Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $102,249 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the library and from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Kenyada T. Harris, 42, pleaded guilty in March 2026.

Prosecutors say Harris used the library’s credit card for her personal gain and used LINK cards for herself, family members and friends while she was employed at the St. Clair County Family Community Resource Center.

FOREIGN NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO FIRING SHOTS NEAR BORDER PATROL AGENTS IN CHICAGO

A Mexican citizen who was in the United States illegally has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge after prosecutors said he fired shots near U.S. Border Patrol agents in Chicago in November.

Hector Gomez, 46, had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in Cook County and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun.

Sentencing is July 20.

SIX MEN INDICTED FOR WINNETKA HOME INVASION

A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six men on robbery and kidnapping offenses after an alleged home invasion in Winnetka last month.

Government attorneys say the men forcibly entered the residence, used firearms to keep an individual captive for about an hour, and demanded access to a safe and access to online accounts holding cryptocurrency.

Charges are forthcoming against a seventh defendant.

REPORT: BEARS ARE SIXTH-PRICIEST SPORTS TEAM FOR FANS

A report says the Chicago Bears are the sixth most expensive sports team in the world for fans to follow.

ForesightSports.com examined yearly expenses for tickets, stadium food and drinks, streaming subscriptions and jerseys. The annual total for Bears fans came in at $3,009.

The New York Knicks topped the list at $4,274, followed by the Detroit Lions at $4,011. The report said major league ticket prices are up 25% over the last three years.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 10.14.28 AM

Frankfort Approves Over $203,000 for Holiday Lighting Contract

Village of Frankfort Board Meeting | October 20, 2025 Article Summary: The Frankfort Village Board awarded a three-year contract for holiday lighting and decorations totaling $203,269 to Wingren Landscape, Inc....
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Summit Hill School District 161 for October 15, 2025

Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 The Summit Hill School District 161 Board of Education on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, reviewed highly positive preliminary data from the...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.42.59 PM

Will County Committee Grapples with $8.9 Million Budget Gap After Contentious 0% Tax Levy Vote

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee held a contentious debate over how to close an $8.9 million budget shortfall...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 10.14.13 AM

Frankfort Earns Clean Audit, Receives National Finance Award for 35th Consecutive Year

Village of Frankfort Board Meeting | October 20, 2025 Article Summary: The Village of Frankfort has received an unmodified "clean" opinion on its annual audit for the fiscal year ending...
Poll: Young adults not confident in 2026 election fairness

Poll: Young adults not confident in 2026 election fairness

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Almost half of young adult voters are not confident the 2026 elections will be conducted fairly, according to a new poll. The Center Square’s Voters’...
Narco interdiction at sea isn’t new, CBP, Coast Guard have been doing it for years

Narco interdiction at sea isn’t new, CBP, Coast Guard have been doing it for years

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square President Donald Trump is ordering an aircraft carrier strike group head to the Caribbean to assist with drug interdiction at sea. This is after he...
Government shutdown halts visa, permanent resident approvals

Government shutdown halts visa, permanent resident approvals

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square As the federal government shutdown continues with no clear end in sight, federal agencies that process legal immigrant petition documents have been completely halted, leaving...
Frankfort Village Board Meeting Graphic

Frankfort Approves Plan for 43-Home First Phase of Stalled Country Crossing Subdivision

Village of Frankfort Board Meeting | October 20, 2025 Article Summary: The Frankfort Village Board has approved amended annexation agreements and a final plat for the first phase of the...
Ads roll on, money pours in, and SCORE Act waits

Ads roll on, money pours in, and SCORE Act waits

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Seven big games in the Southeastern Conference alone, hundreds of players, all headed toward the billions college football generates in the 21st century. And with...
Primary election filing to begin Monday for Illinois Dem, GOP candidates

Primary election filing to begin Monday for Illinois Dem, GOP candidates

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Candidates hoping for a spot on 2026 primary election ballots are expected to line up Monday outside...
summit-hill-junior-high-school-frankfort-161.2

Student Initiative Leads to Lunch Program Overhaul at Summit Hill

Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: A student-led effort at Summit Hill Junior High is sparking significant changes to the district's food service program, including...
frankfort-park-district.1

Frankfort Park District Awaits State Agreement on DCEO Grant Amid Public Interest

Frankfort Park District Meeting | September, 2025 Article Summary: Frankfort Park District commissioners are fielding questions from residents about a state grant, with some suggesting the funds be used for the...
Universities respond to new federal Grad PLUS loan caps

Universities respond to new federal Grad PLUS loan caps

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Santa Clara University School of Law will guarantee $16,000 annual scholarships starting next fall, fully covering tuition following the new federal Grad PLUS loan caps...
Report shows California leads in debt among all 50 states

Report shows California leads in debt among all 50 states

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square A new Reason Foundation report pegs California as the state with the nation's highest debt. The report found that the California state government carries more...
High superintendent pay fuels debate over Illinois school consolidation

High superintendent pay fuels debate over Illinois school consolidation

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new Illinois Policy Institute report reignites debate over how schools are run and how much...