Ex-Director Of Grayslake Chamber Faces Federal Charges

GRAYSLAKE, IL — A former executive director for the Grayslake Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry faces federal fraud charges for allegations she stole at least $300,000 from the organization.

Karen Christian-Smith, who served as the chamber's executive director from 2006 to 2019, is accused of issuing checks from the Chamber's bank accounts to herself and then depositing the checks into her personal accounts, according to an indictment filed with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.

Christian-Smith, 56, of Round Lake Beach, then spent the money for her "own personal use and benefit," according to the indictment.

Christian-Smith, who has been charged with six counts of wire fraud in federal court, attempted to cover up the fraud by submitting false and misleading financial reports to the chamber’s board of directors and false payroll reports to the chamber’s accounting firm, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.

She also filed tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service that she knew substantially underreported the amount of money she'd taken from the Chamber’s bank accounts, according to the indictment.

Authorities said Christian-Smith stole at least $300,000 in funds from the local chamber of commerce, the indictment alleges.

An arrangement in the case has not been set in federal court in Chicago. authorities said Wednesday.