6 | May 9, 2019 | The glencoe anchor news glencoeanchor.com From June 14 Glencoe man, 77, allegedly steals $460K from fraternity Money used for personal investments, online trading, yacht club Megan Bernard, Editor A 77-year-old Glencoe man recently pleaded not guilty to stealing more than $400,000 from a fraternity at Northwestern University. Peter Schellenbach, the former president of the Sigma Chi Home Association at the Evanston campus, was arraigned in Cook County Circuit Court for one Class 1 felony charge of theft between $100,000-$500,000, which is punishable by up to four to 15 years in prison, according to a June 13 statement from Attorney General Kwame Raoul. His next hearing is scheduled for July 15. Schellenbach, a 1958 New Trier graduate, was the former president of the Sigma Chi Home Association from 2006-2012. The nonprofit association is operated by alumni and collects dues for management of the campus house, according to Raoul. During Schellenbach’s presidency, he allegedly transferred nearly $460,000 to his personal account, then used $267,000 to fund an Iraqi dinar investment account with Sterling Currency Group. Dinar is the currency of Iraq. “In 2018, the co-owners and chief operating officer of Sterling were convicted on charges of fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia,” Raoul’s statement reads. “All of the home association’s money Schellenbach had invested was lost.” The rest of the alleged stolen money was reportedly used for Schellenbach’s personal expenses, including on online trading websites and for payments to credit cards and the Chicago Yacht Club. When Sigma Chi board members asked Schellenbach about the missing funds from the association, he characterized the withdrawals — some as large as $70,000 — as loans he would repay, “despite not having the financial means to do so,” the statement says. “This individual used his position to steal money that should have been used to maintain housing on which students relied,” Raoul said in the statement. “My office will work to ensure he is held accountable for his elaborate scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from students, alumni and board members who placed their trust in him.” Schellenbach is listed on the fraternity’s website as “notable alumni” from the Class of 1964 who received an Order of Constantine. “The Order of Constantine is awarded to alumni members who have devoted long and distinguished service to the fraternity,” the chapter’s website says. “Induction into the Order of Constantine is considered to be the highest honor that the Sigma Chi Fraternity bestows upon one of its members.” There is also an award named after him called the Peter Schellenbach Outstanding Officer Award. “This award recognizes an outgoing elected officer who has excelled in the fulfillment of his responsibilities, going above and beyond their official duties,” the website says. “Named in honor of Home Association President Peter Schellenbach to recognize his devotion to Omega throughout the years, demonstrating the outstanding effort the award represents.” According to The Daily Northwestern newspaper, the campus’ Sigma Chi chapter was temporarily suspended in February of this year for allegedly violating Sigma Chi’s policies. The suspension was lifted in April and all chapter activities resumed. To sign up for breaking news alerts, visit glencoeanchor. com/plus. Investigative, sports reporting among 22CM’s 16 national awards Staff Report From an “inspirational” obituary to “engaging” breaking news to a “haunting” and “exceptional” investigation, 22nd Century Media publications earned a company-record 16 awards for journalistic excellence from the National Newspaper Association. It is the seventh year of national competition for 22nd Century Media, parent company of The Glencoe Anchor, and the 16 awards top the company’s previous high of 14 (2015). The National Newspaper Association boasts more than 2,000 members, and this year, its annual Better Newspaper Contest welcomed more than 1,300 entries from 36 states. Winners in the competition, judged by esteemed journalists from across the country, will be honored at an Oct. 5 banquet in Milwaukee. “I am blown away,” said Joe Coughlin, the company’s publisher. “Our editorial team works tirelessly to produce quality community journalism that informs and equips our readers. The work is for the community, but accolades of this magnitude help validate those efforts.” Of the 16 awards won by 22nd Century Media, two were first-place and seven were second-place honors. 22CM also earned three third-place nods, and four were honorable mention. The Homer Horizon, the first newspaper launched by 22nd Century Media, earned both first-place awards — one for a feature written by Editor Tom Czaja and the other for an investigative piece produced by a team of reporters. Four of the honors went to The Orland Park Prairie, which was recognized for two editorials by Managing Editor Bill Jones, a sports column by Jeff Vorva and an obituary tribute by reporter Meredith Dobes. Three each went to The Northbrook Tower and the Malibu Surfside News, 22CM’s only California newspaper. The Tower’s editor, Martin Carlino, authored two award-winning articles: a sports feature and an education story. Sports Editor Michal Dwojak earned recognition for a sports news story. The Surfside News was honored for its collective work covering the devastating Woolsey Fire, a feature by Editor Lauren Coughlin and a sports story by reporter Chris Megginson. Other awards were won by: The Tinley Junction (a review and a sports feature each by Sports Editor Jeff Vorva), The Lockport Legend (sports story by Editor Max Lapthorne), The Frankfort Station (sports photo by Julie McMann). “The variety of work that was recognized is particularly impressive to me,” Joe Coughlin said. “These are the best reporters in Chicago’s suburbs, and they keep proving it.” In 2016, The Glencoe Anchor received an honorable mention for the best sports story. police reports Victim accused of drug trafficking, money laundering, more in scam It was reported June 8 that an unknown offender claimed they were a U.S. Marshall and accused a resident of drug trafficking, money laundering and illegally owning five properties through Bank of America. The offender convinced the resident to send a cashier’s check worth $8,743 to them via FedEx. Once the resident discovered it was a scam, they contacted FedEx to return the check. In other police news: June 7 • An unknown offender opened a Verizon account and received a cellphone in the victim’s name. Verizon closed the fraudulent account and there is no reported loss. • An unknown offender damaged a garage door in an attempt to enter a vacant residence at 8:08 p.m. in the 1100 block of Terrace Court. No further entry was gained. June 6 • An unknown offender re- Please see police, 8
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