Chicago, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A former Clerk in the Cook County Assessor’s Office has been charged in a financial crimes scheme for stealing more than $100,000 in fraudulent county checks over the course of three years, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Dionne Cooper, 43, of Hazel Crest, has been charged with Theft of Government Property (Class X) and Official Misconduct (Class 3) for her role in the theft of funds from Cook County government. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Financial Crimes Unit and the Chicago Police Department.
According to prosecutors, Cooper had worked for the Cook County Assessor’s Office for 16 years as a clerk. In her capacity as a clerk, Cooper processed applications for refunds for overpaid property taxes, known as a “Certificate of Error” refund.
From October, 2009 to April 2012, Cooper is alleged to have used her position as a clerk for the Assessor’s Office to submit approximately 100 fraudulent Certificate of Error applications given to her by a co-conspirator. Cooper would process the fraudulent applications after which the Cook County Treasurer would issue the Certificate of Error refund checks. These checks were mailed to the co-conspirator, who would cash them and share a portion of the proceeds with Cooper. The case remains a continuing investigation.
According to prosecutors, the total amount of the theft was approximately $112,341.92. Cooper left the Assessor’s Office in May of 2012 to take a job with the Harvey Park District, where she is currently employed.
Cooper appeared in bond court Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago where her bond was set at $25,000. Cooper’s next court date is set for September 12, 2013.
The public is reminded that criminal charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
