Lombard man gets 8 years for ‘staggering’ thefts

By the time anyone realized Louie Filskov had been stealing from his employer, more than $900,000 was missing.

That’s because the Lombard man “stole like it was his job,” prosecutors said in court Thursday.

DuPage County Judge Robert Kleeman sentenced Filskov, 39, to eight years in prison for the “staggering” thefts from A Better Crawlspace in Bensenville, and ordered him to pay $830,000 in restitution.

“It just appears to be pure and simple greed,” said Kleeman, who found Filskov guilty in May.

Assistant State’s Attorney William Wu said Filskov took more than $1,000 a day, on average, while acting as the firm’s general manager from March 2006 to March 2008.

He said Filskov cashed company checks at a currency exchange and spent the money on basic living expenses and bills, funneling about $300,000 through his wife’s bank account. At times, Filskov claimed he’d won the lottery, authorities said.

“The defendant stole like it was his job,” Wu said. “He did it every day, rain or shine — and it added up.”

Wu said the thefts were came to light when the firm tried to collect payment from several customers who had already paid. A subsequent investigation showed Filskov also set up unauthorized credit cards and cellphones in the company name, according to testimony.

Filskov, who had no prior criminal history, apologized repeatedly before he was sentenced Thursday.

“I’m very sorry for my part in this,” he told the judge. “My words can’t do it justice.”

Filskov’s older brother, Nick Filskov of Bloomingdale, also was caught in the scheme and pleaded guilty in 2009 to stealing $97,000 from the same company.

According to court records, he received a six-month jail term, two years of probation, and also was ordered to pay restitution.

By law, Louie Filskov must serve at least four years in prison. Both brothers also are now being sued by A Better Crawlspace.