Embezzlement At Timbers Of Shorewood: Joliet Woman Admits She's A Thief, Pleads Guilty To Theft

SHOREWOOD, IL — After dragging out her embezzlement case at the Will County Courthouse for the past three years, Christine Brown, the ex-business manager of The Timbers of Shorewood, has decided to plead guilty to one crime of felony theft. Brown entered her guilty plea in January. She will return to the courthouse on March 11 for a hearing on her restitution and her sentencing. It's in Courtroom 402 of Will County Judge Amy Christiansen.

In May of 2023, Brown was indicted by a grand jury on two felony crimes of theft from the Shorewood assisted living facility located at 1100 River Road. Count 1 stated that Brown obtained or exerted unauthorized control over Timber of Shorewood's payroll proceeds and the value exceeded $100,000 but did not exceed $500,000.

Back in 2023, Shorewood Deputy Police Chief Jason Barten was asked by Joliet Patch about how much money the Shorewood Police Department determined was taken by Brown during her time as the business manager of Timber of Shorewood.

"It was in excess of $100,000 but considerably less than $500,000," he answered.

Count one was dismissed under Brown's January plea. She pleaded guilty to count two, which stated that Brown's theft exceeded $10,000 but did not exceed $100,000. The crime happened between April 30, 2021 and Aug. 19, 2022.

Financial Crimes Discovered In August 2022 By Timbers Of Shorewood

In May of 2023, Kevin Young, executive director at Timbers of Shorewood, told Joliet Patch's editor that Timbers of Shorewood discovered financial discrepancies in its monthly payroll budgets for a couple of departments.

Young said the financial irregularities were discovered around August 2022.

"She was let go when we uncovered it," Young remarked.

A resident of Crest Hill at the time, Brown had worked at Timbers of Shorewood for about seven years as the business office manager. At the time of her hiring, Brown underwent a thorough employment background check, and she had no prior criminal record, Young pointed out.

At the time of Brown's arrest, Timbers of Shorewood on Black Road had about 70 employees, and it provided care to about 175 residents. Young emphasized that none of the funds belonging to the residents of Timbers of Shorewood were taken. He said that internal audits determined that the money Brown was accused of taking was confined to the company's payroll records.

"There is no way that the residents' accounts were touched," Young remarked.

Nowadays, Brown lives in the 700 block of ONeill Street, which is near West Jefferson Street. Brown hired Joliet criminal defense attorney Eric Blatti of the Law Office of Eric J. Blatti to represent her.

Brown has not spent a single day in jail in connection with her crime. Back in May 2023, before the SAFE-T-Act, Will County Judge Dave Carlson set Brown's bail at $1,000 — meaning she was allowed to remain free after posting $100, which was 10 percent.