WHEATON– DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and Naperville Police Chief David Dial announced today that five California residents have been arrested and charged with operating a large scale bank fraud network in DuPage County and the Chicagoland area.

            Earlier this week, Naperville Police arrested Faramarz Kiasi, 46 (d.o.b. 11/25/59), of Anaheim California, Jennifer DuBois, 31 (d.o.b. 12/15/74), of Hollywood California, Kimberly Lebo, 23 (d.o.b. 1/15/83), of Manhattan Beach California, Gary Young, 25 (d.o.b. 2/16/81), of Highland California and Robert Betor, 27 (d.o.b. 7/10/78), of Rialto California.  Kiasi is charged with Organizing a Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise, a Class X Felony punishable by between six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).  The remaining defendants are each charged with Continuing a Financial Crimes Enterprise, a Class 1 Felony punishable by between four to fifteen years in IDOC.

            In March of 2006, members of the Naperville Financial Crimes Unit initiated an investigation regarding a large scale bank fraud that occurred in the City of Naperville and the surrounding Chicagoland area.  The investigation showed that in January of 2006 the defendants allegedly opened multiple checking accounts at several banking intuitions in the Chicagoland area.  The accounts were allegedly opened utilizing assumed business names and stolen identities from California residents. After several weeks the defendants allegedly began depositing counterfeit checks into the accounts and later withdrawing cash.  After allegedly obtaining approximately $160,000 the group left the Chicago area and returned to California. 

            The defendants are currently being held in California awaiting extradition to Illinois.  Lebo, DuBois and Young have waived extradition proceedings. 

            “People who break our laws can not simply leave the state and hide, thinking they have gotten away with their crimes,” commented Birkett.  “Today’s announcement will send the message that if you commit a crime in DuPage County, we will pursue you, we will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

            Naperville Police Chief David Dial praised the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. 

            “I would like to thank The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshall Service, the United States Postal Service, the Hermosa Beach California Police Department, the Anaheim California Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation and professionalism in apprehending these individuals.  Each one of these agencies was instrumental in the successful conclusion of this investigation.”

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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