Glenview Woman Charged With Stealing From Ravinia: Attorney General

CHICAGO — A Glenview woman is accused of stealing more than $110,000 from the Ravinia Festival Association when she was an employee, according to the office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Michelle Bringham, 39, was charged in connection with three felony crimes, including: theft by deception of over $100,000 (class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison), theft of over $100,000 (class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison), and forgery (class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison).

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to Raoul's office, Bringham was working as an accounting coordinator with the RFA, a non-profit that operates the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. She reportedly wrote checks to a fake vendor to steal funds from the association. Bringham also allegedly used another employee's signature stamp on checks without the employee's permission.

"It is unacceptable for an employee to abuse their position as a fiscal officer to forge checks and steal from a nonprofit organization," Raoul said in a statement. "I want to thank the FBI for its work investigating this case. My office is committed to collaborating with law enforcement partners to hold individuals who commit theft and forgery accountable."