WCSO Press Releases

It has been brought to the attention of the Will County Sheriff’s Office, that several residents have received phone calls from a person who identifies themselves as a member of the Will County Sheriff's Office.  The male subject informs the resident that they have missed a Federal Jury summons and that the Sheriff's Office has a warrant out for their arrest.  The subject then directs the resident to go to a store and to purchase Green Dot money cards to cover the amount of their ‘bond, or to pay with Google Play gift cards.  The subject then calls the resident back so they can provide him with the card numbers.

This group of scam artists are also using a phone number that appears legitimate as the Sheriff’s Office that is displayed on your caller ID or cell phone.  In addition, they are using the name of Chief Deputy Todd Walker, who is not a member of the Will County Sheriff's Office. 

The Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that we DO NOT conduct business over the phone to inform any individual that they have a warrant out for their arrest!  All Will County warrants that are issued can be verified by the public at www.willcountywarrants.com. 

If you receive a phone call from these scammers do not engage in conversation, do not give out any personal or financial information…..Just Hang Up The Phone!

Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to announce that on 11/04/2019, the Will County Sheriff’s Office received an award letter from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) in reference to the Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (WCSAPC) receiving a graduation certificate through the CADCA National Coalition Academy. 

Previously, the Will County Sheriff’s Office had been awarded the Drug Free Communities Grant in August 2018 that will funnel $1.25 million dollars over a five-year period for prevention efforts in Will County.  The Will County Sheriff’s Office was the only law enforcement agency in the country to be a first year recipient of this grant in 2018.  Will County Sheriff, Mike Kelley, started the Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition approximately four years ago in partnership with Will County Executive Larry Walsh and his office.

The coalition is represented by twelve different sectors from numerous individuals that either work or live in Will County.  The coalition is represented by the youth, their parents, law enforcement agencies, faith based organizations, schools, businesses, media, youth service organizations, civic organizations, health care providers, substance abuse agencies, and government entities.     

Many members of the Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition participated in, and attended the year-long training program developed by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute.  The training consisted of three separate week-long classroom sessions that occurred throughout the past year where members learned, networked, and developed a plan to encourage and help the youth that live in Will County to live a drug free lifestyle.

In order to graduate, the members that attended the training sessions had to complete a rigorous training curriculum set forth by CADCA’s National Coalition Academy.  The coalition members that attended, had to complete five essential planning products that will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive plan for community change in Will County. 

CADCA’s National Coalition Academy training forums give attendees the opportunity to learn the latest strategies in addressing substance abuse and to hear from nationally-known prevention experts, concerned politicians and policy makers that that are attempting to help combat substance abuse.  These training forums are attended by thousands of participants that represent coalitions from all over the county and from abroad.  It is the largest training event organized in the United States for substance abuse prevention training.

Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to congratulate all of the members of the Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, that participated and assisted the organization in successfully completing the necessary requirements to graduate from this nationally renowned training.

Sheriff Kelley would like to publicly thank the United Way for being able to provide the personnel and the resources to assist the coalition, especially Loren Yaksich for dedicating her time and talent in the academy training.  Additionally, Sheriff Kelley would like to thank several other key members within the coalition who have dedicated their time and energy throughout this process.  Those people include: Linda Weatherspoon, who heads up the faith based sector of the coalition and is also the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Coordinator for her assistance; Coalition Director, Bonnie McPhillips, who was instrumental in completing and organizing all of the submitted materials needed to graduate, and Dr. William McCarty for his assistance in developing the logic models needed to complete this long and tedious process.

Members of the WCSAPC will participate in the graduation ceremony and accept the certificate of completion during the first week of February, 2020 in National Harbor, Maryland which is just outside of the Washington, D.C. 

To learn more information in reference to the Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, or to become a member please visit our website at www.willcountycoalition.com or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/willcountycoalition2017. 

On 10/10/19 at 8:30am, an employee from the Will County Clerk’s Office answered an incoming call and spoke to Leonard P. Feiner, age 69, of Mokena, who stated that he was upset about his polling place being relocated.  The employee attempted to calm him down for almost 15 minutes but he became more and more agitated and made a threatening statement.

 The employee then transferred Feiner to her supervisor who also attempted to calm him down and explain that his new polling location would not be changed back to the original.  Feiner continued to yell and use profanity and then made a threatening statement in reference to ending the employee's life.   

 Sheriff’s deputies were called to the County Clerk’s Office in Joliet and spoke to the employee and supervisor about the incident.  Detectives then traveled to Feiners’ residence, where they briefly spoke to him and brought him in for questioning.  During the interview Feiner made statements that he felt the polling place could easily be changed back simply by changing the address on a computer and that he thought those that he spoke to on the phone were lying to him, which made him angry. 

 Because of statements made during the interview and threats made to county employees, Leonard P. Feiner was arrested for disorderly conduct.  He is being held at the Adult Detention Facility and will appear in bond court today.     –end-

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the arrest of Robin G. Huberty, age 62, of 118 Rhine Avenue in Bolingbrook after Sheriff’s detectives completed their investigation into Huberty selling counterfeit major league sportswear.

