Illinois coroner allegedly used Winnebago County credit cards on hotels, car rentals

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, In poor health. – A former Illinois coroner pleaded responsible Wednesday to prices that he used his place to steal cash from taxpayers and indigent people from Winnebago County, officers stated.

William Hintz, 52, pleaded responsible to the theft of presidency property larger than $10,000 and fewer than $100,000 and official misconduct primarily based on forgery. 

Legal professional Common Kwame Raoul filed prices in October 2020, alleging that as Winnebago County’s coroner, Hintz and his spouse used county funds for private expenditures.

Moreover, Hintz allegedly spent greater than $10,000 on resort rooms, automotive leases, gasoline and tolls unrelated to county enterprise from April 2018 to July 2020, authorities stated.

Raoul filed prices towards Michelle Hintz in October 2020, saying that she was straight concerned with the unauthorized use of her husband’s county bank cards.

Hintz additionally allegedly altered and submitted varied resort billing statements to the county as a way to help what he stated to be approved bank card spending.

He allegedly created a pretend convention agenda in an try and show his participation in a convention in New York. Nonetheless, there was allegedly no proof of his registration or attendance.

Illinois State Police started investigating Hintz over the alleged fraudulent use of the county’s fuel and bank cards.

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After the preliminary 2020 indictment, ISP investigators obtained extra info that Hintz allegedly stole round $2,500 from households of people who had been cremated on the county’s expense, prosecutors stated.

Hintz was sentenced to 180 days in jail and a complete of 48 months of probation. 

Moreover, he’s ordered to pay $32,817.05 in restitution. 

On Wednesday, Hintz additionally resigned his place as Winnebago County coroner.

“The actions of this former public servant are reprehensible. Whereas grieving households had been mourning the lack of their members of the family, the defendant was busy defrauding them and the taxpayers of Winnebago County,” Raoul stated. “Public officers who break the belief of the general public they serve have to be held accountable.”

The case towards Michelle Hintz is at present pending.