Unauthorized Use Of Bar Association Funds Alleged
The Illinois Administrator has charged an attorney with misconduct as a bar association treasurer.
Background
Between May 2019 and May 2021, Respondent was employed as an assistant state’s attorney for Champaign County. Between June 2021 and August 2022, Respondent was employed as an associate attorney with Erwin, Martinkus & Cole, a law firm in Champaign.
On February 20, 2020, Respondent was elected to the board of the Champaign County Bar Association (“CCBA”).
On March 5, 2020, Respondent was elected treasurer of the CCBA and served as treasurer until March 2023, when she was elected president of the CCBA.
Allegation
Between February 2021 and September 2022, Respondent made…seventeen (17) cash withdrawals from the Busey account totaling $4,176…
Respondent used the funds…for her own personal or business purposes without authorization.
At no time did the CCBA board or anyone else authorize Respondent to use the funds…for her own personal or business purposes.
Further
Between August 2022 and February 2024, Respondent was employed as an associate attorney with Meyer Capel, a law firm in Champaign. Meyer Capel terminated Respondent in February 2024. Respondent is currently employed as an assistant state’s attorney for Edgar County.
Between September 12, 2022, and July 31, 2023, Respondent made…cash withdrawals and purchases from the IFB account totaling $5,136.71…
Respondent used the funds…for her own personal or business purposes without authority.
At no time did the CCBA Board or anyone else authorize Respondent to use the funds…for her own personal or business purposes.
Among the alleged withdrawals are purchases at Hobby Lobby, Auntie Lee’s Chinese Kitchen, El Toro at the Fields and numerous ATM transactions including at a sports bar and tavern.
The withdrawals were noticed
While preparing the 2024 CCBA budget, Colleen Ramais, the CCBA treasurer, noticed several unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases that were made with the IFB account debit card.
On or about January 23, 2024, Ms. Ramais and Brett Kepley, the CCBA vice-president, met with Respondent to investigate the unauthorized withdrawals and purchases that were made with the IFB account debit card. During the meeting, Respondent stated to Ms. Ramais and Mr. Kepley that C.P., her spouse, had used the debit card and made the unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases from the IFB account.
Respondent’s statement to Ms. Ramais and Mr. Kepley that C.P., her spouse, had used the debit card and made the unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases from the IFB account was false, because Respondent had used the debit card and made the unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases from the IFB account.
(Mike Frisch)