Authorities say the manager of a truck stop and travel center near Zion was arrested after he allegedly stole over $45,000 from the business over the span of a year.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded on September 5 to TravelCenters of America, 16650 West Russell Road in unincorporated Zion, for a theft report.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the complainant reported the general manager had been stealing money for at least a year.
The money stolen totaled more than $45,000.
The general manager was identified as Joseph D. Woolever, 54, of Gurnee.
Covelli said Woolever was stealing money by taking petty cash and submitting fraudulent invoices for items he had never purchased or acquired.
Sheriff’s deputies and detectives collected video surveillance of Woolever taking money from the store.
They also collected the fraudulent invoices Woolever had been submitting, Covelli said.
Deputies and detectives spoke to Woolever at his residence shortly after taking the initial report and collecting the evidence.
Detectives arrested Woolever and reviewed the circumstances of the case with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The state’s attorney’s office approved one count of theft over $10,000, a Class 2 felony.
Woolever was transported to the Lake County Jail and turned over to corrections staff for processing.
He remains held in the jail on a $100,000 bond, which was set earlier this month.
Woolever is scheduled to appear in court again on October 3.