39-COUNT INDICTMENT ALLEGES THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY & FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FRAUD
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that bond was set yesterday afternoon for a Hanover Park woman accused of illegally obtaining more than $80,000 in loans from the SBA Payment Protection Program (PPP). Destiney Baker, age 36, of the 1700 block of Bell Drive, appeared at a bond hearing yesterday afternoon where Judge Susan Alvarado set bond at $1 million with 10% to apply. In all, Baker is charged with eight counts of Theft of Government Property (Class 1 Felony), two counts of Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise (Class 1 Felony), five counts of Financial Institution Fraud (Class 2 Felony), twelve counts of Forgery (Class 3 Felony) and twelve counts of Issuing a Forged Document (Class 3 Felony). On July 7, 2022, Judge Margaret O’Connell granted the State’s motion for a proof of funds hearing at which Baker must prove that any funds used to post bond were not illegally obtained.
Through the course of their investigation involving four pending financial crimes cases against Baker, investigators learned that Baker had allegedly illegally applied for five government-sponsored PPP loans. It is alleged that in three of these loans Baker used her name with a false social security number and in the other two Baker used other people’s names, including the name of a deceased individual who is a victim in one of the other cases against Baker. It is alleged that when applying for the PPP loans, Baker submitted false tax and bank documents to support a non-existent health-care business affected by COVID. It is alleged that Baker was paid more than $80,000 from those loans. Baker was taken into custody yesterday morning, Thursday, July 14, 2022, when authorities found her loading a moving truck in front of her home.
“It is alleged that at a time when legitimate businesses across the state of Illinois were in desperate need of assistance and struggling to stay afloat, Ms. Baker created a fictitious business in an attempt to defraud the government of tens of thousands of dollars. If these allegations are proven to be true, Ms. Baker attempted to line her pockets to the detriment of small businesses in Illinois. I thank the Hanover Park Police Department for their assistance in this case. I thank State’s Attorney Investigator Greg Klebba for his heads-up work in the arrest of Ms. Baker. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Diane Michalak for her work in uncovering Ms. Baker’s alleged Scheme.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin
Baker’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 1, 2022, for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
20240105-1435future
THANKS FOR READING CARDINAL NEWS