Elderly 'Serial Con Artist' Couple From Orland Scammed People For Decades: Illinois AG

A pair of elderly con artists from Orland Park are facing new charges after scamming people for decades, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said last week.

Madigan called Robert Brown, 78, and his 66-year-old wife, Constance Brown, "serial con artists" with "extensive criminal backgrounds," saying the pair has been accused of scamming employers, investors, vendors and landlords for years.

The couple was arraigned Jan. 26 on charges of theft, forgery, financial fraud and securities and wire fraud, accused of stealing more than $100,000 as part of "numerous schemes" they carried out across the state under the guise of a sham company, Madigan alleges. If convicted, they face more than 75 years behind bars.

Madigan said the couple used Robert Brown's "purported business," Northern Gas and Electric LLC (NGE), to carry out the scams. By presenting a phony balance sheet showing company assets of $4 million, Brown was able to lease a house, lease a restaurant and take part in energy sales deals, according to the attorney general.

In one scheme, the couple allegedly tricked an Oak Lawn homeowner into turning over the title of a home, using the fake $4 million balance sheet as "proof" they could afford the house, Madigan said. The Browns allegedly insisted that the homeowner give them access so they could start moving their belongings into the home before the rent-to-own deal went through.

The couple then moved and refused to leave — never paying a dime of the rent or closing on the sale, Madigan alleges. When they were forced to leave, the couple allegedly trashed the home, causing "extensive damage," and stole appliances, she added.

In another alleged scam, the Browns began brokering a lease for South Pointe banquet hall in DeKalb, taking possession of the hall in June 2013. "The Browns scammed people for investment money under the guise of renovating the banquet hall," but never paid rent, electric bills and other renovation-related bills, Madigan said.

The couple is also accused of creating phony work contracts and "earning" more than $60,000 commissions based of forged contracts, according Madigan. She said Robert Brown offered to work for Orland Park-based BKE Mechanical on commission. After Brown produced a few contracts and was paid commission, BKE found out that the purported customers never agreed to the contracts and their signatures were forged, according to the complaint.

"In addition, BKE Mechanical's owner loaned Brown $25,000 for renovations at the South Pointe banquet hall in DeKalb, but Brown never repaid the loan," Madigan said.

Robert Brown is charged with theft over $100,000 and five counts of forgery. Constance Brown is charged with theft by deception over $10,000, two counts of securities fraud and wire fraud. Both are charged with theft over $100,000, theft by deception over $100,000, two counts of forgery, attempted theft over $1 million and wire fraud, Madigan said.

Both are due in court on March 3, and bond was set at $120,000 each.

Robert Brown was sentenced to prison in the 1980s after spending more than two decades using home-repair and investment scams to dupe senior citizens and people with disabilities, according to the Chicago Tribune.He was still in prison when he married Constance, who later pleaded guilty to theft and served probation, the Tribune reported.

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