Downers Grove man accused of impersonating U.S. Marshal

A 29-year-old Downers Grove man claiming to be a U.S. Marshal was arrested after he tried to open a bank account with a $3.5 million check, authorities said Wednesday. Bail was set at $200,000 for John C. Campbell, who faces charges of false impersonation of a peace officer, forgery, attempted deceptive practices, unlawful use of a weapon, and obstructing identification.

DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Joe Baumann said Campbell identified himself as a U.S. Marshal when he tried to open an account with a $3.5 million check Tuesday afternoon at U.S. Bank, 1026 Ogden Avenue in Lisle. Baumann said the bank alerted police, who pulled over the vehicle Campbell was riding in for a minor traffic violation as he left the scene.

The investigation led to a Downers Grove hotel room, where authorities said police recovered a cache of law enforcement gear, including a phony Marshal's badge, two starter pistols, batons, SWAT vests and handcuffs. Authorities also found a bill of sale indicating Campbell had used forged documents to buy a new vehicle from Bill Kay Chevrolet, 601 Ogden Ave. in Lisle, on Nov. 14, Baumann said.

In bond court Wednesday, Campbell told Judge Michael Wolfe he had no memory of the events outlined in the charges.

“I don't remember those incidents,” he said. “I know the gun wasn't real. It was from a Halloween costume.”

Campbell, of the 2500 block of Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove, also is wanted on a fugitive from justice warrant in Florida, where he is accused of violating probation in an earlier robbery case. His arraignment in DuPage County is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Additional details weren't released.