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Woman Defrauded Low-Income Daycare Program, Bought Bentley: Feds
Aleesha McDowell, 41, is accused in a $6.1 million money laundering scheme and accused of buying a $230K car and home with the money.
By Andrea Earnest, Patch Staff
Nov 30, 2020 12:49 pm CT|Updated Nov 30, 2020 1:08 pm CT
According to the indictment, McDowell is accused of spending some of the money on a 2017 Bentley Bentayga and a house in Mokena. (Shutterstock)MOKENA, IL — A woman from Mokena and several others are charged with defrauding an Illinois low-income daycare program of $6.1 million dollars over eight years. Aleesha McDowell, 41, is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, and accused of using the proceeds to purchase a luxury car and a home, according to the United State's Attorney's Office.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, McDowell owned child care providers A&A Kiddy Kollege Inc. in Calumet City, A&A Kiddy Kollege 2 in Calumet Park, and Kreative Kidz Academy Inc., Kreative Kidz Academy II Inc. and Kreative Kidz Academy III Inc. in Chicago.
According to an indictment returned in federal court, from 2012 to 2020, McDowell schemed with four directors of her centers and others to defraud the Illinois Department of Human Services' Child Care Assistance Program by submitting and causing the submission of false information, including fraudulent pay stubs and income verification letters regarding a parent's eligibility to qualify for state subsidy payments.
McDowell and others involved are accused of assisting parents in completing false Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) applications that fraudulently caused the state to issue subsidy payments to the centers. As a result of the scheme, the defendants caused IDHS to suffer a loss of at least $6.1 million, the indictment states.
According to the indictment, McDowell is accused of spending some of the money on a 2017 Bentley Bentayga and a house in Mokena. According to Motortend, the base price of the car is around $230,000.
In addition to McDowell, several others face charges in connection with the scheme. Nicole Lacey, 36, of Burnham, who was a director of two of the child care centers, was charged with 10 counts of wire fraud. Stacy Sims, 43, of Chicago, who was a director at one of the child care centers, was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Janelle Jordan, 40, of Chicago, who was a director at one of the centers, was charged with three counts of wire fraud. Lauren Coley, 40, of Phoenix, Arizona, who was a director of two centers, was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Shavon Johnson, 47, of Country Club Hills, was charged with four counts of wire fraud, and Sean Blunt, 44, of Matteson was charged with two counts of wire fraud.
The indictment was ordered unsealed on Monday. According to the Attorney's Office, most of the defendants have made initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
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Aleesha McDowell, 41, is accused in a $6.1 million money laundering scheme and accused of buying a $230K car and home with the money.
By Andrea Earnest, Patch Staff
Nov 30, 2020 12:49 pm CT|Updated Nov 30, 2020 1:08 pm CT
According to the indictment, McDowell is accused of spending some of the money on a 2017 Bentley Bentayga and a house in Mokena. (Shutterstock)MOKENA, IL — A woman from Mokena and several others are charged with defrauding an Illinois low-income daycare program of $6.1 million dollars over eight years. Aleesha McDowell, 41, is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, and accused of using the proceeds to purchase a luxury car and a home, according to the United State's Attorney's Office.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, McDowell owned child care providers A&A Kiddy Kollege Inc. in Calumet City, A&A Kiddy Kollege 2 in Calumet Park, and Kreative Kidz Academy Inc., Kreative Kidz Academy II Inc. and Kreative Kidz Academy III Inc. in Chicago.
According to an indictment returned in federal court, from 2012 to 2020, McDowell schemed with four directors of her centers and others to defraud the Illinois Department of Human Services' Child Care Assistance Program by submitting and causing the submission of false information, including fraudulent pay stubs and income verification letters regarding a parent's eligibility to qualify for state subsidy payments.
McDowell and others involved are accused of assisting parents in completing false Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) applications that fraudulently caused the state to issue subsidy payments to the centers. As a result of the scheme, the defendants caused IDHS to suffer a loss of at least $6.1 million, the indictment states.
According to the indictment, McDowell is accused of spending some of the money on a 2017 Bentley Bentayga and a house in Mokena. According to Motortend, the base price of the car is around $230,000.
In addition to McDowell, several others face charges in connection with the scheme. Nicole Lacey, 36, of Burnham, who was a director of two of the child care centers, was charged with 10 counts of wire fraud. Stacy Sims, 43, of Chicago, who was a director at one of the child care centers, was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Janelle Jordan, 40, of Chicago, who was a director at one of the centers, was charged with three counts of wire fraud. Lauren Coley, 40, of Phoenix, Arizona, who was a director of two centers, was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Shavon Johnson, 47, of Country Club Hills, was charged with four counts of wire fraud, and Sean Blunt, 44, of Matteson was charged with two counts of wire fraud.
The indictment was ordered unsealed on Monday. According to the Attorney's Office, most of the defendants have made initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
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