Country Club Liquor License Yanked, Felon Found Sleeping Inside

ORLAND PARK, IL — The owner of Riviera Country Club asked that his liquor license be revoked, saying the business is closed, at a hearing held Monday in Orland Park. The country club was shut down Thursday after a number of code violations and the arrest of Lee Anglin, a wanted felon, who was found sleeping inside.

The hearing took place at the Orland Park Village Hall, where Village Prosecutor Donna Norton presented evidence backing three counts of violations on site. Representatives of the country club failed to appear, but owner Dan O’Donnell submitted a letter that was read aloud by Norton, announcing the facility is closed and requesting the cancellation of both his business and liquor licenses with the village.

"Please cancel and terminate these licenses immediately, have no objection or defense to revocation of these licenses, and as of today's date the business is closed," the letter stated.

Although O'Donnell is the legal owner of the property, in May, the facility announced that after closing amid the coronavirus pandemic, the country club had been acquired by an investment company in Chicago and would reopen in June. Representatives who announced the reopening were listed as "Lee and Jenni," but no last names were included. At the time, Patch contacted the facility, but did not hear back.

At the hearing, officials said the village was unaware the country club was reopening until it already had. Owners didn't submit a sale/transfer background check to the village, violating its code, officials said.

On July 28, around 9 a.m., the Orland Park Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal Service, conducted a joint investigation after receiving a tip that Anglin, 50, was in the country club. Anglin previously served time in prison and was on parole in a $10 million federal fraud case. He failed to report back to prison on June 29 after violating his parole, and a new warrant for his arrest was issued on July 9.

When police entered the country club the morning of July 28, Anglin was found sleeping in the bridal suite of the banquet hall. Norton read testimony from Orland Park Code Enforcement Officer Jason Zorena, who inspected the facility after Anglin was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.

"He would testify that there was a mattress, bedding, and other personal properties as well as racks of clothing — indicating overnight sleeping," Norton read.

Zorena's testimony also stated that he found standing water and mold within the facility. According to Zorena, electrical panels were found open and uncovered with live wires. When returning to his office, Zorena searched for the country club's business license, only to find the license expired on Dec. 31, 2020, and that no renewal invoice had been paid for 2021.

A maintenance citation was issued on July 29. Seats for the public hearing were full, and many attendees were members of the country club.

"We understand that probably everyone in this room has been defrauded," Mayor Keith Pekau said. "The whole village was defrauded by the actions of these individuals."

Pekau went on to say, "This is a legal and a civil matter. There is very little the village can do, it has to go through a court of law, so it takes a long time. However, what we can do is we can handle the legal and criminal matters. Anybody who's been defrauded, we encourage, in fact we ask you, to come to the police department after this. We're set up to take your statements and file charges, and for every person who has been defrauded, we want these individuals to be held accountable."

Pekau said there is a possibility the country club could reopen if it is bought out. Village Manager George Koczwara told attendees that at some point, they will be allowed back into the facility to retrieve anything that may have been left in lockers.

Related:

Man Wanted On Federal Probation Warrant Found In Orland Park

Public Hearing Set For Riviera Country Club Following Closure