Naperville banker charged with taking bribes from preacher

A Naperville banker is accused of accepting bribes to create documents inflating the credit limit of a local preacher charged with stealing nearly $500,000 in an investment scheme.

A DuPage County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Sallie R. Berry, 39, on seven counts of commercial bribery involving a financial institution and one count of continuing a financial crimes enterprise.

Berry is accused of accepting $200 bribes on seven occasions between Oct. 19, 2006, and Sept. 5, 2007, in return for creating fake documents showing credit limits of up to $56 million for indicted Aurora preacher Howard Richmond of Naperville. According to the charges, Berry acted without the consent of her employer, Chase Bank.

Authorities say Richmond persuaded three men, including a member of his congregation at Life Ministries, to invest toward the purchase of the property where the church is located and to help fund a new church. At least one of the victims claimed Richmond had documents indicating he had millions ready to put toward the project.

Berry is accused of issuing seven separate letters indicating Richmond had lines of credit ranging from $1.35 million to $56 million. Authorities said she was not a member of Richmond's congregation, but lives in the same neighborhood as him in Naperville.

Attorneys for Richmond and Berry could not be reached for comment.

Berry, who is wanted on a $100,000 bond arrest warrant, was not yet in custody as of Wednesday morning. The most serious charge against her is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison or probation.