An employee has been charged with stealing over $120,000 in cash from video gaming machines in Lake County while working for a company that services the machines.
Kwasi Vaughters, 31, of Waukegan, was charged in Lake County Circuit Court with theft over $100,000, a Class 1 felony.
Prosecutors said an investigation was conducted by the Illinois Gaming Board into video gaming terminals in northern Illinois.
Vaughters was employed by a company that services gaming machines.
An internal investigation revealed that Vaughters used his employee credentials to access multiple terminals and steal cash between August 2024 and March 2025, prosecutors said.
He worked as a terminal handler fixing game malfunctions and jams but he did not have authorization to access or collect cash, prosecutors said.
The company conducted an audit and determined an estimated financial loss of $124,000.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said it could not disclose the exact locations where the thefts occurred as the investigation is still ongoing.
They said the thefts occurred at multiple locations throughout Lake County. It is unclear if Vaughters is accused of other thefts outside of Lake County.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Vaughters last week and he surrendered on the warrant at the Lake County Jail, court records show.
Vaughters appeared for a First Appearance Court hearing and was released from custody on pre-trial conditions.
Vaughters is scheduled to appear in court again on July 10 for a status of attorney hearing.