In late February 2019, the Sheriff’s Investigation Unit was notified by Homeland Security that they had been conducting an investigation into Huberty’s illegal shipments of thousands of counterfeit sports jerseys, championship rings, shoes and baseball hats, with logos from MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, Majestic, Adidas and Nike. Fake Lego toys were also being shipped.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives worked with Homeland Security and a Private Investigator that specializes in counterfeit merchandise.  On 9/11/2019, the team of investigators arrived at Huberty’s residence and served him with a search warrant.  Huberty was brought in for questioning and cooperated with detectives.  Huberty stated that he has been selling illegal products through two websites since mid-2017.   Huberty ordered his merchandise from China and stated that his online stores made hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales just last year.  He made statements regarding one of his EBay accounts being suspended for selling counterfeit items and receiving numerous letters from the United States Customs Border Protection, Notice of Seizure, advising him of the consequences he may be facing after his shipments had been seized.  Huberty disregarded those letters and continued purchasing and selling fake merchandise.   

Seized in the investigation was Huberty’s 2012 Toyota Camry, 554 counterfeit jerseys, 7 pairs of counterfeit Adidas shoes, 64 counterfeit baseball hats and 9 counterfeit sports team patches, and proceeds from the sale of fake merchandise. .

Robin G. Huberty was arrested and charged with six felony counts of infringing the Counterfeit Trademark Act.   His bond was set at $75,000  (10% to apply). 

Full story »

It has been brought to the attention of the Will County Sheriff’s Office that several residents have received phone calls from a person who identifies themselves as a Lieutenant from our department.  The male subject informs the resident that they have a warrant out for their arrest.  The subject then directs the resident to go to a store and to purchase prepaid gift cards to cover the amount of their ‘bond’.  The subject then calls the resident back so they can provide him with the card numbers.

This group of scam artists are also using a phone number that appears legitimate as the Sheriff’s Office that is displayed on your caller ID or cell phone.  In addition, they are using the name of one of our deputies and his correct badge number.  

The Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that we DO NOT conduct business over the phone to inform any individual that they have a warrant out for their arrest!  All Will County warrants that are issued can be verified by the public at www.willcountywarrants.com. 

If you receive a phone call from these scammers do not engage in conversation, do not give out any personal or financial information…..Just Hang Up The Phone!

-end-

On 8/22/19, Sheriff’s deputies were working at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone Township when they were approached by multiple citizens who raised concerns regarding the authenticity of a Yeti tumbler being sold at a Yeti booth. Yeti, based out of Austin, Texas is a successful, high-end business who manufactures outdoor lifestyle products including tumblers, mugs, lids, coolers, and several other products and accessories.
A few of the deputies, being knowledgeable about Yeti products themselves, looked at the products and also became suspicious. Deputies then contacted a representative from Yeti, who advised that they would send a trained investigator to the fair the following day in order to authenticate the merchandise being sold. Deputies were advised during that communication that Yeti only allows their products to be sold by approved retailers in brick and mortar locations; Yeti products are not authorized to be sold at county fairs, festivals, street vendors, or flea markets.

On 8/23/19, Sheriff’s deputies met with a Yeti Investigator and a Senior Special Agent from Homeland Security at the Fairgrounds. The Investigator viewed the Yeti products at the booth of Robin Dana Perry, age 72, of 902 Lucky Lane in The Villages, Florida. He observed several fraudulent issues with the booth and the products.

Shortly after, the Senior Special Agent approached the booth where he purchased two tumblers (for a total purchase of $45) and spoke in length to Mr. Perry. Some of the information collected by that discussion included Perry showing the Agent a fraudulent sign and certificate of authenticity stating he was an authorized dealer. Perry stated that he currently lives in Florida and operates ten booths that sell Yeti merchandise. He stated that he purchases in large volume directly from China so he can offer a lower price. Perry also stated that he has been in the Yeti business for the past ten years.

Deputies then met again with the Special Agent and Investigator who confirmed through examination of the purchased tumblers that they were, in fact, not authentic. Several issues were identified such as; an American Patriot theme was not a Yeti design, font size, printing color, quality, and packaging.

Perry was then approached and asked to come speak with the investigative team. During that interview, he advised that he has sold Yeti for the past several years at surrounding county fairs. He advised that he made $12,000 at the Boone County Fair and had sold the product at county fairs in DuPage, Kendall and DeKalb, and had averaged making $900.00 the first two days at the Will County Fair. He advised that in the past three years it would be reasonable to assume that his gross sales were close to one million dollars. Perry acknowledged that he used various Illinois addresses to ship the products in from China.

Robin Dana Perry was arrested and charged with Counterfeit/Imitating a Trademark, a Class II felony. His bond was set at $25,000 (10% to apply). He posted bond on 8/24/2019 and was released.

Seized in the bust were cashier’s checks, USC, a 2014 Ford van, 1,648 Yeti tumblers, boxes of miscellaneous Yeti accessories, and exhibition booth signage. Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation into the suspected fraudulent actions of Mr. Perry.

-end-

Full story »