Former Bank Robber Accused of Scamming Car Out of Countryside Car Dealership

COUNTRYSIDE, IL -- A former bank robber is accused to scamming a Countryside car dealership by purchasing a used vehicle using another person’s ID, prosecutors said Wednesday in court.

James Jennings, 39, of Riverdale, is charged with identity theft. He has another pending case for possession of a fraudulent IID.

The prosecutor said that Jennings went to Jack Phelan Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, 5859 South La Grange Road, Countryside, IL, on Aug. 5.

According to the charges, Jennings presented an Indiana driver’s license with another man’s name and information. He filled out a loan application, which was approved by the sales associate. After paying $19,750 using a PayPal Mastercard with the Indiana’s man’s information, Jennings drove of the lot in a 2011 Dodge Charger.

On September 8, Jennings was charged with possession of fraudulent ID belonging to the Indiana man, who did not give Jennings permission to use ID, the prosecutor said.

Jennings was identified by Jack Phelan employees in a video photo array. He allegedly confessed to Countryside police that he had used the Indiana man’s personal information to buy the car.

In addition to the pending cases, Jennings also has a misdemeanor theft charge from 2013, and did time in the Illinois Department of Corrections for manufacture and deliver, the prosecutor said.

Jennings was also convicted of robbing a Charter One Bank in Addison with another man in June 2007. Jennings and an accomplice were caught after crashing the getaway car along I-290 during a police chase with Elmhurst and Addison police. The alleged getaway car was a Dodge Charger, news reports said

At the time of his arrest for bank robbery, the FBI said that Jennings and other man were also suspected of robbing banks in Westmont and Burbank. .

The prosecutor said that Jenning’s probation was terminated unsatisfactorily.

Bail was set at $100,000. Jennings’ next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 28 in Bridgeview.