Joliet man charged in Obama campaign check theft
By Tina Sfondeles tsfondeles@suntimes.com September 24, 2012 11:34PM
Updated: October 26, 2012 2:13PM
CHICAGO — Two men, including a Joliet man, were behind bars for allegedly stealing more than $50,000 in checks from President Barack Obama’s Chicago campaign headquarters.
Jessie Adams, 36, of the 1100 block of Spencer Road in Joliet, was charged with one count of being an organizer of a financial crime enterprise.
Willard Elam, 48, of the 15500 block of South Drexel in Dolton, was charged with continuing a financial crimes enterprise, authorities said.
On Saturday, Adams was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bond, and Elam was ordered held on $75,000, Cook County Sheriff’s office spokesman Frank Bilecki said.
Chicago police would not release information about the arrests, but Obama’s campaign revealed Thursday that three checks were sent to vendors and “made it into the wrong hands,” Ben Finkenbinder, the president’s Midwest press secretary, said in a statement.
Obama’s headquarters are in the Prudential Building, 130 E. Randolph, overlooking Grant Park.
Finkenbinder said the theft would not have an impact on the campaign.
Both men were scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
