Ex-West Chicago banker charged with stealing from elderly man

A former banker at West Chicago State Bank is accused of stealing more than $25,000 from an account of an elderly man who died last July.

A DuPage County grand jury this week indicted Guadalupe Mendez, 32, of Montgomery on charges alleging theft, financial institution fraud, continuing financial crimes enterprise, forgery and theft from an elderly person.

Relatives discovered withdrawals were still being made from the account of John Besch in August, a month after he had died. An internal investigation at the bank revealed the employee had been stealing from the account since December 2006.

West Chicago police launched a criminal investigation, which led to theft charges, according to DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett.

Mendez, 3106 Whirlaway Lane, was indicted Tuesday.

DuPage Circuit Judge Peter Dockery issued a $150,000 warrant for Mendez's arrest.