PLAINFIELD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT FROM ELDERLY WOMAN

Man Stole Nearly $400,000 Over Five-Year Period

                WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that William Lofthus, 55 (d.o.b. 01/16/1954) of 17012 Arbor Creek Drive, Plainfield, entered a plea of Guilty to one count of Theft Over $100,000, a Class 1 Felony punishable by up to fifteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.  Lofthus entered his plea in front of Judge Blanche Fawell.

            Today’s guilty plea stems from allegations that from between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2005, Lofthus systematically stole nearly $400,000 from his now-deceased victim, Bernice Laurins, a retired nun and DuPage County resident who was more than 80 years-old.  Lofthus, who served as trustee for the woman, stole the money through several schemes including; writing unauthorized checks from the woman’s checking account, using her bank account to pay his credit card bills without permission and transferring funds from her bank account to his without her knowledge.  Lofthus was indicted on the charges on August 24, 2006.

            “William Lofthus took advantage of an elderly person for his own personal benefit,” remarked Birkett.  “He lined his own pockets at the expense of an elderly woman who made the mistake of trusting him.  White collar crimes such as these can be very difficult to uncover and prosecute because the perpetrator often times is a trusted individual with knowledge of their victim’s finances.  I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Kathleen Bachmann, Mary Cronin and William Wu for their work on this case and for bringing justice to Mr. Lofthus in the name of Bernice Laurins.”         

            Lofthus’ next court appearance is scheduled for March 10 for return of the pre-sentence report.  A sentencing date will then be scheduled at this time.

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