Grayslake woman admits theft of $365,000

A Grayslake woman was placed on probation for four years Wednesday after she admitted stealing at least $365,000 while working for a Libertyville landscaping company.

Denise Stemo, 43, also agreed to pay back $212,000 in cash and surrender three parcels of property she owns with her husband to help settle the debt.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Steven Derue said Stemo, of the 300 block of Normady Lane, was the bookkeeper for Casey's Landscaping from 1999 until 2008.

The owner of the business found a check written to one of his regular suppliers in an amount much larger than he usually pays and called the bank to verify it, Derue said.

The bank verified the amount, Derue said, but told the business owner that the check had actually been written to pay a credit card bill Stemo had.

An investigation revealed that Stemo had been writing company checks to herself and to pay her bills, then changed the name of the payee to company suppliers when they were returned.

Derue said the total amount stolen over the years was somewhere between $365,000 and $400,000.

Stemo agreed to pay the cash restitution beginning with a $50,000 payment on Wednesday, and then $1,200 per month for the length of her probation.

In addition, she and her husband also agreed to turn over three parcels of land they own in Caledonia, Wis., that Derue said have a market value of $66,800.

Circuit Judge John Phillips also sentenced Stemo to six months on electronic home monitoring and ordered her to perform 500 hours of public service.

Derue said Stemo could have faced up to 15 years in prison if she had been convicted of felony theft after a trial.