A Round Lake man has been sentenced to probation after authorities say he orchestrated an internet scam by advertising puppies for sale and scamming victims out of money.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged Mondum Hycenth, 41, of Round Lake, with 16 felonies in Lake County Circuit Court in January.
Hycenth was charged with theft, wire fraud, seven counts of burglary and seven counts of forgery.
The charges are Class 2 and 3 felonies, with the most serious charges carrying up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Raoul said earlier this year that Hycenth’s victims attempted to purchase puppies through online advertisements.
The victims sent payments through a money transfer service in 2021 and 2022 but did not receive the puppies, Raoul said. They were unable to get their money back.
Hycenth used falsified identification and forged a signature to collect the money from transfer services located in retail stores, Raoul said.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted an investigation that led to the charges.
“People trying to add a pet to their families or find a furry friend for companionship instead fell prey to a scam. I encourage consumers to thoroughly research online sellers and be wary of sending payments through nontraditional methods, such as money transfers and peer-to-peer payment services,” Raoul said.
Hycenth initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but has since entered into a negotiated plea deal with the attorney general’s office.
He pleaded guilty in late June to one count of theft between $500 and $10,000, a Class 3 felony, in exchange for the rest of the charges being dismissed.
Hycenth was sentenced to 24 months of probation and 30 days of electronic monitoring.
He was also ordered to not consume alcohol or illegal drugs and not possess any weapons.