Woman pleads not guilty to fraud, theft

A Vernon Hills woman accused of stealing as much as $12,000 while employed at W.W. Grainger in Lake Forest pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue said Andrea Ferber, 29, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of computer fraud and theft.

LaRue said Ferber, of 1656 N. St. Andrews Drive, worked as a shipping clerk at the company.

Between Nov. 2 and June 25, LaRue said, Ferber created several false business accounts and made purchases using credit lines she established with Grainger.

She then purchased items like global positioning systems, tools and office supplies and had them shipped to mail drop addresses, Larue said.

LaRue said Ferber then returned the purchases to the company, credited her own accounts, and re-shipped the same items back to the mail drop addresses without charging herself for the purchases.

LaRue said an audit estimates between $10,000 and $12,000 was stolen through the scheme.

Circuit Judge George Bridges scheduled a trial of the case for Oct. 22 and ordered Ferber to appear in court again Oct. 4.