WCSO Press Releases

   The Will County Sheriff’s Office is reminding citizens to be aware of the many scams that have flooded the public over the past few years.  Since January of 2020, the Sheriff’s Office has taken 318 reports from citizens regarding identity theft, 83 reports of credit card fraud, and 55 reports of fraud.  The majority of residents who reported did not fall victim to the scams however, some did and with these high number of reports taken it bears repeating to remind residents to be aware. 

   In October and November alone, the Sheriff’s Office received over 140 complaints from residents regarding the Illinois Department of Employment Services scam.  This scam consists of residents receiving a letter with a pre-paid credit card confirming approval of unemployment benefits.  In these cases, the resident did not apply for unemployment. The thieves have applied for unemployment using your name and personal information. They then have the method of payment switched to direct deposit, which means the money is going straight to the thieves' bank account. However, if there is money on the card and a fraud victim ends up spending that money, IDES says that person would be responsible for repaying that money to the state because they are fraudulent funds.

   IDES asks residents to file a police report and to report the fraudulent card to them online or call their identify theft hotline at 866-999-5630.  It is also advised that residents contact credit bureaus to file a fraud alert and keep a close eye on personal banking accounts.

   Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office continues to get reports from residents regarding fraudulent cell phone calls for Warrants for your arrest and breach of your Social Security number.  We are reminding citizens that the Sheriff’s Office does not call individuals who have a warrant out for their arrest and they do not ask for money to make the warrant disappear.  In one recent complaint, the victim received such a call and lost $9,000 to this scam believing he had a warrant and would be arrested if not paid.  An easy way to check if you have a valid warrant is to visit:    www.willcountywarrants.com

   The Social Security scam is also on the rise with several reports filed.  These thieves use several different phone numbers, may call consistently for days, leave you a message if you do not answer, and state that they are from Social Security and that your SS# has been flagged for fraud. They ask the unknowing victim to confirm their SS number so they can reactivate it and ask for a fee to complete the transaction. Once they receive your social security number, it most likely will be very damaging to your financial accounts and credit. One recent victim lost over $30,000 to this scam.   Visit www.ssa.gov if you are receiving these calls to file a report.  

   The Sheriff’s Office is asking citizens to share this information with friends and loved ones so they do not fall victim.  A general rule is Do Not answer your phone if you do not recognize the number.  If you do answer and realize it is someone from these agencies and you have not called them prior, simply hang up the phone.  Any fraud reports can be made on the Sheriff’s website:  www.willcosheriff.org – click on ‘online reporting’. 

  -end-

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Last week, the Will County Adult Detention Facility became aware that an inmate who had been in custody since February might have spread Covid to other inmates within the facility.  The male inmate had recently been sentenced and had been housed for five days within a housing unit before being transported to the Illinois Department of Corrections.  Upon his intake at IDOC, he was given a rapid Covid test and tested positive.  The inmate displayed no symptoms while at the ADF. 

   On the same day, all inmates within the housing unit were tested for Covid.  Thirty-eight inmates tested positive and thirteen tested negative.  All inmates who were exposed to the virus are being isolated within the ADF and will remain on quarantine at least for the CDC’s recommended fourteen days.  All positive cases are being treated and closely monitored by the facility medical doctor.   Currently, all positive cases are mild with no serious underlying conditions. 

   The Will County Sheriff’s Office and the Adult Detention Facility remain steadfast following the state guidelines and are working closely with the Will County Health Department.       

     Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing changes to the daily operations of the Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety Building, 16911 W. Laraway Road in Joliet and to the Adult Detention Facility, 95 S. Chicago Street, and Video Visitation Building, 20 S. Chicago Street in Joliet.  These changes are due to the current precautions the nation is taking with the Covid-19 virus.  Please be advised.

     Beginning Wednesday, November 11, 2020 and until further notice, public access to the Public Safety Complex will temporarily be stopped.  The front lobby doors will be locked.  Please follow the following guidelines in order to take care of necessary business you need from the Sheriff’s Office:

 1)      If you are a victim of a minor crime, you are in need of a police report, or you have a general question we encourage you to visit the Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org.  On the website, you will see a list of Online Forms.  You will find forms such as ‘Online Police Report’, ‘FOIA a Police Report’, and ‘Contact the Sheriff’s Office’.   Click on the link that pertains to your situation, fill it out and submit it.    

 2)      If you are in need of speaking to a deputy, call 911 or the non-emergency number at 815-727-8575.  If necessary, a deputy will be dispatched to your location.

 3)      If you are a registered sex offender and need to register or update your information you may come to the Public Safety Building and push the call button that is located between the two entrance doors.  Someone will assist you.

 4)      If you need to pick-up evidence in your reported case, please call the Evidence Division at 815-727-4736 to schedule a pick-up time. 

     Regarding the Will County Sheriff’s Adult Detention Facility – The Adult Detention Facility, as well as the Video Visitation Building, is temporarily closed to all visitors/public.  Professional visitors such as attorneys, therapists, etc. are being required to schedule an appointment by calling 815-774-7950.  Your visitation request will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 

     Family/friends of current inmates can deposit funds into inmate commissary accounts at www.jailatm.com.

