FORMER BANK EMPLOYEE SENTENCED IN THEFT FROM ELDERLY MAN

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 sentenced to 24 months probation and 30 days in the Sheriff’s Work alternative Program (SWAP) for stealing more than $25,000 from the certificate of deposit bank accounts of a deceased man at a bank where Mendez worked.  On May 11, 2009, Mendez entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Misappropriation of Financial Institution Property, a Class 2 Felony, in front of Judge Kathryn Creswell, who handed down today’s sentence. 

            Today’s sentence stems from allegations that as a former personal banker at West Chicago State Bank, Mendez made numerous withdrawals from the CD accounts of bank customer John Besch.  The withdrawals began in December 2006 and continued thru August 2008, approximately one month after Mr. Besch passed away.  Family members however, noticed withdrawals from Mr. Besch’s account after his passing and alerted bank officials, who launched an internal investigation uncovering Mendez’s actions.  A criminal investigation into the matter led by the West Chicago Police Department led to formal charges against Mendez.  

              “Ms. Mendez stole from an elderly man and continued stealing from him even after his passing,” commented Birkett.  “For her actions, she is now a convicted felon found guilty of financial crimes and as such she will find it extremely difficult to find employment where she will have access to money in any capacity, let alone in the banking industry.  I would like to thank the members of Mr. Besch’s family for their attentiveness to his financial affairs as well as authorities at the West Chicago State Bank for their assistance in uncovering Ms. Mendez’s 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.”

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