Serial Scam Artist Ricky Dugo Sentenced To 8 Years In Plea Deal

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

WAUKEGAN, IL — A convicted Lake Forest "con artist" was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to felony theft in Lake County Court.

Ricky Dugo, 56, was first charged in April 2021 after three victims filed criminal complaints to local authorities.

Dugo was indicted the following month following an investigation by the state's attorney's office's special investigation division.

Additional charges of theft, money laundering and deceptive practice were added in a January 2022 indictment stemming from allegations involving a fourth victim of his scams.

Dugo is accused of scamming his victims out of tens of thousands of dollars in cash in schemes involving illegitimate investments and motorcycle purchases, among other scams.

“Each of the victims in this case fell prey to a long con. These scams had significant negative impacts on their lives,” Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Berrill said following his arraignment in 2021. “Our goal in this case is to seek justice for victims who were truly hurt by these schemes.”

Other accusations against Dugo go back decades and span beyond the Chicago area.

(removed)

Following a bench trial earlier this year, Ricky Dugo was found guilty to one count of theft by deception, a class 2 felony, after a judge found he stole $18,700.

Five witnesses testified against him for the prosecution, including other people who accused Dugo of scamming them.

Dugo's attorneys presented no witnesses and Dugo did not testify at the three-day trial, which concluded Feb. 3, according to the state's attorney's office.

On Friday, Dugo entered a negotiated guilty plea in his remaining cases.

In addition to the four-year sentence he received for the February conviction, he was sentenced to eight years in state prison for one count of class 1 felony theft, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

According to a spokesperson for the state's attorney's office, both sentences will be served concurrently, with day-for-day credit for good behavior and 50 days credit for time served — meaning Dugo could be released in less than four years.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart praised his office's investigators and the prosecutors who handled Dugo's trial.

“This has been a long journey for Mr. Dugo’s victims," Rinehart said in a statement.

"We thank the victims for their participation in bringing this con artist to justice and for supporting this resolution," he added. "We hope that eight years in prison and over $145,000 in restitution helps his four victims."