By Isaac Warren
Lamp Editor
SPRINGFIELD – A former Lincoln Land employee pleaded guilty to stealing almost $700,000 from the college.
On Monday, February 6, 2017, John H. Martinez entered his guilty plea to fraud charges, the United State Attorney’s Office said. From 2005 through 2012, according to the Central District of Illinois’ news release, Martinez committed forgery and embezzlement. The grand total of money he took from LLCC was $695,401.
LLCC President Charlotte Warren sent an email to faculty and staff, commending “all agencies involved in the case.” According to the email, Martinez was caught in February of 2012 and resigned shortly after. Warren said that the losses are insured, as well.
LLCC’s PR department issued a public statement, which reads as follows:
Lincoln Land Community College is a strong institution with dedicated faculty and staff. Unfortunately five years ago we found that a staff member had allegedly violated the trust of us all. When we became aware of financial irregularities in 2012, evidence of possible criminal activity was referred to the Illinois State Police, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. The employee was immediately placed on administrative leave and resigned soon thereafter. Fortunately the loss to the college was insured.
We have just learned that after a five-year investigation, the former employee has pled guilty of defrauding the college. We commend all agencies involved in resolving this case.
Any questions regarding the investigation should be addressed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The court case indicated that Lincoln Land referred the case to law enforcement, and was aided by the U.S. Postal Service, as well as the college’s police department.
Martinez admitted on Friday, February 3, 2017, that while he was a telecommunications director, he would repeatedly forge his supervisor’s signature on expenditures, so that he could send checks to an addresses that was not real. The checks would be returned in the mail to Martinez, who would then pocket the money.
Martinez also sent checks to two other vendors he knew personally, the news release stated. To avoid suspicion, the two parties would cash the checks Martinez sent them and pay him back in cash while they pocketed some money as well.
Martinez admitted that the money was used on himself, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, citing he used the money to fund “repeated personal travel, and alcohol expenses.”
Martinez is expected to reappear in court on June 5, 2017 for sentencing. He could face a prison sentence of up to 51 months, and has already been ordered to repay Lincoln Land the entirety of the money he stole.
Isaac Warren can be reached at [email protected]
