Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged five Illinois men for their alleged involvement in a burglary ring that operated across multiple counties in the state, from the Chicago area to Central Illinois.
The accused are John Friedrich, 35, of Streator; Joseph Montoro, 39, of Berwyn; Sebastian Perez, 41, of Chicago; Jacob Sickel, 20, of Brookfield; and Don Wiley, 53, of University Park. They face multiple felony charges for allegedly committing 22 burglaries in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Champaign, Lake, Tazewell, DeWitt, Peoria, Kankakee, McLean and Will counties.
“The thefts allegedly committed by this burglary ring impacted dozens of businesses and counties,” Raoul stated. “These arrests are the result of countless hours of investigative work and close collaborations between my office and several law enforcement agencies. I would like to thank the Illinois Gaming Board and the agencies that participated in this complex investigation.”
The investigation was initiated based on a referral from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). "The IGB was pleased to partner with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies in dismantling this video gaming burglary ring," said IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter.
From January to November 2023, it is alleged that over $100,000 was stolen from video gaming machines across several counties. All defendants except Friedrich are awaiting their first appearance in DuPage County. The public is encouraged to contact local law enforcement if they have information on Friedrich’s whereabouts.
Charges against Friedrich include one count of theft between $10,000 and $1000.,000 a Class 2 felony; one count of money laundering a Class 3 felony; and six counts of burglary all Class 2 felonies. Montoro faces charges including one count of theft between $1000.,0000and $5000.,0000a Class 1 felony; one count of money laundering a Class 2 felony; twenty counts of burglary all Class 2 felonies; and one count of attempted burglary a Class 3 felony.
Perez has been charged with one count each for theft between $50000and$10,,00000aClass3felony,two countsburglaryclassclassClass two felonies ,onecountattemptedburglaryaclass3felony.Sickelfaceschargesofonecounttheftbetween$10,,00000and$100,,00000aclassclassTwofelonytenburglariesclass twofelonies,andoneattemptedburglaryaclass3felony.Wileyfacesonecounttheftbetween$10,,00000and$100,,00000aclassclasstwofelonyeightcountsburglaryclasstwocountsandoneattemptedburglaryaclassthreeFelony .
Sentences will be determined by the court. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau is authorized by Illinois statute to prosecute multi-county cases involving drugs money laundering guns or electronics.Bureau Chief Gregg Gansmann is prosecuting this case for Raoul's Statewide Grand Jury Bureau.