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Cops: Woman Swindled $30K From Elderly Man

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (STMW) -- A north suburban woman swindled $30,000 from an elderly man to buy items for herself including gasoline, a refrigerator and a home theater system, according to authorities.

Melissa A. Reilly, 57, of the 14000 block of Kaiser Road in Wadsworth, was arrested Dec. 20 and charged with aggravated identity theft and unlawful exploitation of the elderly, according to the Lake County Sheriff's office.

Three years ago, Reilly became friends with a 93-year-old man at a church, the sheriff's office said. She convinced him to give her $30,000 from a certificate of deposit.

Reilly also used eight of the man's credit cards and then his checking account to pay for the credit card purchases, which included gasoline, a refrigerator, washers and dryers, a television and a home theater system, the sheriff's office said.

Bond was set at $150,000 and Reilly's next court date is Jan. 10.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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