Woman Stole $597,000 From Channahon Business: Sheriff

CHANNAHON, IL — A 37-year-old woman from the Plainfield area is now lodged in Will County Jail after the Will County Sheriff's determined that she misappropriated nearly $600,000 from her previous employer, Bunge North America Loders-Croklaan, authorities announced in a press release Tuesday.

Jennifer Ramos was booked into her Will County Jail cell at 10:50 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 30. Her bail was set at $250,000. A total of 13 forgery and theft charges were filed against Ramos at the Will County Courthouse.

The Will County Sheriff's Office detectives began their criminal investigation in late February. The business manufacturing plant is in Channahon Township.

Ramos was an executive assistant at Bunge from Feb. 16, 2015 until she was laid off on Dec. 31, 2018 as part of a company downsizing, sheriff's officials indicated.

"Ramos frequently purchased airline tickets and hotel rooms online for other employees," sheriff's officials noted. "Ramos printed the online invoice purchase confirmations, and would later cancel the reservations. Ramos created and filed expense reports using the invoices or purchase confirmation emails and reimbursement checks were subsequently issued to her for the expense. It is alleged that Ramos received in excess of $597,000.00 during her employment ..."

Will County police stated that the Plainfield area woman purchased at least 30 trips between March 1, 2018 and December 27, 2018. "These trips were cancelled the same day and often within several minutes of Ramos booking the trip. A large group of these purchases were made on Dec. 27, 2018 just four days prior to Ramos’ last scheduled day of employment," the press release stated.

Ramos lives in the 7700 block of Scarlett Oak Drive, a Plainfield mailing address.