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Champaign County Woman Sentenced to 52 Months in Prison for $600,000 Embezzlement Scheme
URBANA, Ill. – Joan Chenoweth, a 52-year-old resident of Tolono, Illinois, was sentenced to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in embezzling over $600,000 from her former employer, Illini Contractor Supply, and failing to pay federal income tax.
United States District Judge Colin S. Bruce handed down the 52-month sentence, citing Chenoweth’s lack of concern for others and the residual harm to a viable community business. The judge ordered Chenoweth to pay restitution in the amount of $599,152.72 to Illini Contractor Supply and an additional $159,384 to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, Chenoweth, who had control of the business’s financial records and access to its credit cards and bank account, wrote unauthorized vendor checks to herself or cash payable from the company’s bank account, as well as unauthorized payroll checks to herself that exceeded her salary. She also used the business’s credit cards to make payments to her personal credit cards.
Chenoweth pleaded guilty to the charges on May 17, 2021, but remained free on bond until her sentencing. Judge Bruce ordered her to report to begin serving her sentence on October 5, 2021.
The Champaign Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, led the investigation into Chenoweth’s crimes. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Chenoweth’s 52-month prison sentence is the latest development in a case that highlights the severe consequences of white-collar crime. The scheme, which spanned from 2014 to 2018, resulted in significant financial losses for Illini Contractor Supply and its owners.
As Chenoweth begins serving her sentence, the community can take comfort in knowing that justice has been served. Her case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and the severe consequences of embezzlement and tax evasion.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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