A former Stone Park village employee appeared in court Monday on charges she stole thousands of dollars in Water Department funds over a three-year period that ended with her arrest last week.
Alejandra Cano, 29, of the 1700 block of 35th Avenue in Stone Park allegedly took cash tendered by residents and businesses to pay water bills, then marked the accounts “paid” on Water Department account books, according to an official with the Cook County state’s attorney. The thefts allegedly began shortly after Cano was hired in 2001 and lasted until just before her arrest, the official said.
The village clerk, who noticed discrepancies in the Water Department accounts, discovered the alleged thefts and notified Stone Park Police Chief Joseph Capece, the chief said Monday.
He said a three-day investigation resulted in Cano’s arrest Sept. 13.
At Cano’s bond hearing last week, prosecutors said an undercover investigator made a cash payment earlier this month to Cano with a marked bill that was later found in her possession.
Stone Park Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla said Monday the exact amount missing won’t be known until an audit is completed, but he said it’s believed to be less than $200,000. He said Cano admitted taking the money and said she did so because her mother is ill.
Mazzulla said the missing funds will be restored by the village’s bonding company, but the village will file suit against Cano to demand she pay restitution.
“We’re very disappointed,” Mazzulla said. “It’s a family atmosphere in Village Hall, and we trusted her, so this is very hurtful to all of us.”
Cano is charged with felony theft and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Oct. 4 in the Maywood branch of Cook County court.
