(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Chicago man accused of using a stolen business check to open a bank account in Kenosha is facing felony charges after his arrest last week.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Mark E. Tillis, 44, was wanted on a $10,000 arrest warrant issued Jan. 16. Authorities say he was taken into custody on an unknown date before being transported to the Kenosha County Jail on Aug. 6. He made his first court appearance Aug. 7, when prosecutors dismissed one of two counts but noted it may be refiled in an attempted form. Court Commissioner William Michel II set Tillis’ cash bail at $5,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.
According to the criminal complaint, the case began Sept. 30, 2024, when North Shore Bank staff reported that Tillis allegedly used a stolen $55,455.72 check made out to Irwin Seating Company to open a business account at the bank’s Green Bay Road branch. Investigators say the check originated from Trace Creek Construction in Kentucky and had been stolen from the mail.
Bank employees told police that Tillis claimed Irwin Seating Company was his trucking business, listing a Madison residential address as the company’s location. Detectives later learned Tillis registered a business in the same name with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions the day before presenting the check.
Trace Creek and Irwin Seating officials confirmed they had not authorized anyone to open an account under the company’s name in Wisconsin. Investigators linked Tillis to the incident through an Illinois identification card presented at the bank, which matched his state police records.
If convicted on the remaining count of unauthorized use of an entity’s identifying information, Tillis could face up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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One Response
When you are clever, but not real bright.