Former South suburban police chief indicted on fraud charges
A former Country Club Hills police chief has been indicted for defrauding a state job-training program and channeling some of a $1.25 million grant to benefit herself, U.S. prosecutors in Springfield announced Friday.
Regina Evans, 49, faces one count of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering for, authorities allege, misusing the 2009 grant from the Employment Opportunities Grant Program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The Associated Press reported earlier this year that federal authorities were investigating the program, as well as other state grant initiatives, based on reviews of state documents and interviews by the AP and the Better Government Association.
Lawmakers created the program in 2006 to help minorities and women get a chance at apprenticeship programs with trade unions traditionally dominated by white men. From 2007 through 2011, DCEO awarded 53 grants worth $19.3 million.
In applying for her grant, Evans had indicated that 40 people would participate in electrical and other jobs training, authorities said. But the indictment contends at least $500,000 went to benefit Evans, her family, friends and associates.
Evans made an initial court appearance Friday and was released on a $10,000 recognizance bond. A trial date was set for June 5. The fraud count carries a maximum 20-year prison term; money laundering has a maximum of 10 years.
Evans couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday. There is no listing for her in Country Club Hills, and documents released by the U.S. attorney’s office did not include a defense attorney’s name.
The indictment says that at the time of the fraud, Evans and another individual owned different for-profit and nonprofit entities, including Regal Theater LLC and We Are Our Brother’s Keeper.
Evans and the other individual applied for grant funding in February 2009 on behalf of We Are Our Brother’s Keeper.
The indictment says Evans knew at the time that little, if any training would be completed. It says her intent was to use the grant for other purposes, including to repay her own business debts.