      From the start of the Covid pandemic, Sheriff Kelley has continued to stay apprised of current updates from the CDC, as well as from Will County officials.    With Covid cases on the rise, additional mitigations being put in place within Illinois, and a rise in positive cases and Covid exposures among Sheriff’s staff, Sheriff Kelley and administrators feel that it is in the best interest of our facilities and our staff to take these measures. 

 We are asking the public for their understanding and patience as we all do our part to get through this as safely as possible.   If any further changes are necessary, the public will be advised. 

 –end- 

The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing the arrest of Justin M. Adams, age 34, of 110 N. First Street in Peotone for child pornography.  He is being held at the Adult Detention Facility on a $1 million bond (10% to apply).

In early October, the Sheriff's Investigation Unit was notified by the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that they had been contacted by Instagram, back in April of 2020, regarding the use of child pornography from a specific IP address.  The National Center conducted an investigation and had identified the user of the IP address to be Justin Adams.  

On October 21st, Sheriff's detectives secured a search warrant for Adams' residence.  Detectives served the warrant on October 23 where they collected electronic devices and brought Adams in for questioning.  During the interview, Adams made statements implicating himself regarding the sharing of multiple images and videos of child pornography through his Facebook and Instagram accounts. 

This case remains open and active.    -end- 

Sheriff Kelley would like to announce the arrest of Edmund B. Kavanaugh (age 51) for numerous financial crimes.

On 10/06/2020, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office and the Romeoville Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in Elmhurst, Illinois.  Edmund Kavanaugh, who operates Goliath Construction, was the target of an eight-month long on-going financial crime/home repair fraud investigation.  Kavanaugh has been the subject of numerous complaints throughout the Chicagoland area by many agencies.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office, the Romeoville Police Department, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Will County States Attorney’s Office, and the Elmhurst Police Department participated in this investigation.

A Search Warrant was executed at Kavanaugh’s residence in Elmhurst, Illinois. Kavanaugh was charged with multiple felony offenses for Home Repair Fraud, Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise, Money Laundering, Structuring, and Theft by Deception.

Detectives from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, obtained a 13 count felony complaint arrest warrant in the amount of $500,000-10% to apply; Detectives from the Romeoville Police Department, obtained a 4 count felony complaint arrest warrant in the amount of $500,000-10% to apply.

Kavanaugh was transported to the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex where he was interviewed by detectives in regards to this investigation.  Kavanaugh made numerous incriminating statements to detectives.

Upon conclusion of the interview, Kavanaugh was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet, Illinois where he is currently incarcerated on a $1,000,000-10% bond.

The detectives that worked this investigation are certain, that additional unknown victims of Kavanaugh’s home repair schemes exist.  The Will County Sheriff’s Office is urging those victims, to come forward and report these crimes to your local police jurisdiction.

Sheriff Kelley would like to thank the participating agencies, the detectives, crime scene investigators, and the Will County Assistant State’s Attorney’s for all of their hard work, dedication, and determination in regards to this investigation.

Sheriff Kelley would like to announce the recent arrests of Joseph Asbury-Butler (age 22), Ricardo M. Barrios-Reyes (age 26), and Miguel A. Barrios-Zacarias (age 29) for various firearms related offenses.

On 10/03/2020, at approximately 7:03 PM, Will County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 400 block of Siegmund Avenue in Joliet Township for a report of gunshots fired in the area.  Will County Sheriff’s Office personnel observed gunfire damage to a house, and seven spent firearm shell casings.  The complainant described the offending vehicle, as a red Mitsubishi or Pontiac vehicle with a loud exhaust.

A Will County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle fitting the description not far from the scene.  The vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop.  The driver of the vehicle refused to stop the vehicle, and the three occupants bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot.  The three subjects were observed by witnesses running through yards and into a residence in the 1300 block of E. Jackson Street in Joliet Township.

Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office set up a perimeter on the residence and attempted to make contact with the suspects, whom had barricaded themselves inside.  The suspects refused to exit the residence, and the standoff continued for many more hours.

The Will County Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team were sent to the residence in an attempt to resolve the situation in a peaceful manner, while taking the suspects into custody.  A search warrant was obtained for the residence, and SWAT personnel developed a plan to bring the barricaded situation to a conclusion.  After attempting to make further contact with the occupants to no avail, SWAT personnel deployed a distraction device and breached the front door of the residence.  Instructions were given to the occupants to vacant the residence, to which they complied.

The three suspects were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Will County Public Safety Complex, where they spoke to detectives about the incident.  All three suspects were charged with Obstructing Justice, Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Aggravated Discharge of a firearm, and Reckless Conduct.  In addition, Miguel A. Barrios-Zacarias was wanted on a burglary warrant.  All three suspects are currently incarcerated at the Will County Adult Detention Facility and are awaiting a bond hearing.

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