like they were doing a raid on a drug house or something,' Sevone Garfield, the security director of Pablo's Cafe and Bar that was raided by local police, said. 

'The businesses in question both had a hearing with the liquor commission last month and the licenses were revoked at that time' the Village of Dolton said in a statement.

Adding: 'The businesses have a history of violent incidents with patrons and were considered a nuisance to the residents in the community. These businesses are unable to operate without the license.' 

Other business owners have brought a lawsuit against Henyard, alleging that their business licenses have been held up for refusing to support her political campaign.

The FBI said it is policy not to comment on the nature, existence or non existence of an investigation that may be occurring.

Since the initial reporting on Henyard's spending, it's been revealed she and other officials spent more than $67,000 on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City on the village's dime, according to WGN.

Many of the flights were first-class, while Henyard's team spent $13,000 in public money staying in New York.