Lawyer Conviction Stems From Elmhurst Investigation

ELMHURST, IL – A Glendale Heights lawyer was sentenced last week for defrauding banks out of $82,000, a crime that Elmhurst police uncovered.

Leonard DeFranco, 71, was given six years in prison on a felony identity theft charge.

Between 2015 and 2017, DeFranco, without authorization, used the personal information of his then-girlfriend to obtain four loans totaling $82,000, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

DeFranco's scheme was uncovered when the woman ran her credit report and discovered the loans, prosecutors said. Elmhurst police launched an inquiry.

In 2018, DeFranco was charged.

At last week's sentencing hearing, prosecutors said DeFranco, through various schemes, stole a total of $845,000 from a dozen victims, consisting of his former girlfriend, five other individuals and six financial institutions.

In a news release, State's Attorney Robert Berlin credited Elmhurst police, particularly detective Jeff Kucera, for "their outstanding work on this complicated case."

"White-collar financial crimes always leave a paper trail," Berlin said. "(DeFranco's) scheming and deception brought dishonor to the legal profession and a slap in the face to his former girlfriend, to whom he undoubtedly caused a financial hardship."

Last March, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission disbarred DeFranco.