Mokena Couple Charged In PPP Loan Scam Set To Appear In Court

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena couple that police say fraudulently obtained more than $1 million in payroll protection loans and used more than half to purchase a home was under investigation by police for 15 months prior to being arrested last week, police said on Wednesday.

Jennifer and Joseph Wirtz were arrested at their Mokena home last week and charged with a variety of crimes, including wire fraud, theft, money laundering, and other crimes, police said. The criminal complaint shows that the couple obtained PPP loans in the amount of $1,169,612.50 in 2021 in connection with Josco Construction Services in Joliet.

The company’s website says that Jennifer Wirtz founded the company and has operated it for more than a decade, offering a variety of services. However, Lockport said on Wednesday that it began investigating the company after receiving reports of suspicious banking activity, which prompted investigators to look into the matter.

Police said that the investigation showed that the couple used $653,500 of the PPP loans to purchase a residence on Hunt Club Lane in Mokena. Police obtained search warrants for both the Mokena home and the Joliet construction company and executed them as part of the investigation into the misuse of the PPP loans.

Joseph Wirtz was held on $250,000 bond after being charged with theft, loan fraud and wire fraud and was taken to the Will County Jail. Jennifer Wirtz was charged with theft by deception, theft, loan fraud, money laundering and wire fraud and her bond was also set at $250,000.

Jennifer Wirtz was able to bond out and is scheduled to return to court on Friday for a status hearing before she appears on Dec. 11 for a preliminary hearing. Joseph Wirtz is also scheduled to appear at the same time on both dates, according to the criminal complaint.