Batavia woman accused of stealing more than $1.5 million from two employers

A Batavia woman has been charged with stealing more than $1.5 million from two former employers in West Chicago.

Tammy Dunagan, 60, of the 1300 block of Chillem Drive, was arrested Thursday on two counts of theft exceeding $1 million, a Class X felony, and one count of theft exceeding $500,000, a Class 1 felony.

She was released that same day, because the offenses are not detainable.

According to the indictment, between March 24, 2016 and June 14, 2022, while working at Lorusso Cement Contractors, she stole more than $1 million. It also alleges between Dec. 16, 2021 and July 5, 2024, Dunagan stole more than $500,000 while working at Swallow Construction Corp.

Lorusso reported her to West Chicago police in 2023.

Lorusso sued Dunagan and her husband in March, according to DuPage County records.

The lawsuit said she was a bookkeeper for the company beginning in 2012. It accused her of writing 148 checks, totaling more than $1 million, to her husband, and recording the payments in the company’s books as having been paid to various vendors. In August, a judgment was entered ordering them to repay the money.

Swallow sued Dunagan in 2024. The lawsuit alleged she wrote checks to herself totaling $843,657. In March 2025, she was ordered to repay the money.

Dunagan’s next criminal court hearing is Oct. 15.

ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com