Burr Ridge Realtor Accused of Stealing More Than $145,000

Bond has been set at $300,000 for a Burr Ridge realtor charged with five counts of felony theft.

Harry Simons, age 48 of the 7900 block of William Drive, Willowbrook, is accused of stealing more than $145,000 from at least 12 clients, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors allege that from Feb. 2013 to Feb. 2014, Simons stole $145,300 in deposits from clients who wanted to use his real estate agency, County Line RE/MAX in Burr Ridge, to buy a home. Prosecutors also say Simons wrote checks to himself from the agency’s account for business and personal expenses, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

Brokers at County Line RE/MAX discovered the shortages. An investigation by the Burr Ridge Police Department, the Chicago Office of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office led to the charges against Simons. The most serious charge against him is a Class 1 Felony that has a maximum sentence of 15 years, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

Judge Brian Diamond issued a $300,000 arrest warrant for Simons on March 18 this year. Simons turned himself in on April 10.

He is in custody in the DuPage County Jail, and he is scheduled for arraignment on May 4.

“If these allegations are proven true, simple greed led Harry Simons to steal thousands of dollars from unsuspecting home buyers who had placed their trust in him,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin in a statement.

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