Man denies role in Lincolnshire investment scam
A Chicago man charged with being part of a scam to steal $330,000 from a Lincolnshire investment firm pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.
Niven Beluso, 25, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of money laundering, but would also be eligible for probation.
Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Beluso was one of four people raiding retirement accounts managed by Hewitt and Associates.
Stanton said Beluso is charged with withdrawing $18,500 from one of two bank accounts set up to receive the stolen funds on May 25, and depositing it in his own bank account.
An investigation into the activity also resulted in the arrest of Cherilyn Thomas, 25, of the 4100 block of Bonhill Drive in Arlington Heights, and Martin Johnson, 34, and Nicarico Liddell, 23, both of Chicago.
Officials said Thomas, a Hewitt employee, stole the personal information of five people who had accounts with the firm. Thomas then passed the information to Johnson, who contacted the firm and transferred money from the retirement accounts into the bank accounts created for the scam, officials said.
Liddell and Beluso were responsible for withdrawing money from the bank accounts and distributing it among the group.
Officials said $330,000 was withdrawn from the retirement accounts, but not all of that money fell into the hands of those charged.
Johnson has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated identity theft and identity theft and is due to appear in court Sept. 27.
Johnson and Liddell, both charged with money laundering, are due in court Sept. 28.