Former COD employee indicted on forgery, theft charges
A former part-time College of DuPage employee has been indicted on felony charges that he stole more than $100,000 from the campus radio station over a seven-year period.
The 12-count indictment, filed late Thursday against 65-year-old John Valenta, also included a new charge of forgery. The forgery charge is in addition to felony theft charges lodged against Valenta on Feb. 20.
Prosecutors allege that while working at the radio station from June 10, 2006, through Dec. 19, 2013, Valenta billed the college for more than $200,000 from his private company, Broadcast Technologies, including invoices for parts that were never used at WDCB and labor that was never performed.
The forgery charge alleges Valenta also "concealed ownership interests" in Broadcast Technologies from the college.
Valenta, of Wheaton, first was hired by COD in April 1978 and then resigned in July of that year. He was rehired in November 1979 and left his position for good last February, according to the college.
College officials said they uncovered the fraud in December 2013 and reported it to police.
During a February COD board of trustees meeting, officials said the total amount of the alleged fraud was about $440,000. They also said the fraud occurred over a 16-year period.
COD officials also said they immediately informed the school's external auditors, Crowe Horwath.
Based on its review, Crowe Horwath didn't change its opinion or require a restatement of either the radio station's or the college's financial statements. The firm gave the college a "clean" opinion, COD officials said.
Valenta, who is free after posting 10 percent of his $400,000 bail, will be arraigned by Judge Liam Brennan at 9 a.m. Monday in courtroom 4010.