Politics & Government

Review Of Plainfield Township Finances After Fremarek's Charges

The board hired a Joliet-based firm to conduct an external review in light of the supervisor's embezzlement accusations.

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield Township Board has approved to an external review of its finances. During a special meeting Thursday, trustees hired Wermer, Rogers, Doran & Ruzon, an accounting firm in Joliet, to conduct the review.

This comes after Anthony Fremarek, township supervisor, was charged last week, accused of with embezzling nearly $1.4 million from a consulting firm where he worked until 2019 to pay his personal credit cards. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, he attempted to conceal the embezzlement by falsifying entries in the company’s accounting system — over a period of six years — to disguise the payments as seemingly legitimate business expenses.

In a statement to Patch, the board said the charges relate to allegations of financial improprieties involving Fremarek’s former employer and are not related to his duties as township supervisor. Fremarek did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

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However, it still wants to check the township's financial records to ensure the people that things are fine, Township Administrator Chuck Willard said. According to township documents, the review will cost the township between $3,000 and $7,000.

Fremarek presided over the meeting, but did not comment on the charges against him. No public comments were made regarding this, either.

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The company he stole from, PSC Group in Schaumburg, released a statement reassuring stakeholders.

"We wish to reassure our clients and valued business partners that PSC Group reported all accounting discrepancies promptly to investigators. We also fully cooperated with the investigation that has resulted in the charges against Mr. Fremarek," the statement read.

The company said it "remains in strong financial shape" and the "investigation undertaken does not impact the company’s performance or ability to deliver on client commitments."

"Nor has PSC Group uncovered any evidence that suggests that customer information or data has been compromised or breached in any way," the company said. "PSC Group is not identified by name in the indictment but wants to reassure you both of the company’s commitment to cooperate in every possible way with the investigation and of the strength of the PSC Group business as we move forward in the new year."

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