A husband and wife have been charged with stealing and laundering almost $300,000 in funds from a business in Hawthorn Woods where they were employed, police said.
The owner of Monoceros Corporation made a theft report on March 23, 2025, with the Hawthorn Woods Police Department.
The owner of the Hawthorn Woods-based business reported suspected financial misconduct involving two former employees, according to Hawthorn Woods Deputy Police Chief Sarah Canada.
The employees were identified as Edward Lebak, 59, and Beth Lebak, 58, both of Neillsville, Wisconsin.
Edward Lebak was employed as a site superintendent and Beth Lebak served as the office manager, Canada said.
Both were employed by the company from 2019 through 2023.
Canada said a forensic audit of the company’s financial records included a review of QuickBooks files, bank account statements, credit card statements and other financial documents.
The investigation revealed that the Lebaks misappropriated more than $280,000 in company funds, Canada said.
Police did not say what Lebaks did with the funds after allegedly misappropriating them.
The case was presented to a Lake County grand jury and they returned indictments against the Lebaks on July 15.
Both were charged with theft by deception, money laundering over $100,000, conspiracy to commit a financial crime over $100,000 and continuing a financial crimes enterprise. All charges are Class 1 felonies.
Arrest warrants were issued for the couple and they were arrested on Tuesday.
Beth Lebak and Edward Lebak appeared in First Appearance Court on Wednesday. The charges against them are non-detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act.
Lake County Judge Randie Bruno released the couple with pre-trial conditions that include a no-contact order with the business or its owner.
The two are scheduled to appear in court again on August 13 to be arraigned on the charges.