Christine Lange
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that bond has been set for a former banker accused of stealing more than $325,000 from three bank customers. Christine Lange, 47 of Summit, appeared in Bond Court yesterday morning where Judge Brian Jacobs set bond at $250,000.
Lange was apprehended on Saturday, July 30; an arrest warrant had been issued for Lange March 23.
Lange was employed as an account executive at Trust Company of Illinois (TCI) in Downers Grove. In her position with TCI, she had access to customers’ bank accounts. It is alleged that from September 12, 2012, through June 9, 2016, Lange transferred money from the bank accounts of three TCI customers to her own personal bank accounts. It is alleged that Lange performed illegal transfers of funds on 84 occasions totaling $328,000. Lange’s alleged scheme came to light when TCI performed an internal audit and discovered the alleged thefts. The victims in this case were in their early 90’s.
“The elderly can at times be seen as an easy target when it comes to financial crimes,” Berlin said. “Fortunately, personnel at TCI uncovered the alleged thefts and alerted authorities. I would like to thank the authorities with TCI for their complete cooperation throughout this entire case. I would like to thank the Downers Grove Police Department, particularly Detective Rob Bylls, for unraveling Ms. Lange’s alleged scheme. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn Cavallo for her efforts in preparing a strong case against Ms. Lange.”
Lange’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 21, for arraignment in front of Judge Robert Miller. In all, she is charged with four counts of Theft, three counts of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly, three counts of Financial Institution Fraud and three counts of Aggravated Identity Theft. Her most serious charge is a Class 1 Felony.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.