Theft Charge Added For Mokena Couple Charged In PPP Loan Scam: Records

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena couple that prosecutors said fraudulently received more than $1 million in Payroll Protection Plan loans and used more than $650,000 of the funds to purchase a new home in Mokena now faces an additional criminal charge in connection with the scam.

Jennifer and Joseph Wirtz already faced eight criminal charges but now, a grand jury added a theft charge, alleging that the couple failed to report the $653,000 they received as part of the PPP payout to the Illinois Department of Revenue. Prosecutors had previously charged the couple with fraud, wire fraud and other charges in the case.

The criminal complaint filed in Will County against the couple says that the couple used the $653,000 to purchase a new home in Mokena after receiving $1.1 million in PPP funds. The funding was provided to Jennifer Wirtz for Joliet-based Josco Construction Company.

The new theft charge on which the couple was indicted by a grand jury in November indicates that the couple "knowingly obtained or exerted unauthorized control over property" of the Illinois Department of Revenue, according to court records. Records show that the taxes owed on the income exceeded $10,000 but did not exceed $10,0000", the indictment said.

All the activity stems from the loan that prosecutors said was obtained to help the construction company, but instead was used for the couple's own purposes. Police have not indicated what the remainder of the $1.1 million was used for by the couple.

The company’s website states that it was founded in 2012 by Jennifer Wirtz and today, has more than 50 employees and operates a total of 11 directional bowing crews as well as a number of other crews and four aerial communication crews.

Jennifer and Joseph Wirtz were under investigation for 15 months by the Lockport Police Department in connection with the scam, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said that they noticed suspicious banking activity from the couple, which prompted the investigation.

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.