Homer's Ice Cream Owners Accused of Skimming Cash

A pair of brothers are accused of skimming cash from their family business, allowing Homer’s Ice Cream in Wilmette to fall into debt, disrepair and unprofitably.

A lawsuit was filed this week in Cook County Circuit Court by the sons of Stephen Poulos on their father’s behalf alleging their uncles, Dean and Jon Poulos kept lofty salaries for themselves while not providing anything to Stephen, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

Stephen, Dean and Jon are the sons of Gus Poulos, who founded the 80-year-old Wilmette staple at 1237 Green Bay Road. The three are equal partners in the business, the lawsuit stated.

Stephen had originally been president of the operation, but that changed in 2010 when Dean was appointed due to Stephen’s increasingly developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Over the last four years, Dean and Jon took more than $220,000 in “shareholder advances” for membership dues at the Glen Club among other expenses, the suit states, in addition to accusing Dean of skimming cash from sale proceeds without accounting the proceeds on Homer’s records.

Despite an annual profit that dipped from $105,000 to $30,000 from 2013 to 2014, Dean still compensated himself as an ‘officer,’ providing himself with a raise from $156,000 in 2013 to $185,000.

more via Crain’s Chicago Business

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