States Attorney
FORMER EMPLOYEE OF STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS
ON THEFT CHARGES
More Than $500,000 Stolen From Victims Restitution Fund
WHEATON – Illinois Appellate Prosecutor Charles Colburn, along with DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett, announced today that Judge Robert Anderson sentenced former State’s Attorney employee Deborah S. O’Brien, 42, (d.o.b. 11/6/1963) of Addison to 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for embezzling more than $500,000 from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Victims Restitution Fund. Because O’Brien was an employee of the Office, the case was prosecuted by the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.
In March, 2006, after noticing a significant increase in the amount of funds passing through the Victims Restitution Fund, Birkett requested a special audit by County Auditor Jim Rasins. Rasins’ audit revealed an elaborate scheme operated by O’Brien in which she would forge signatures on restitution checks and deposit them into her own account. In all, O’Brien embezzled more than $930,000 from the fund over a three-year period.
“Today, Deb O’Brien was sentenced to eleven years in prison for systematically stealing nearly $1 million from my office,” remarked Birkett. “While my staff and I feel betrayed by Ms. O’Brien’s actions, I am extremely proud of my staff’s efforts in holding Ms. O’Brien accountable.
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Deb O’Brien treated the victim’s fund as her own personal bank account, stealing not only from my office but also from victims of crime. Today she learned that her actions carry significant consequences.” Birkett went on to say, “Judge Anderson’s sentence clearly reflects the need to send a message that betrayals of the public trust will be punished accordingly.”
Illinois Appellate Prosecutor Charles Colburn was gratified by Judge Anderson’s well reasoned decision and expressed his thanks for the investigative assistance of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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