CHICAGO — A Will County man was sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison for stealing from his elderly mother-in-law, a 95-year-old woman at the time, out of more than $175,000.
John V. Knapp, 66, of Romeoville, pleaded guilty last year to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman handed down the sentence on Friday, ordering Knapp to pay restitution of $177,538.38.
Between 2014 and 2015, Knapp misappropriated funds from his mother-in-law by assuming her identity on approximately 100 occasions. He made four phone calls to her investment company, fraudulently authorizing $129,500 in withdrawals from her investments.
The evidence revealed that Knapp provided his mother-in-law’s personal identifying information, including her address, date of birth, telephone number, investment account number, and last four digits of her Social Security number, during the phone calls. Once the funds were deposited into her bank account, Knapp fraudulently caused checks to be made payable to himself.
The mother-in-law, who was in her mid-90s at the time, submitted a statement to the court detailing the impact of Knapp’s actions. She stated that the stolen money was meant to take care of her after the death of her husband.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward G. Kohler and Rebekah Holman represented the government in the case. U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. and Craig Goldberg, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago, announced the sentence.
The egregious nature of Knapp’s crimes has left many in the community outraged. ‘This case highlights the devastating impact of elder financial abuse and the importance of holding those responsible accountable,’ said a spokesperson.
Related Federal Cases
- Denae Sullivan, Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Anchorage… · Illinois
- Terry L. Gantt, ID Theft and Wire Fraud, Cedar Rapids IA, 2012 · Illinois
- Princess L. Eatmon, Student Loan Wire Fraud, Albany GA, 2023 · Illinois
- Orlando James Currey, Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, IL,… · Illinois
- Petrica Octavian Stoian, Wire Fraud, Lexington KY, 2023 · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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