An arrest warrant has been issued for a former employee who has been charged with stealing nearly $30,000 from a doctor in Marengo while working for him.
Mariza Jimenez, 32, of Harvard, was charged with theft over $10,000, a Class 2 felony, and forgery, a Class 3 felony.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Jimenez exerted unauthorized control over 22 checks from two separate bank accounts.
The checks belonged to Dr. Michael Thomas, an optometrist that owns an eye care practice with several offices in McHenry County.
The complaint said Jimenez, with the intent to defraud a bank, cashed the checks, which were made payable in her name.
The 22 separate checks were each made out in amounts between $700 and $1,870, according to the complaint.
The total value stolen from the victim was $27,945, the complaint said.
The complaint said the theft occurred from February 2022 to August 2022.
The victim discovered the theft and reported it to the Marengo Police Department.
Marengo Police Department Sergeant Andrew Kjellgren said Jimenez was an employee of the doctor’s office at the time.
McHenry County Judge Jennifer Johnson issued an arrest warrant for Jimenez on February 27.
Court records show the warrant remains active and Jimenez is not in the custody of the McHenry County Jail yet.