Ex-Warrenville alderman back in jail on new charges

A former Warrenville alderman who left office last year after pleading guilty to running several financial scams used his “savvy personality” to swindle more victims, a prosecutor said Monday.

Christopher Halley, 28, was ordered held in the DuPage County jail on $200,000 bail. He’s facing charges of theft and deceptive practices.

Halley resigned as alderman in October 2010 after pleading guilty to scamming several people who gave him money for sports tickets and access to special events, which he failed to deliver.

In court Monday, Assistant State’s Attorney Helen Kapas said Halley quickly returned to criminal activity, despite still being on probation from the earlier case.

“In the current case, he utilized his savvy personality once again,” she said.

Halley is charged with ripping off the owners of a business that put on charity poker events by accepting $5,500 in exchange for poker tables, chairs, chips and other supplies never delivered. Authorities said one of the business owners, a Naperville man, also paid for Chicago Blackhawks seats and airline tickets Halley never provided.

In addition, Kapas said, Halley pawned a Movado watch stolen from the West Chicago-area home of one of his closest friends. She said that victim often had Halley over to play video games.

Halley, who lives with his parents in Warrenville and was elected in 2007, was sentenced to jail and probation in last year’s plea agreement. He told Judge Patrick Leston in bond court Monday that he was working at a Ford dealership in West Chicago until recently.

In the earlier cases, Kapas said, Halley often used his position as a city official to persuade victims to hand over money.

One victim told investigators Halley promised he could get her Bears tickets because he was an alderman, prosecutors said. Other victims were offered tickets to an event with former President George W. Bush, the 2010 Blackhawks championships and a luxury suite at Bears games.

Prosecutors said Halley could receive up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the most recent charges. They also are seeking to revoke his probation in the earlier case.

Leston ordered Halley to surrender his passport should he post the necessary $20,000 to get out of jail. Halley returns to court next month.