6 charged in La Salle County with COVID-19 scams ranging from $10,000 to more than $20,000

Six people are accused of seeking government aid through false claims made during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Each now faces up to 15 years if convicted.

[ No name, no problem: 2 charged with COVID-19 scheme didn’t name business that received relief ]

La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro announced Tuesday the filing of felony charges against six individuals now set to appear later this month in La Salle County Circuit Court.

At a Tuesday news conference, Navarro said the Illinois Department of Revenue identified some questionable applications for COVID-19 relief funds and tabbed state’s attorney’s offices across Illinois to probe the scams.

The result, Navarro said, is numerous individuals are being prosecuted statewide. Some facing charges in La Salle County might have charges pending in other counties, too.

“The individuals you see here are the ones who came to light first,” Navarro said, indicating an easel bearing six mugshots. “It doesn’t mean the investigation is over.”

The six defendants are: Amber N. Norman, 40, of Streator; Amanda K. Rogers, 33, of Ottawa; Gabriel S. Myart, 36, of Glen Ellyn; Larry A. Chandler, 46, of Sauk Village; James Z. Forbes, 30, of Lacon; and Ebony R. Green, 28, of University Park.

Each is charged with theft, a Class 1 felony carrying four to 15 years, loan fraud, a Class 2 felony (three to seven years)and forgery, a Class 3 felony (two to five years).

Forbes, who has previously resided in Streator, faces felony gun and drug charges in a still-pending case from 2022.

Details still are emerging, but court records released to date show that the suspects applied for and received government aid ranging from more than $10,000 to more than $20,000.

Navarro further noted there is no connection between the COVID-19 scams and the criminal drug conspiracy being prosecuted.

The charges date back to 2021 but La Salle County was not slow in acting. Rather, the various scams were slow in unfolding across the state, not least because state employees were frequently found to be behind the scams. Navarro said a watchdog group identified 13 different state agencies involved, with the most state employees found to have ties to the Department of Human Services.

Navarro said he anticipated no additional suspects charged in the foreseeable future, but based on the ever-evolving nature of the statewide probes he couldn’t rule them out.

The six now charged were given notices to appear in La Salle County Circuit Court. Navarro said the charges are not detainable offenses under the SAFE-T Act. Norman, Rogers and Myart will appear Jan. 24. Chandler, Forbes and Green will appear Jan. 27.

Norman and Chandler will appear before Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. The remaining four are assigned to Circuit Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia.