Joliet Crime Organizer Scams Menards: Complaint

JOLIET, IL - Joliet resident Billy Lamar Bailey has remained in the Will County Jail since June 4 where he faces six felonies in connection with allegations that he was ripping off the Menards store on West Jefferson Street. Now that he's been taken off the street by the Joliet Police Department, Bailey has a stiff $750,000 bail. His primary charge accuses Bailey, who lives in the 2800 block of Richmond Street, of being the organizer of a continuing financial crimes enterprise. That's a Class X felony.

Bailey teamed up with two other men over an 18-month period, and he committed three separate felony offenses of deceptive practices involving Bank of America and TCF Bank, his criminal complaint states.

In one case, Bailey directed another man to submit a check issued by the John Baker Home Remodeling Service for $1,140 to Menards to purchase flooring. Other fraudulent checks were issued by John Baker Home Remodeling and Kyle Williams Home Solutions to purchase flooring and building materials for $870 and $3,867 at Menards, the complaint outlines.

The complaint states that Bailey induced the other two men "to tender checks to Menards knowing that said checks would not be honored, for the purpose of defrauding Menards and the financial institutions named on said checks."

Bailey's theft charge accuses him of gaining unauthorized control over property at Menards between Feb. 19 and June 4. Bailey is accused of taking "building materials, lawn care equipment and hardware, having a value exceeding $100,000 and not exceeding $500,000."

Another theft charge states that Bailey obtained Menards lawn care equipment, having a value between $10,000 and $100,000, "knowing said property to have been stolen ... intending to deprive Menards permanently of the use or benefit of the property."

Bailey has not been able to come up with the $75,000 necessary to post as bond.

Mugshot via Will County Sheriff