Authorities say a former employee of a business in Riverwoods took part in a scheme where checks were stolen, forged and deposited, leading to over $21,000 being stolen from the company.
Marquell D. Clark, 36, of Oak Park, was charged with conspiracy to commit a financial crime, defrauding a financial institution, illegally obtaining money from a financial institution, two counts of theft and forgery.
The Riverwoods Police Department arrested Clark near his residence in the 900 block of South Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park around 10:30 a.m. on February 23.
Clark was wanted on an arrest warrant in relation to his part in a financial crime that was reported in October 2020, according to Riverwoods Chief of Police Bruce M. Dayno.
Dayno said a Riverwoods business reported the incident to police after discovering a theft of funds.
An investigation showed checks were stolen from the company, forged and deposited into an account held by someone else in Kentucky, Dayno said.
The total loss to the business was in excess of $21,000. Clark is a former contract employee of the business.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Daly said Clark was a mail clerk and delivered large batches of checks to the post office.
Investigators learned a second suspect, who is a relative of Clark, was also involved in the theft, Daly said.
Daly said Clark stole the checks and provided them to the second suspect involved so he could cash them.
Court records show the second suspect is Stanley Washington. An active warrant remains for him.
Clark was transported to the Lake County Jail where was ordered held on a $350,000 bond.
A judge later reduced Clark’s bond to $250,000. He was released from the jail after posting 10%.
Dayno said the investigation into the crime remains ongoing by detectives with the Riverwoods Police Department.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 23.