Gambling Evidence Can Be Used in Illinois Fraud Trial of Health Official

A Kankakee County judge has decided that the jury can hear evidence about Dee Ann Schippert‘s gambling habits. Schippert, who used to run the Iroquois County Public Health Department, faces over 30 felony charges. These charges relate to claims that she misused public money.

Gambling Ties Deemed Crucial in $100K Fraud Case Against Dee Schippert

Judge William Dickenson turned down a request from Schippert’s lawyers to keep gambling-related evidence out of the upcoming trial. Her defense team said this information was not relevant to the main accusations. However, the court did not agree. The judge thinks this evidence plays a key role in the prosecution’s case, reported The Ford County Chronicle.

Prosecutors from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office say Schippert, 57, got over $100,000 between May 2020 and July 2022. Court papers show she padded timesheets, made up overtime, and gave herself unapproved back pay. She faces 33 felony charges in total, including stealing government money, faking documents, and abusing her position.

The state’s case centers on the claim that Schippert often gambled at a local venue during work hours while saying she was on the job. Investigators say she spent about 759 hours at Winnie’s Gaming Café in Watseka during the time in question, 38 hours each month on average. The trial will show time-stamped video footage, cell phone and office communication records, and computer login data as proof. People are also set to speak about seeing her at the gaming establishment a lot when she should have been working.

Trial Judge Allows Gambling Details, Blocks LGBTQIA+ Talk in Case Against Former Official

Assistant Attorney General Haley Bookhout insists these materials are key to show that Schippert did not do her job duties and lied about her work hours to make more money for herself.

In addition, the case involves claims of firing someone as payback. Prosecutors claim Schippert fired a worker in June 2022 after they told authorities about her alleged wrongdoing.

The judge said yes to allowing gambling evidence, but he also said yes to the defense’s request to ban any talk about Schippert’s personal thoughts on LGBTQIA+ issues during the trial. The prosecution did not object to this rule, and the court told both sides to ask for permission before bringing up such topics when questioning witnesses.

Schippert is still free under conditions set before the trial and keeps repeating that she is not guilty. There is a hearing set for August 20 to look again at whether the gambling evidence should be allowed, but they have not picked a date for the trial yet.