An Illinois State Police (ISP) employee was hit with several charges last Thursday, accused of scamming the system for workers’ compensation benefits. Marcus Lyles, 29, of Crestwood, was charged by Attorney General Kwame Raoul with theft of governmental property over $10,000 — under $100,000, state benefits fraud, and forgery, as reported by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. These offenses carry potential sentences that could have Lyles facing up to 15 years for the theft charge and up to five years for each of the other two charges.
Lyles is alleged to have sustained an injury while on the job with the ISP and subsequently filed for workers’ compensation. The twist in the tale unfolded between January and April of 2024, where Lyles supposedly signed off that he wasn’t clocking hours at another job while soaking up those comp benefits. Illinois Attorney General’s Office claims that wasn’t the case. “It is especially egregious when an individual charged with working on behalf of the public breaks the law for their own financial gain, particularly if that individual is responsible for enforcing the law,” Raoul stated in an announcement.
Following an investigation by the ISP’s Division of Internal Investigation, which was then handed off to Raoul’s office, Lyles may have to fight to prove his innocence in court…