Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Apr. 28 that a Kane County man has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to theft by deception.
Kiwon Bates, 37, of Chicago, received the sentence from Kane County Associate Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo following his guilty plea to a Class 2 felony count of theft by deception. Bates will serve his prison term in Arizona at the same time as a sentence he is serving there for an unrelated case.
According to Raoul’s office, investigators found that in March 2023 Bates deceived an individual into lending him money for rent by falsely claiming his bank account was frozen due to unauthorized use of his banking card. He also claimed he had been offered a contract with the Chicago Bears. As part of the sentencing, Bates was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to the victim.
“Individuals who deliberately mislead others in order to ultimately steal must be held accountable,” Raoul said. “I will continue to protect our communities from those who use deception as a means to steal from innocent victims.”
The Illinois Attorney General has advocated for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants and seniors according to its official website. The office handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website, and aims both to protect consumers and promote safer communities while advocating on environmental and rights issues according to its official website.
The Attorney General’s efforts extend across Illinois according to its official website, working with law enforcement partners on behalf of crime victims and promoting open government according to its official website. Services offered include complaint filing related both consumer fraud and civil rights issues according to its official website.
