JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- Prosecutors accused the chief of the Joliet Fire Department and his wife Wednesday of swindling an 84-year-old widow out of more than $200,000 after she granted them power of attorney.
A criminal complaint filed in Will County Circuit Court charges Joseph and Cheri Lynn Drick with unlawful exploitation of an elderly person, conspiracy and theft by deception, the state's attorney's office announced Wednesday. All three charges are felonies.
Drick, who was promoted to chief in 1998 after 18 years with the department, resigned his $113,000 a year post Wednesday, but he will remain employed by the department as a division chief, said Joliet city spokesman Kevin Hegarty.
``He's only been charged. So, we'll wait this out and see what happens,'' Hegarty said. ``He's innocent until proven guilty.''
In the meantime, the city has appointed Deputy Fire Chief William O'Hara as acting chief, Hegarty said.
The Dricks allegedly stole the money from Gladys Farrington of Joliet, who met them in 2002, State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak said.
``They offered Gladys a ride home, but she never imagined how that ride would leave her unable to control how she would spend the final years of her life,'' Tomczak said.
He said the power of attorney that the Dricks obtained in February 2003 allowed Cheri Lynn Drick to ``gift herself'' cash withdrawals from Farrington's bank accounts.
Seven days after gaining power of attorney, a $57,000 account was closed, Tomczak said. The money was then deposited into an account for Drick Educational Services, which is a company that Joseph Drick runs, he said.
``In his bookkeeping, the money was listed as 'Gladys' gift,''' Tomczak said.
Altogether, the couple is accused of bilking the widow out of more than $200,000.
The Dricks used the money to buy a 2003 Cadillac Escalade, home furnishings and cemetery plots, prosecutors allege. They also used it to cover travel expenses, credit card debt and to make mortgage payments, prosecutors said.
A related civil lawsuit accuses the couple of taking control of the widow's $1.1 million estate, prosecutors said.
The Dricks and Farrington could not be reached immediately for comment. Both have unlisted phone numbers.
Roger D. Rickmon, an attorney representing Cheri Lynn Drick in the civil lawsuit, said Wednesday that he had not been contacted by his client about the criminal charges.
The Dricks are expected to turn themselves in to authorities Friday morning, Tomczak said.
