AG Confirms Referral of Fraud Case Tied to Pritzker

Monday, August 1, 2022 | 0

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it referred to prosecutors a possible workers’ compensation fraud case involving a former campaign worker for Gov. J.B. Pritzker, according to a report by the nonprofit Center Square.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker

The dispute centers around Jenny Thornley, who worked for the Illinois State Police Merit Board but filed a workers’ compensation claim alleging she suffered injuries while working for the governor’s office.

The merit board in a separate case is suing Thornley for $66,998 it said she was paid for unearned overtime, travel that didn’t occur and other inappropriate reimbursement requests.

Documents the board filed as part of its lawsuit alleged that Thornley made her claim directly to the governor’s general counsel, Anne Spillane.

“And Spillane accepted the claim and processed it, even though the claim falsely listed Thornley’s employer as the Governor’s Office rather than the Merit Board,” the lawsuit claims.

A spokesperson for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office told Center Square on Wednesday that the possible work comp fraud case was referred for prosecution.

“The Attorney General’s Office moved the (overtime) case forward by referring allegations of theft and forgery to the State Appellate Prosecutor’s office, and criminal charges are pending against Ms. Thornley as a result,” the spokesperson said. “Just as we referred the theft and forgery allegations, we have referred allegations that Ms. Thornley committed workers compensation fraud to the appellate prosecutor’s office. Our understanding is the matter is under review by that office.”

The Chicago Tribue has reported Thornley received more than $71,000 in work comp benefits. Center Square reports the state has spent more than $500,000 so far for investigations.