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Friday, September 12, 2014

Nakarria Bell of Chicago, stole Link cards from Disabled residents of Ray Graham Association

as reported By Dawn Rhodes, Chicago Tribune | Sept 11, 2014

Ray Graham Association employee accused of buying groceries, gas with stolen Link cards

A former employee for the Ray Graham Association faces a litany of felonies allegedly stealing Link cards from disabled residents at two of the organization's residences, officials said.


Nakarria Bell, 31, of Chicago,
Authorities charged Nakarria L. Bell of Chicago with eight counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of financial exploitation of a person with a disability, according to a release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Association officials contacted police in November 2013 and reported that a Link card had gone missing from a safe at the Naperville facility. Downers Grove Police were contacted later that month for a report that another Link card went missing from a safe at the organization's Downers Grove residences.

Prosecutors allege that Bell, 31, used her role as an administrator in the Lisle-based corporate office to access the safes and steal the cards, eventually spending nearly $600 on groceries, gas and other personal purchases.

Bell appeared in court Sept. 8 and her bond was set at $75,000. Her next court date is scheduled for Oct. 20.

"For thousands of disabled individuals, the Ray Graham Association provides safety, comfort, support and a sense of independence," DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "They provide a tremendous service for their residents and their families, and the very idea that anyone, let alone an employee, would steal from these individuals is revolting."

Neither Bell nor representatives for the Ray Graham Association could be reached for immediate comment.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-lisle/ct-link-card-theft-lisle-tl-0918-20140911-story.html
Copyright © 2014, Chicago Tribune
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* as a side note Ray Graham Assoc is a very caring and dedicated organization that serves the disability community and their clients.

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