Vernon Hills man faces multiple bank, mail fraud charges

Federal prosecutors announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against a Vernon Hills accountant charged with bilking U.S. Bankcorp and five of his clients out of more than $2 million.

Jeffrey B. Travis, 50, faces charges of bank fraud and mail fraud that prosecutors say occurred between May 2002 and January 2009 when he was doing business as Gross & Travis, Ltd. and Travis and Associates, Inc. in Deerfield.

Travis served as accountant and tax preparer for several small businesses, mainly medical offices and dental firms. In that capacity, he had his clients’ authority to make payments on their behalf using checks drawn on their accounts. Authorities say the checks did not reach their intended recipients and were instead deposited into U.S. Bank accounts that Travis controlled.

Additionally, prosecutors charge that Travis altered checks his clients wrote to him without their knowledge to increase the amounts.

Prosecutors say 668 checks were deposited into Travis’ accounts, and the money was subsequently withdrawn. The government is seeking restitution for the total amount of $2,034,848.

Travis has been charged with five counts of bank fraud, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison upon conviction. He has also been charged with three counts of mail fraud, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.