Verizon worker accused of issuing credits to family

An audit done a few months ago by Verizon Wireless, 777 Big Timber Road, Elgin, showed an employee had issued unauthorized credits worth $23,833.98 to family members, police said.

Elaine Perea, 41, of 472 Princeton Ave., Elgin, was arrested Wednesday at the Elgin police station and was charged in court Thursday with felony theft, police said.

Perea had worked for Verizon for about 12 years and issued the credits between July 2004 and when her employment ended in June 2007, police said.

The 286 credits were issued on four accounts belonging to family members and friends, Perea admitted during the interview with police, a report said.

The accounts included one to her daughter and another to a mortgage company where her sister and father are authorized account signers, she said.

According to a police report, security from Verizon confronted Perea in June and she admitted the theft at the time.

The report didn't disclose why the company waited three months to press charges against her.

Security at Verizon told police Perea was not authorized to issue credits and they found no reason why they were issued.

Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles set Perea's bail at $40,000.

Perea posted a $4,000 bond and was released from custody Thursday morning. Her next court date is Oct. 5 at the Kane County Judicial Center.