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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
ERIC F. RINEHART
STATE'S ATTORNEY
May 12, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Newton
(224) 374-2376
jnewton@lakecountyil.gov
Vernon Hills Man Charged With Bilking Over Half a Million Dollars From Area Victims
Ricky A. Dugo
(Lake County, IL) - A Vernon Hills man, charged with stealing over half a million dollars, faced court today as he was arraigned on six felony counts of theft and conspiracy.
The charges were filed in April following an investigation by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office after three area victims complained to authorities.
Ricky Dugo, 54, appeared during a Zoom hearing on Wednesday morning and entered pleas of “not guilty” to all counts connected with his alleged schemes. Lake County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Shanes set a case management date for July 6.
A trial date has not been set, as attorneys on both sides begin poring over thousands of pages of discovery information in the case.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Dugo with two Class 1 felony counts, being unauthorized theft of between $500,000 and $1 million dollars, and theft by deception of between $500,000 and $1 million.
He also faces four Class 2 felonies, including two more theft counts involving between $10,000 and $100,000 and two counts of conspiracy to commit financial crimes, with those counts identifying between $10,000 and $100,000 as having been lost.
Class 1 felonies are punishable by a sentencing range of four to 15 years in prison. Class 2 felonies carry a sentencing range of three to seven years. The dates of the alleged offenses run from January of 2013 to March of 2018.
Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Berrill said Dugo is alleged to have convinced his victims to give him money for investments that didn’t really exist. Berrill said Dugo would then return to the victims for additional money, stringing them along after the initial investments were given to him.
“Each of the victims in this case fell prey to a long con. These scams had significant negative impacts on their lives,” Berrill said. “Our goal in this case is to seek justice for victims who were truly hurt by these schemes.”
According to prosecutors, it is possible additional victims may exist.
Dugo’s wife, Shannon, also faces a charge in connection with the case.
Shannon Dugo, 39, is charged with one count of perjury, a Class 3 felony, for allegedly lying to a Lake County Grand Jury with regard to the case. Class 3 felonies carry a potential sentence of two to five years in prison.
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Shannon Dugo, wife of Ricky Dugo, has also been charged in connection with her husband's case. She has pleaded not guilty to one count of perjury. |
Lake County State's Attorney's Office
18 N. County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: (847) 377-3000
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