Former Prospect High employee charged with $37,000 school credit card theft for Home Depot purchases

The former building and grounds supervisor at Prospect High School was charged with theft of government property on allegations of using a school district credit card to make more than $37,000 worth of purchases at Home Depot, authorities said.

Jorge V. Villagomez, 42, of the 1700 block of Locust Place in Schaumburg, made an initial court appearance Friday morning following his arrest Wednesday on the felony charge by Arlington Heights police. He was released ahead of his next court date Nov. 14.

Police said they received a report from Arlington Heights-based Northwest Suburban High School District 214 in August regarding the misuse of a district credit card.

District officials told police they were conducting an internal audit of expenditures and noted repeated unauthorized purchases at various Home Depot stores throughout the Chicagoland area starting in January.

The purchases were primarily of power tools, in increments of $250 to more than $2,000, totaling a loss to the school district of more than $37,000, police said.

Police detectives said they reviewed financial records, purchase receipts and surveillance video related to the purchases.

District officials on Friday said they are fully cooperating with authorities and conducting a comprehensive financial review to strengthen oversight and safeguard taxpayer resources.

Villagomez was hired as Prospect High School’s building and grounds supervisor July 1, 2020. He resigned Sept. 2, and the school board discussed the matter during a closed session meeting Sept. 4, meeting minutes show.

According to a District 214 spokesman, Villagomez said he tendered his resignation due to an unrelated issue.