TWO INDICTED IN MILITARY RAFFLE SCHEME

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that Donald L. McCarver, 41, (d.o.b 4/16/65) and his fiancée Anne M. Pellegrini, 41, (d.o.b 12/28/64), both of 324 North Ardmore, Villa Park, were indicted today on twelve counts of Forgery, two counts of Conspiracy and one count of Theft.  In addition, McCarver was indicted on two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Obstructing Justice.

            The charges stem from a tip given to the DuPage County Crime Stoppers that McCarver and Pellegrini, posing as military reservists, were fraudulently collecting money from unsuspecting shoppers in area grocery and discount stores.

             Soon after the tip investigators were sent to the scene and observed a woman dressed in a Navy dress uniform, accompanied by a man in civilian clothes, sitting at a table selling raffle tickets.  The raffle was to end over Memorial Day weekend.    When approached, the two insisted they were military personnel and the charity they were collecting for was legitimate.  Follow up investigation with the Navy revealed neither were active military personnel and that the charity they were soliciting for, the Navy/Marines Family Relief Fundraiser does not exist.

            “What McCarver and Pellegrini are accused of doing is deplorable,” commented Birkett.  “Scamming the family, friends, relatives and communities of our men and women in uniform, who put  their lives on the line in order to protect the freedom that we enjoy each and every day, will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law.”

            While all charges are probationalbe, McCarver and Pellegrini both face punishment of up to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.  They are both scheduled for arraignment on June 19.

            State’s Attorney Birkett is asking anyone who believes they may have made a donation to this fund to please call (630) 407-2400.         

            Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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