CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A south suburban library claims hundreds of thousands of dollars was mismanaged by its previous leadership.
An independent, forensic audit suggests the Chicago Heights Public Library former Director Kelly Nichols-Brown and former Board President Lori Wilcox mishandled more than $400,000 in library funds.
Part of the 28-page report found roughly $40,000 of unapproved credit card purchases and more than $93,000 of potential personal transactions and payments that Nichols-Brown authorized that appear to be conflicts of interest, including two businesses owner by her husband. Additionally it found $355 of petty cash transactions that appear to have benefitted Nichols-Brown and the payment of $307,577.50 that represents violations of Library policy or State of Illinois law.
In total, $440,484.65 of Chicago Heights Public Library resources have been allegedly mishandled by Nichols-Brown who served under the direct supervision of Wilcox.
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In April 2020, Wilcox was not re-appointed by Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez, and Jamie Paicely, who Gonzalez appointed in 2019, was elected by the Board as the new Board President. After her election as president, Paicely began an immediate review of her predecessor’s financial management, leading to her decision to conduct an independent, forensic audit.
In a statement, current Board President Jamie Paicely said the library is initiating civil court action to seek legal restitution of funds and asking the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office for a criminal investigation.
“A forensic accounting services report from an independent auditing firm, BKD CPAs & Advisors, has concluded that former Chicago Heights Library Board President Lori Wilcox and Library Director Kelly Nichols-Brown have allegedly mishandled over $400,000 in library funds,” said Board President Jamie Paicely. “Therefore, the library has a fiduciary responsibility to initiate both civil court action to recuperate unauthorized spending as well as make a formal referral to the Cook County State’s Attorney for a criminal investigation.”