Deerfield Accountant Accused Of Stealing More Than $100,000

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A Deerfield accountant has been indicted by a Lake County grand jury on charges of stealing more than $100,000 from a client. Thomas G. Errico, 77, of the 1200 block of Wincanton Drive in Deerfield, turned himself in around 8 a.m. on Sept. 14 at the Highland Park Police Department to face felony financial exploitation charges, according to police and court records.

Errico was indicted Aug. 29 on one count of theft of between $100,000 to $500,000 by deception, one count of financial exploitation of the elderly and one count of theft by deception of more than $5,000 from a senior citizen and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to court records.

Highland Park police said the investigation began in January 2017 when police were told Errico had stolen money from a client. Court records indicate the offenses took place in June 2012. No attorney was listed for the case, and a public defender assigned to the case was dismissed. Errico has not responded to a message seeking comment.

Errico, who was listed as a partner in a now-shuttered accounting firm in downtown Highland Park, is a certified public accountant who has not been disciplined in the past, according to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation records.

Two charges are class 1 felonies with a maximum sentence of four to 15 years in state prison and fines of up to $25,000, while the third is a class 2 offense and carries a maximum penalty of three to seven years in prison. Financial exploitation involves taking control or illegally using the assets of an elderly personal while standing "in a position of trust or confidence," according to Illinois law.

Errico was released ahead of an arraignment on Oct. 10 after positing the $2,500 cash portion of his bond, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.