Woman charged with elder theft at North Aurora facility in 2015

A 41-year-old Joliet woman faces charges of felony elder theft and financial exploitation in that she tried to steal more than $15,000 from a senior in 2015 while a contract worker for the state's Department on Aging.

A Kane County grand jury this week indicted Mary E. Pfingston, of the 3300 block of Hutchinson Street, on five felony charges, the most severe of which is theft of $10,000 to $100,000, according to court records.

Pfingston - also known as Mary E. McMillan - who court records show was arrested Thursday, also is charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person of more than $5,000, along with three counts of public contractor misconduct.

State police said they began investigating in May 2015 after receiving a complaint about Pfingston, who was serving as a long-term care ombudsman for a patient at an assisted living facility in North Aurora.

Police said Pfingston made "several suspicious transactions" from the victim's bank accounts, including an attempted wire transfer of $15,000 and cashing a $4,000 check.

Pfingston is accused of stealing from a woman while in a position of "trust and confidence" while employed with Senior Services Associates, which was under contract with the Department on Aging.

She is accused of stealing the money between Feb. 1 and April 30 in 2015, according to court records.

Her bail was set at $100,000.

Email and phone messages left at Senior Services Associates were not immediately returned. The organization has locations in Elgin, Aurora, Yorkville and Crystal Lake and has been serving older adults and people with disabilities since 1971, according to its website.

Pfingston is next due in court Dec. 15 and faces a punishment ranging from probation to up to seven years in prison if convicted of the most severe charge.