Spring Grove man gets jail in gift card scam

A Spring Grove man was ordered to spend six months in jail when not working Friday after admitting he was selling store gift cards he obtained with stolen merchandise.

Justin MacCallum, 26, was also placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to theft during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.

Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Hoffert said MacCallum, of the 38000 block on North Trillum, would take merchandise stolen from the Home Depot in Round Lake Beach and return it for gift cards.

MacCallum would then take those gift cards and sell them at pawn shops, Hoffert said.

Between April and June of last year, Hoffert said, MacCallum sold $2,061 worth of gift cards for $1,000.

Police were alerted to the scheme when an internal audit showed the merchandise being returned for credit had never been purchased.

MacCallum also agreed to pay $600 in fines as part of his plea negotiation.

Hoffert said MacCallum could have faced up to five years in prison if he had been convicted after a trial.