Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $102,249 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the library and from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Kenyada T. Harris, 42, pleaded guilty in March 2026.

Prosecutors say Harris used the library’s credit card for her personal gain and used LINK cards for herself, family members and friends while she was employed at the St. Clair County Family Community Resource Center.

FOREIGN NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO FIRING SHOTS NEAR BORDER PATROL AGENTS IN CHICAGO

A Mexican citizen who was in the United States illegally has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge after prosecutors said he fired shots near U.S. Border Patrol agents in Chicago in November.

Hector Gomez, 46, had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in Cook County and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun.

Sentencing is July 20.

SIX MEN INDICTED FOR WINNETKA HOME INVASION

A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six men on robbery and kidnapping offenses after an alleged home invasion in Winnetka last month.

Government attorneys say the men forcibly entered the residence, used firearms to keep an individual captive for about an hour, and demanded access to a safe and access to online accounts holding cryptocurrency.

Charges are forthcoming against a seventh defendant.

REPORT: BEARS ARE SIXTH-PRICIEST SPORTS TEAM FOR FANS

A report says the Chicago Bears are the sixth most expensive sports team in the world for fans to follow.

ForesightSports.com examined yearly expenses for tickets, stadium food and drinks, streaming subscriptions and jerseys. The annual total for Bears fans came in at $3,009.

The New York Knicks topped the list at $4,274, followed by the Detroit Lions at $4,011. The report said major league ticket prices are up 25% over the last three years.