Man cuts deal in $155,000 theft

A Crystal Lake man accused of pilfering more than $155,000 from a former roommate's bank accounts was sentenced to two years in prison Monday under a plea bargain reached with McHenry County authorities.

Ryan C. Raskey, 27, also must pay $155,776 restitution under the terms of the deal in which he admitted guilt to one count of forgery stemming from allegations that surfaced in late 2006.

"This was a sizable amount of money that was stolen over a period of time and we felt it merited a sentence in the department of corrections," First Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Thomas Carroll said. "He probably would have continued his actions had he not been caught."

In return for his guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed seven other forgery counts, two theft charges and a single count of identity theft. Had he been convicted on those charges, Raskey could have faced a maximum 15 years in prison.

Raskey's attorney, William Gracik, declined comment.

Authorities said Raskey and the victim shared a residence beginning in April 2003, but the living arrangement ended about seven months later when the victim realized his identification and checkbook were missing.

Over the next three years, the charges allege, Raskey cashed numerous checks on his former roommate's account, using the man's Illinois ID card when asked for identification.

Raskey was charged in November 2006 after workers at Home State Bank in Crystal Lake alerted police to suspicious activity on the victim's account.

Surveillance video later recovered by police showed Raskey entering the bank and cashing checks on the victim's account.