MONTGOMERY WOMAN INDICTED ON THEFT FROM ELDERLY MAN
Sixteen-Count Indictment Alleges Theft Continued After Man Passed Away
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that Guadalupe Mendez, 32 (d.o.b. 01/11/1977) of 3106 Whirlaway Lane, Montgomery, was indicted earlier this week on charges that she allegedly stole more than $25,000 from the certificate of deposit bank accounts of a deceased man at a bank where Mendez worked.
According to the indictment, Mendez, a personal banker at West Chicago State Bank, allegedly made numerous withdrawals between December 2006 and August 2008 from the CD accounts of bank customer John Besch. Mr. Besch passed away in July 2008. Family members however, noticed withdrawals from Mr. Besch’s account after his passing and alerted bank officials. An internal investigation conducted by bank officials discovered the alleged activities of Ms. Mendez. A criminal investigation into the matter led by the West Chicago Police Department led to yesterday’s indictment.
“For the second time this week my office is faced with yet another white collar crime,” commented Birkett. “I would like to thank the members of Mr. Besch’s family for their attentiveness to Mr. Besch’s financial affairs as well as authorities at the West Chicago State Bank for their assistance in uncovering Ms. Mendez’s alleged scheme. I would also like to thank the West Chicago Police Department as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Joe Ruggiero and Helen Kapas-Erdman for their work on this case.”
In addition to the Theft charges, Mendez also faces charges of Misappropriation of Financial Institution Property, Financial Institution Fraud, Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise, Theft of a Victim Over 60 Years-Old and Forgery.
A $150,000 arrest warrant for Mendez has been issued by Judge Peter Dockery.
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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