SPRINGFIELD – The former executive director of the Kankakee Valley Park District is being accused of defrauding the park district and a related not-for-profit organization for his personal benefit, the FBI reports.
A federal grand jury indicted Roy Collins of Kankakee, alleging that he accessed and used park district equipment, labor, and funds to benefit himself, including that he used park district equipment and labor to build a pond on his personal property; that he solicited at least one independent contractor to perform work for the park district and on his residence and that he suggested the contractor falsely bill all of the work to the park district.
They also allege that Collins issued a foundation check to purchase a tarp or pond liner for use on his personal property; that he caused a mower belonging to the park district be kept and used at his personal property; and that he kept and used a park district golf cart at his personal property.
Between about 2013 and 2015, the indictment further alleges that Collins converted park district and park foundation funds intended for annual “BBQ Fest” events to his personal use, including his demand for and receipt of approximately $6,000 in kickback payments from an individual hired in connection with the 2014 and 2015 BBQ Fests; his request that the individual who made the kickback payments falsely represent the purpose of the payments to law enforcement; and his false representations that certain cash withdrawals he controlled were used to pay BBQ Fest expenses, when in fact, a portion of that cash was converted to his personal use.
In addition, Collins allegedly caused false representations to be made to the Kankakee Valley Park District board regarding the park district’s credit card expenses, and he allegedly used the park district credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases.
The charges are the result of investigation by the Illinois State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine V. Boyle.
If convicted, the offenses of wire and mail fraud (one count each) carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
