Ex-Sugar Grove man accused of insurance fraud

A former Sugar Grove resident is charged with felony theft and insurance fraud after claiming his estranged wife stole a $10,000 silver set from him in 2009, according to authorities.

Michael H. Weis, 39, was arrested Wednesday at a Sandwich hotel after a warrant was issued and he is being brought to Kane County to face trial, police said.

Sugar Grove Police Investigator John Sizer said Weis reported to police in October 2009 that his estranged wife had stolen a family silver set from Weis.

“The settlement he got from the insurance company was $10,812,” said Sizer. “This guy’s a career criminal. He has a long history. We’ve known him for years.”

According to court records, Weis is accused of insurance fraud, theft and filing a false report.

The most serious felony carries a possible three- to seven-year prison term if convicted, but probation also is an option.

Weis’s bail is $100,000, and he is due in court Jan. 18.

According to court records, Weis also was accused in 1998 of felony possession of a stolen automobile from an Elgin man. It was unclear whether he went to prison, but he was fined $4,270 and his court supervision was later terminated unsatisfactorily, records show.

He also was charged with felony theft in early 2009 but those charges were eventually dropped. Weis was placed on one-year supervision and fined $530 after pleading guilty in late 2009 to violation of an order of protection, records show.

Sizer said he was investigating Weis on an unrelated matter when he interviewed a relative in November 2011 and learned that she, in fact, had the silver set Weis reported stolen years ago.