Nonprofit Owner Accused of Lying about Court-Ordered Service Hours

The owner of a nonprofit based in Downers Grove is accused of accepting money to fake documents for people who didn't perform court-ordered community service hours.

Russell Philip, 46, was charged with wire fraud, according to the Chicago Tribune, after he reportedly made a deal with an undercover agent for $300 to falsely tell the DuPage probation department that the agent had done assigned service hours.

Philip operates Flowers for Heroes of Downers Grove, an authorized community service provider with the probation department.

The organization uses donations to put bouquets of flowers on the headstones of military members in Arlington National Cemetery, Gettysburg National Cemetery, Quantico National Cemetery and Antietem National Cemetery, according to its Facebook page.

Read more on this story from the Chicago Tribune.