Lawsuit Alleges Funds Misused By Historical Preservation Council

WHEATON, IL — A lawsuit has been filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul that alleges the Wheaton Historical Preservation Council (WHPC) and some of its board members misused more than $300,000 in charitable funds. The suit further alleges that WHPC, which closed its museum in 2017, continued to raise funds and incur expenditures, and also violated state law by failing to register with the Attorney General's Office.

Named in the lawsuit are WHPC Board President Alberta Adamson and board members Laurie Warfel and Gloria Leetz.

Raoul's office said in a news release that it launched an investigation into WHPC after getting complaints about the council's use of funds and its storage of historical artifacts. Since the museum's closure, the artifacts were housed in a building owned by the city of Wheaton and inaccessible to the public, the news release said.

Adamson is accused of taking in over $300,000 from WHPC since 2017, including a proprietary loan for $120,000 in 2017, $72,000 in 2018 and $109,303 in 2021.

“The defendants allegedly took advantage of people who donated to the Wheaton Historical Preservation Council believing their donations would support the preservation of their community’s history,” Raoul said in a statement.

Raoul added, “I filed this lawsuit to ensure that board members are held accountable, and my office will continue to hold individuals accountable for using charitable funds for their own benefit.”

The lawsuit aims to remove Adamson, Warfel and Leetz as WHPC board members and also seeks funds reimbursement and injunctive relief.