Batavia Woman Stole More Than $1.5M From Former Employers: Prosecutors

BATAVIA, IL — A Batavia woman has been accused of stealing more than $1.5 million from two former employers over the span of six years, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said Friday.

Tammy Dunagan, 60, was indicted on three felony charges — two counts of theft exceeding $1 million and one count of theft exceeding $500,000 not exceeding $1 million — for stealing from two West Chicago-based construction companies that employed her between 2016 and 2024, according to a news release.

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Prosecutors alleged that Dunagan stole more than $1 million from Lorusso Cement Contractors between March 24, 2016, and June 14, 2022. From Dec. 16, 2021, to July 5, 2024, Dunagan stole more than $500,000 from Swallow Construction Corporation. Investigators said the theft occurred through "a series of related acts in furtherance of a single intention and design."

Swallow Construction uncovered the theft and contacted the West Chicago Police Department, which launched an investigation.

Judge Robert Miller issued a warrant for Dunagan's arrest Sept. 8, and she was taken into custody at her home Thursday. The charges against Dunagan are non-detainable, so she was released Thursday on her own recognizance, officials said.

"It is alleged that Ms. Dunagan took advantage of the trust placed in her by her former employers to line her own pockets with more than $1.5 million of their money," Berlin said in a statement. "White collar crimes can be extremely difficult to detect with the accused often having first-hand knowledge about the business's financial procedures and protocols. These crimes cause great financial hardship to the business which often trickles down to employees in the form of reduced wages, lost hours or even lost jobs."

Dunagan, of the 1300 block of Chillem Drive, is due back in court Oct. 15 in front of Judge Brian Telander.