8 Felonies: Ex-Joliet Park District Finance Director Indicted

JOLIET, IL — On Thursday, nearly two-and-a-half years after the Joliet Police Department launched an embezzlement investigation at the Joliet Park District, former finance director Matt Pehle was indicted by a grand jury on eight felony charges of continuing financial crimes enterprises.

According to Thursday's indictment, Joliet Police Detective Kyle Jelinek testified before the grand jury. Bail for Pehle, who lives in the 2300 block of Joliet's Verdun Road, has been set at $100,000.

Pehle is 43 years old, according to his criminal charges. He was hired by the Joliet Park District 10 years ago, on March 27, 2013, by then-executive director Dominic Egizio Jr. Pehle's starting salary at the time of his hiring as the chief financial officer for the Joliet Park District was $92,000, plus the fringe benefits.

"I am not releasing a statement until Mr. Pehle is taken into custody," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English notified Joliet Patch on Thursday night.

The indictment states that Pehle exerted unauthorized control over the Joliet Park District's finances and that on Oct. 21, 2016, he purchased Cleveland Indians tickets for $463.55 using a park district credit card. The complaint also alleges that on Dec. 6, 2017, he purchased Hamilton tickets for $332.48 and on April 8, 2017, he made an MLS All-Star game purchase for $436.87, "and said purchases were made on a Joliet Park District credit card."

Other criminal charges state that Pehle purchased Chicago Cubs tickets for $514.72 on Feb. 22, 2017. The same day, the complaint alleges Pehle purchased more Chicago Cubs tickets for $432.32, while on July 19, 2017, Pehle made a Milwaukee Brewers purchase for $215, with all purchases also made on a Joliet Park District credit card.

The third charge in the complaint states that Pehle used a Joliet Park District credit card for the unauthorized purchases involving Chicago Symphony tickets on July 21, 2017; a Buddy Guy purchase for $119.06 on Jan. 2, 2018; and another Buddy Guy purchase on Jan. 3, 2018 for $140.16.

The indictment's last four criminal charges state that Pehle used the park district credit card for more unauthorized purchases on June 6, 2018, for a $601.84 Star Wars purchase on June 6, 2018; a Six Flags Great America purchase of $331.85 on Aug. 1, 2018; and more Chicago Cubs tickets costing $383.75 on Feb. 20, 2019 "and purchases were made on a Joliet Park District credit card."

Additionally, Pehle improperly used the Joliet Park District credit card on Sept. 30, 2018, for a Drury Lane Theater purchase of $232.15; on Nov. 17, 2018, for a Seattle Mariners purchase for $179.83; and a Jan. 18, 2019 purchase of $101.56 for Avett Brothers, which is a folk rock band, according to court records.

According to the last two criminal charges, Pehle is accused of misusing the Joliet Park District credit card for a March 5, 2018, Chicago Symphony purchase of $697, plus another Star Wars purchase costing $601.84 on June 6, 2018; and an Airbnb purchase costing $646.31 on Aug. 16, 2019.

The last charge in the court records accuses Pehle of misusing park district funds in 2019, his final year of employment with the park district, for a Bob Dylan purchase costing $282.08 on Oct. 30, 2019 and a Beer Temple purchase costing $132.30 on Nov. 13, 2019. The following month, Pehle submitted his resignation to leave the Joliet Park District.

Joliet Patch reported back in 2021 that Pehle was the director of finance at the Joliet Park District from April 2013 until he left in December 2019. In January 2020, Pehle became the chief financial officer for the Will County Forest Preserve District. At that time, Pehle replaced John Gerl as chief financial officer after Gerl retired from the forest preserve.

Pehle's employment at the forest preserve district ended several months after news of the criminal investigation involving the park district surfaced in the news.

On Thursday afternoon, Joliet City Councilman Joe Clement, who previously served on the Joliet Park Board, issued a statement to Joliet Patch in regard to the eight charges filed against Pehle.

"I brought my suspicions about financial irregularities to Park District finance director Lisa Banovetz years ago while serving on the park board," Clement explained. "She did a great job of uncovering the scope of the missing and misused taxpayers dollars.

"In my new capacity as Joliet City Councilman at large, I am hopeful that it will not take State's Attorney Jim Glasgow's Office years to take action regarding the efforts to falsely arrest former Mayor Bob O'Dekirk on trumped-up phony charges. The main job of elected officials is to guard our tax dollars, keep our streets safe, provide the best possible customer service and if we can't hold our own accountants and police department administration to the highest standards, we should be held accountable by the people of Joliet."

Related: Joliet Park District Financial Scandal: Police Investigating

This is a developing story. Check back with Patch for updates