Four-year sentence for man who looted Naperville auto dealer

Mark R. Havens was given a second chance after surviving a double organ transplant.

But his desire to live "the Naperville life" instead led him to loot the car dealership where his boss considered him family.

Havens was sentenced Monday to serve four years in prison for stealing $422,700.14 over four years ending in June 2007 while serving as a parts manager at Continental Audi, 1527 Aurora Ave., Naperville.

The 38-year-old man faced either probation or between four and 15 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to felony theft May 21.

Havens begged for probation, but the judge said any punishment less than prison sends the wrong message.

Havens also has not paid back a dime, the judge noted.

"He did not do this impulsively," DuPage Circuit Judge Peter J. Dockery said. "This was not just a mistake. It was deliberate and planned out."

Prosecutor Kenneth Tatarelis said Havens created fraudulent invoices and then credited his personal credit cards and bank accounts with the stolen money during 137 felony transactions.

Havens confessed to police after the theft scheme unraveled two years ago. He spent the money largely on home improvements and other living expenses.

"He said he wanted to live the Naperville life," Naperville detective Christopher Cali testified.

At the time, Havens' annual salary was between $80,000 and $95,000. The dealership's chief operating officer, Joel Weinberger, testified Havens was so well-liked and trusted that the boss brought the parts manager over from a Countryside dealer in 1998 when the Naperville facility opened.

The company also had provided insurance that covered at least 90 percent of the $500,000 price tag for Havens' 2002 kidney and pancreas transplants.

After his arrest, Havens moved from Naperville to Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife, Candace, and their two children, ages 7 and 9, one of whom suffers from juvenile diabetes. Havens works in a similar job for a Wisconsin dealer with a $65,000 annual salary.

His wife sobbed uncontrollably Monday as a deputy led Havens off to jail. Havens is eligible for parole after serving half the prison term.

He did not have a prior criminal record. His attorney, Philip Nathe, argued Havens had led a good, law-abiding life except for this crime, for which he accepted responsibility with an earlier guilty plea.

More than a dozen supporters, including family, friends, church members and former neighbors, accompanied Havens to court. Four described Havens as a devoted family man whose crime was completely out of character. Several others wrote supportive letters.

"If your car was broken down on the side of the road, he'd stop to help you," said Bruce Schwartz, a childhood friend. "He'd do anything he could for anyone. I think everybody deserves a second chance."

Havens apologized before being sentenced. He pledged to pay back every penny, no matter how long it takes. As his family's sole provider, he pleaded for probation.

"I'm asking you, please, don't take me away from my family," he said.

The judge, though, cited the seriousness of the crime. Dockery also ordered Havens to begin making restitution payments upon his release from prison.

Scheme: Father begs for probation; judge says no