Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $102,249 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the library and from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Kenyada T. Harris, 42, pleaded guilty in March 2026.

Prosecutors say Harris used the library’s credit card for her personal gain and used LINK cards for herself, family members and friends while she was employed at the St. Clair County Family Community Resource Center.

FOREIGN NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO FIRING SHOTS NEAR BORDER PATROL AGENTS IN CHICAGO

A Mexican citizen who was in the United States illegally has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge after prosecutors said he fired shots near U.S. Border Patrol agents in Chicago in November.

Hector Gomez, 46, had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in Cook County and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun.

Sentencing is July 20.

SIX MEN INDICTED FOR WINNETKA HOME INVASION

A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six men on robbery and kidnapping offenses after an alleged home invasion in Winnetka last month.

Government attorneys say the men forcibly entered the residence, used firearms to keep an individual captive for about an hour, and demanded access to a safe and access to online accounts holding cryptocurrency.

Charges are forthcoming against a seventh defendant.

REPORT: BEARS ARE SIXTH-PRICIEST SPORTS TEAM FOR FANS

A report says the Chicago Bears are the sixth most expensive sports team in the world for fans to follow.

ForesightSports.com examined yearly expenses for tickets, stadium food and drinks, streaming subscriptions and jerseys. The annual total for Bears fans came in at $3,009.

The New York Knicks topped the list at $4,274, followed by the Detroit Lions at $4,011. The report said major league ticket prices are up 25% over the last three years.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Everyday Economics: A stalled labor market and why the next data points matter

Everyday Economics: A stalled labor market and why the next data points matter

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square Last week’s jobs report wasn’t a “good” report, but it wasn’t a collapse either. Payrolls are still growing modestly, and the unemployment rate hasn’t spiked....
Assaults against ICE up 1300%, vehicular attacks up 3200%, death threats up 8000%

Assaults against ICE up 1300%, vehicular attacks up 3200%, death threats up 8000%

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Assaults against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are up 1,300%, vehicular attacks are up 3,200% and death threats are up 8,000%, the Department of...
Bipartisan bill to cap annual deficits at 3% could curb debt growth

Bipartisan bill to cap annual deficits at 3% could curb debt growth

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Lawmakers introduced a bipartisan proposal to cap annual deficits at 3% of GDP, but this resolution would still permit spending beyond annual revenue. House Resolution...
One year in, a ‘ho-hum’ jobs report

One year in, a ‘ho-hum’ jobs report

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square December’s jobs data changed little from November, rounding out an underwhelming year for the U.S. labor market. Initial estimates put job gains at 50,000, though...
Five battleground governor's races for 2026

Five battleground governor’s races for 2026

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters from 36 states across the country will return to the polls to elect their next governors in 2026. Several governors races are expected to...
Chicago Flips Red calls for audit after public schools report

Chicago Flips Red calls for audit after public schools report

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A grassroots Chicago group is calling for a forensic audit of the city’s entire public school system...
will county board meeting.6

Capital Imp Committee: Begins Drafting Policy to Regulate Artificial Intelligence in County Government

Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary:The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee began formulating a comprehensive policy regarding the use of Artificial...
will county board graphic

Public Health Committee Chair Demands Animal Control Agreements for Crete, Monee

Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026 Article Summary: During the January 7, 2026, Public Health and Safety Committee meeting, Chair Daniel Butler demanded...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Public Works Committee Considers Taking Over Kankakee County Line Road to Expedite Bridge Repairs

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Division of Transportation (WCDOT) is exploring a jurisdictional transfer of a section of...
Trump signs order protecting Venezuelan oil revenue from legal claims

Trump signs order protecting Venezuelan oil revenue from legal claims

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order to protect revenue from all sales of Venezuelan oil held in U.S. Treasury accounts from seizure...
Retirements and resignations to impact midterms as balance of power at stake

Retirements and resignations to impact midterms as balance of power at stake

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Over the past several months, politicians once regarded as central to their party have bowed out of reelection campaigns or resigned from their positions altogether....
U.S. Supreme Court to hear anti-oil cases with energy costs on the line

U.S. Supreme Court to hear anti-oil cases with energy costs on the line

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Energy advocates have been warning against green energy demands driving up prices across the country. As anti-oil and gas activists seek legal pathways to straddle...
Constitutional concerns raised over Illinois' first civil hate crime case

Constitutional concerns raised over Illinois’ first civil hate crime case

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A former Illinois attorney general candidate says the state’s first civil hate crime lawsuit, while based...
Wetzel

Peotone Man Charged With Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Damage at New Lenox Target

A 45-year-old Peotone man has been charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property following an incident at a New Lenox Target store, according to police. New Lenox police...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Executive Committee: Update to Land Resource Management Plan; Solar Farms and Rural Zoning Dominate Discussion

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | January 8, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee initiated the first major update to the county’s Land Resource Management Plan since...