Woman Claims Convicted Fraudster Cost Her Home and $191,000

Mary 'Marie' Medina, 48, says she was scammed out of $191,000 by William 'Bill' Stoecker, who has been brought up on new fraud and theft charges on an unrelated case.

Mary "Marie" Medina was unsurprised when she found out William "Bill" Stoecker had been arrested on identity theft, theft and fraud charges in connection to allegedly scamming a homeowner out of money that should have gone to repairs. Medina, 48, says she, too, was a victim of Stoecker's scam—to the tune of $191,000 that she paid to his construction firm in 2006 and 2007 to remodel her Lockport home. READ: Grabill Corp. Fraudster Back in Jail on New Charges Stoecker, 54, appeared in a Bridgeview courtroom Wednesday, Nov. 14, for a brief hearing before Judge John J. Hynes. His business manager, Susan Olszak, 46, of Florida, also has been charged. The case was continued because Hynes is currently in a jury trial. The pair is scheduled to …

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Mokena Man Found Guilty of Defrauding Palos Bank

A federal court found Mokena man Bill Marr, Jr., who owns an Oak Forest equipment company, guilty of defrauding the former Palos Bank and Trust.

Thief Drains Boy Scout Troop's Bank Account

Someone electronically cleared out $1,400 from a checking account for Boy Scout Troop 341.

In four separate transactions with Saudi Arabian Airlines, someone siphoned off about $1,400 from a the troop's bank account. The money, which the Scouts earned through popcorn sales, had been earmarked for the boys' summer camp fees, said Gacek. After the funds were swiped electronically through fraudulent debits, one generous leader stepped up and dipped into his own money to cover the cost. "All the money that's in there is money they worked for," Gacek said. "I guess the boys just don't realize what happened. We're going to make sure it doesn't affect them." Boy Scout Troop 341 includes members from Oak Forest, Tinley Park, Midlothian and Mokena. Many costs will have to be covered out of scout leaders' pockets, Gacek said. In addition …

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Lauren Traut

5:22 pm on Saturday, February 19, 2011

Hi Margaret. Assistant Scoutmaster Gacek did say that the bank would try to restore the funds, but had to wait to be sure.   more ›

Tinley Park, Oak Forest Men Charged in Connection with Snow Salt Swindle

Two Illinois Department Of Transportation workers who police said stole six tons of state snow salt for a Palos Hills business are among seven recent corruption charges by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Two local men accused of stealing six tons of road salt meant for state highways were among other people involved in a swath of recent corruption charges issued by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Jerome Latos, 54, of Tinley Park, and John Syarto, 33, of Oak Forest, are charged with one felony count each of theft of government property and official misconduct, prosecutors said. If convicted, each man could face a maximum of 12 years in prison. Prosecutors said the pair, who were seasonal snow plow and salt truck drivers for the Illinois Department of Transportation, stole six tons of road salt and delivered it to a Palos Hills business co-owned by Robert Jennings, 33, of Burbank. Jennings has been charged with theft of government…

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Police Blotter: Cheesy Check, Egged Auto, Sneaked Seafood

Oak Forest police reports, Dec. 14–19.

A Jewel-Osco employee called police for a man suspected of shoplifting. Police said they approached Joseph Dill, of the 13600 block of School Street in Riverdale, in the parking lot, where he pulled two stolen lobster tails from under his coat. The merchandise was valued at $23.96. Men in a tan SUV pulled up to a house in the 5800 block of Liberty Square. One of them drew the home's owner into the back yard under the guise of discussing new fencing. After the men had left, the owner checked the house and found $1,040 missing from a dresser drawer. A man told police that for the third time in two weeks, someone egged his Acura. He can't think of anyone who would have a problem with him, and suspects the eggings might be related to his …

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Police Blotter: Phony Employer, Purse Snatcher, Good Samaritans

Oak Forest police reports, Dec. 6–13

A woman shopping in Aldi, 15441 S. Cicero Ave., said she looked away for a minute, and when she turned around, her black Coach purse was gone. The purse contained $90 in cash, her license, credit cards and house and car keys. A woman was searching for at-home work when she contacted a potential employer by email. The employer responded to her, asking for her home address. The woman received a letter via U.S. Mail, with a check written to her, for $4,950. She was instructed to keep $250 of the money, and send a check for the difference to another address. She contacted the bank on the check, which informed her that the check was fraudulent and no such account exists.  Someone stole $16,550 from a woman's credit union savings account, she …

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