Two brothers get four years for their role in scheme to steal $50,000 plus from Obama’s campaign
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporter rhussain@suntimes.com January 31, 2013 3:52PM
Updated: February 1, 2013 1:01AM
Two south suburban brothers were sentenced to four years in prison Thursday after they pleaded guilty to their role in stealing more than $50,000 in checks from President Barack Obama’s Chicago campaign headquarters.
Willard Elam, 48, of Dolton, and Anthony Elam, 52, of Chicago Heights, pleaded guilty to forgery before Cook County Judge Stanley’s Sacks as a federal agent looked on.
Authorities said the pair was recruited by Jessie Adams, of Joliet, to open up fraudulent checking accounts at two different Chicago area TCF bank branches.
The men opened the accounts using checks written by “Obama for America,” according to a police report.
It was unclear how the men got the checks but at the time, Obama’s campaign said in a statement that three checks were sent to vendors and “made it into the wrong hands.”
Adams, 36, is awaiting trial for allegedly organizing the financial scheme.
