Bensenville woman charged in $200,000 theft from employer

Last year, Desiree Cortes approached her boss with some startling news: She had stolen from the company and was about to get caught, authorities said Wednesday.

Now the Bensenville woman could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of fleecing her former employer out of nearly $200,000.

Cortes, 30, sobbed as she appeared in bond court, where DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail at $400,000. She's accused of secretly opening five credit cards in the name of Bensenville Community Credit Union, where she used to work in mortgages.

Cortes manipulated her employer's computer system to hide statements showing her rack up about $194,000 in charges for everyday living expenses over several years, authorities said. She confessed to her supervisor in December after learning the credit union was about to get a new computer system that could expose the thefts, according to the allegations.

Cortes, of the 100 block of Bridget Court, was later fired from the job. In court Wednesday, she told the judge she's now an administrative assistant for an auto parts business.

Assistant State's Attorney Joe Baumann said Cortes had no prior criminal history.

To be released from jail, she would have to post $40,000. She is scheduled to appear July 23 before Judge George Bakalis.