Fuel Cards For JJC Students Stolen By Ex-Staffer: Police

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet Junior College Police Department investigation involving the theft of numerous fuel cards that were intended for students has led to two felony theft charges against a 33-year-old Joliet woman who worked as Joliet Junior College's workforce development coordinator until her departure last October.

This week, a Will County judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Candace P. Brown, who lives in the 200 block of St. Jude Avenue. As of Friday morning, the Joliet woman had not been taken into the custody of the Will County Jail.

Kelly Rohder-Tonelli, executive director of communications and marketing for JJC, told Joliet Patch that Brown worked at Joliet Junior College from August 2017 until October 2019 as a result of grant funding through the Work Force Investment Board of Will County.

In October, when Brown's supervisor approached her regarding the discovery of several missing fuel cards, Brown resigned her position with Joliet Junior College, according to Rohder-Tonelli.

The fuel cards were intended for the JJC students who were part of the work force development program to help offset their transportation costs for continuing with their education, according to JJC.

At this point, the cash value of the stolen fuel cards has been determined to be about $7,850, according to Rohder-Tonelli. "That's the amount we can validate right now," she told Joliet Patch on Friday.

Between July 13, 2019 and Oct. 15, 2019, the criminal complaint states, Brown obtained unauthorized control over Speedway Fuel Rewards Cards having a total value in excess of $500 and not exceeding $10,000 in value. The second charge indicates that Brown stole additional Speedway Fuel Rewards Cards from JJC between July 13, 2017 and Oct. 15, 2019.

The complaint also states that "the theft was of governmental property ... said cards being the property of Joliet Junior College with the intent to deprive Joliet Junior College permanently of the use or benefit of said property."

On Tuesday, Will County Circuit Judge Dave Carlson issued a warrant for Brown's arrest and her bail was set at $85,000.

The Will County arrest warrant listed Brown's current place of employment as being unknown.