Naperville embezzler sentenced to 4 years

A Naperville man was sentenced to four years in prison Monday for pilfering $59,000 from his company, which nearly went bust from several internal thefts.

Emmanuel Reyes, 48, also must repay Collaborative Learning the money he stole while employed as its chief operating officer. He pleaded guilty to felony theft charges earlier this summer.

Reyes began working for the Westmont-based educational software company in August 2005 after resigning from Lyons Township High School District 204 in LaGrange, where he had been employed for more than a decade in various capacities, most recently as an associate principal.

Authorities said Reyes left the district when it was discovered he presented forged documents falsely indicating he had a doctorate degree.

It was through his experience with District 204 that he learned of the job with Collaborative Learning. Prosecutor Ken Tatarelis said Reyes wrote several unauthorized checks to fake vendors and then pocketed the money from March 2006 until January. He also improperly used the firm's credit card.

Reyes was arrested May 29 after suspicious company officials contacted police. Upon investigation, prosecutors also charged two other employees with felony theft.

Santhosh Thomas, 43, of Bensenville is accused of embezzling $471,000 during an 11-month period through January. Reyes had hired Thomas as the chief financial officer. A bookkeeper, Nenita Lindecker, 60, of Plainfield, is suspected of stealing $7,000. Both defendants are due in court next month.

After the thefts, authorities said Collaborative Learning suffered severe financial problems and was forced to lay off 11 employees.

The defendants "really almost destroyed this company," Tatarelis said. "I don't know how, but they've managed to stay afloat."

Reyes has been in jail since his May 29 arrest. He must serve half of the Illinois prison term before being eligible for parole. He also has a warrant out for his arrest in Nevada, where he is accused of writing $25,000 in bad checks to a casino in 2004. Authorities allege much of Thomas' spending also involved gambling.