The Boy Scouts’ motto is “be prepared.” It is not clear if a former top Scouts official with the Northeast Illinois Council was prepared to be indicted on white collar charges. He faces allegations of wire fraud and forgery, law enforcement officials said.
According to a Chicago Tribune report, the 51=year-old lives in suburban Deer Park, northeast of the city. Highland Park police were contacted n May by the scout council said the city’s police chief.
Police Chief Jonathan Lowman said that approximately $25,000 is missing.
The former scout leader was indicted late last month and was then arrested. It’s alleged that without authority he disbursed charitable funds for his personal use. He is accused of transferring money from the Northeast Illinois Council to an account for the Miami Valley Council in Dayton, Ohio. The defendant was a scouting official in Dayton for five years before taking the Illinois job last year.
According to the Tribune, he allegedly purchased a personal vehicle with the funds.
He is also alleged to have “created a false document verifying funds to be sent to a home loan company,” the newspaper reports.
A spokesperson for the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office said the suspect faces a potential prison sentence of three to seven years on the Class 2 felony charge of disbursing charitable funds for personal use. The wire fraud and forgery charges are Class 3 felonies that carry possible sentences of two to five years, the spokesperson said.
Those facing similar white collar allegations should speak with a criminal defense attorney experienced in protecting freedoms and rights before talking to prosecutors.
