The beleaguered board president of Harvey Elementary School District 152 was found guilty late Wednesday of lying about her income in order to secure more financial aid for her son’s college tuition.
Janet Thomas defrauded the state of some $11,000 in financial aid from 1998 to 2000 by stating she earned about $20,000 a year versus the $60,000 to $80,000 she actually made as board president and as a teacher at Bloom Township High School, the Stephenson County jury found. Thomas also worked for the City of Harvey as a compliance monitor for a county jobs program.
“Ms. Thomas is a public servant who has violated the public trust,” Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan said in a prepared statement. “She aided her son in taking money that could have and should have gone to young people who truly needed financial aid to pursue their educations.”
Thomas’ son, Derrick Fomby, participated in the scheme and pleaded guilty last week to benefits fraud and theft, the same counts leveled against his mother. Fomby testified at his mother’s trial that he used some of the money to buy personal items such as gym shoes, said Melissa Merz, spokeswoman for Madigan. Fomby too is employed in Harvey as superintendent of the city’s Metra lots.
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Mayor Eric Kellogg, a longtime supporter of Thomas, was present as the jury returned its verdict. He is evaluating a response, Harvey spokeswoman Sandra Alvarado said.
Because of her conviction, Thomas likely will have to forfeit her elected position on the school board. School district officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Thomas and her son face up to 5 years in prison for each of their three felony counts.