Burr Ridge Suspect Keeps Lying: Feds

BURR RIDGE, IL – A Burr Ridge man accused of swindling $2.5 million from two hospitals has continued lying about what he did, even though he pleaded guilty months ago, federal prosecutors allege.

In a filing earlier this month, the U.S. Attorney's Office recommended an even longer prison sentence for Dennis Haggerty, 46, than it did before.

Three months ago, prosecutors asked the judge to impose a sentence of 37 to 46 months. But because of the alleged lying, the recommendation is now 46 to 57 months.

In response, Haggerty's attorney said the new recommendation was correct. The lawyer did not contest the allegation of lying. Instead, Haggerty is offering to sell his Burr Ridge house to help pay back the victims.

In the spring, Haggerty pleaded guilty to fraud in selling personal protective equipment to Northwestern and University of Iowa hospitals. He did not deliver the products. This happened in the first weeks of the pandemic in 2020.

In sentencing filings, Haggerty accused his two partners of withholding his share of the business' profits, which he said prompted his crimes.

Haggerty also said he had been lied to by the supplier of N95 respirators that the products had been shipped to one of the hospitals.

According to prosecutors, Haggerty realized the "jig was up" and filed amended documents that excluded the earlier claims.

"The evidence shows the defendant's narrative was a total fabrication that he concocted initially to deceive (one of the hospitals) and his business partners, then repeated here in a deliberate attempt to mislead the Court," prosecutors said in the latest filing.

The lies "smeared" Haggerty's business partners and the N95 supplier, reflecting his character, lack of remorse and capacity for rehabilitation, prosecutors said.

In response, Haggerty's lawyer, Edmund Wanderling, said in a filing that he met with his client about the allegations. He said it was determined that Haggerty lacked a good faith basis to move forward with the claims, so he withdrew them.

Wanderling said Haggerty's disputes with his partners are a matter in DuPage County Court. The litigation, Wanderling said, relates to things that happened after Haggerty's fraud.

Haggerty conceded the government was correct with its new sentencing recommendation.

Also, Haggerty proposed selling his house in Burr Ridge. He believed his equity was $400,000 to $500,000. Forty percent of that money would go to Haggerty's wife for maintenance and child support obligations.

Sixty percent, meanwhile, would go toward paying the hospitals, his lawyer said.

"As Mr. Haggerty is going to be incarcerated, it is likely he will not be in any position to pay his mortgage and the property potentially can be foreclosed upon," Wanderling wrote.

A sentencing hearing may be held in December.