Former cancer charity director sentenced for embezzling

A West Chicago woman and former director of a Chicago-based cancer charity was ordered to pay restitution to a similar charity and sentenced to probation Wednesday for embezzling nearly $50,000 from her now-defunct agency.

Charlene McMann, 65, pleaded guilty late last year to a felony charge of personal use of charitable assets. The former executive director of the Chicago Blood Cancer Foundation was ordered to pay $44,085 to the Chicago-based Cancer Research Foundation, which shares a similar mission, authorities said.

She will also serve two years of probation, according to court records.

McMann was prosecuted by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.

"The defendant betrayed the well-intentioned donors of this charity, choosing instead to take their donations for her personal use," Madigan said in a news release.

McMann was accused of embezzling the money between the organization's inception in 2010 through 2013 and using the money for a variety of things, including "casino trips," prosecutors said.