Chicago — (ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2016. Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that a Cook County man was found guilty of bank fraud and failing to file a state income tax return, enabling him to steal more than $40,000 from residents and businesses in the Chicago suburbs.
Darnell Murry, 41, was sentenced in DuPage County Criminal Court after being found guilty of one count of a continuing financial crimes enterprise, a Class 1 felony, and one count of failing to file an Illinois income tax return, a Class 4 felony. Judge Brian Tealander sentenced Murry to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
According to Madigan, Murry used stolen identities to commit fraud at Sam’s Club, Costco, Macy’s, Meijer and other retailers in the suburbs. Using stolen credit card accounts, Murry would add himself as an authorized secondary accountholder to receive credit cards linked to the victims’ accounts. In 2012, Murry stole more than $40,000 through this scheme, defrauding individuals, retailers and financial institutions. Additionally, investigators with the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) found that Murry did not report or pay any state income taxes in tax year 2012.
“This defendant preys upon others for personal gain,” said Madigan. “Through this conviction and prison sentence, he will be held accountable for committing theft and fraud.”
“Individuals who defraud our tax system and commit acts of forgery must be held accountable,” said Revenue Director Connie Beard. “I applaud the efforts of Revenue’s Criminal Investigation Division, as well as the Attorney General’s Office in this case. My office will continue to work with the Attorney General to ensure that lawbreakers are held accountable and that full restitution is paid on behalf of taxpayers.”
Murry’s actions took place while he was on parole after serving a federal prison sentence for similar crimes. Murry also served a two-year prison sentence for theft and fraud committed in Wisconsin, and he is facing charges in Indiana related to identity theft.
The Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case based on a referral from the Secret Service and the IDOR, after the Secret Service received numerous local law enforcement reports of identity theft around suburban Chicago.
Assistant Attorney General Victor Turla handled the case for Madigan’s Special Prosecutions Bureau.
Source: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
