Gang Forced Fraud At Hinsdale Bank, Police Told

HINSDALE, IL – A man and a woman told Hinsdale police last month that members of the Gangster Disciples forced them to commit crimes, authorities said.

Lisa M. Conry, 42, of Orland Park, and Thomas J. Hoekstra, 57, of Palos Heights, were arrested on felony charges of aggravated identity theft involving a victim over 60. Police said they were caught at Hinsdale Bank & Trust while committing bank fraud.

Patch obtained the full police report through a public records request.

On the afternoon of Feb. 9, officers were called to the bank about the fraud, with one of the suspects impersonating another customer, the report said.

Asked whose account they were trying to withdraw from, Hoekstra told an officer that he was unsure. Both said they were forced to withdraw the money by the Gangster Disciples, the report said.

Hoekstra had no answer when asked how they came across the gang, saying, "Being at the wrong place at the wrong time," police said.

When the suspects were separated, Hoekstra said if they had failed to commit fraud at the Hinsdale bank, Conry would have been drugged on heroin, tied to a bed and raped for seven days, the report said.

About seven months ago, Hoekstra said he was approached by a man while he was panhandling at a truck stop in South Holland. Hoekstra said the man asked if he were interested in making money, noting Hoekstra had a "certain swagger" that made him perfect for the job, police said.

Hoekstra said the man and his accomplices provided him with identification cards with his name but others' photos, according to the report. Hoekstra said they promised him 10 percent of the proceeds.

Hoekstra was inconsistent in parts of his story, including how he and Conry got to Hinsdale, police said.

Conry told officers the Gangster Disciples would kill her if she did not carry through with the fraud. She said she did a previous job with the same crew about two weeks earlier, police said.

Both suspects were taken to the DuPage County Jail. As of Wednesday morning, Conry remained there in lieu of a $1,000 bond.