This time, the Chicago Tribune is reporting Joel Sher – owner of Evangers Pet Food – “allegedly offered $5,000 to a witness in exchange for changing testimony in a case from 2010 where he is accused of ordering his company employees to divert nearly $2 million worth gas and power lines to his store.”
Troubles started for Evangers Pet Food President Joel Sher with charges filed against them in the Circuit Court of Cook County Criminal Division in March 2010. “The Defendants Joel Sher and Holly Sher are charged by complaint with commission of the offenses of theft of property of a value in excess of $500,000, a non-probationable Class 1 felony, punishable by a period of incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections of not less than 4, but not more than 15 years. In addition, both are charged with money laundering over $500,000.”
It appears the trouble continues. On February 9, 2013 the Chicago Tribune wrote – story titled “Man accused of trying to bribe witness“:
“A Lincolnwood man who is facing charges of illegally diverting gas and power to his pet food company was hit with more charges of trying to bribe a witness in the case, Cook County prosecutors said Saturday.
Joel Sher, 56, allegedly offered $5,000 to a witness in exchange for changing testimony in a case from 2010 where he is accused of ordering his company employees to divert nearly $2 million worth gas and power lines to his store.
At the time, prosecutors alleged that Sher ordered employees to use jackhammers to dig through concrete and asphalt and divert gas lines, as part of an elaborate system in which gas flow was diverted before it ever reached the meter.
The Sher family, whose Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. store in Wheeling was once featured on the Rachael Ray food show, also allegedly diverted electricity by tapping into main power lines on poles outside their plant, according to court papers.
The loss to Nicor Gas was estimated at $1.4 million, while ComEd lost an estimated $328,000 in energy services, officials said.
In 2010, Cook County prosecutors charged Sher, of the 6500 block of North Navajo Avenue, with felony theft and money laundering. His wife, Holly Sher, was charged with the same crimes.
That case is still pending, according to court records.
Joel Sher now faces three new criminal charges, including subornation of perjury, bribery and communicating with a witness, who was not identified in Cook County bond court Saturday.
Sher’s defense attorney declined to comment after the hearing. Sher, who was held in leiu of a $75,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.”
The Cook County Sherriff website shows five entries for inmate Joel Sher (I assume this means five charges against him): (to view the five entries for Joel Sher – go to http://www2.cookcountysheriff.org/search2/ – on this “Inmate Locator” page, enter Sher in last name, Joel first name – click Begin Search).
One: Individual Inmate Report
Jail I.D. # 2013-0209205
Inmate Full Name SHER, JOEL
Booked Date 02/09/2013
Bail Amount 500,000
Charges 720 ILCS 5 16-1(a)(1) [1014700
THEFT/UNAUTHD CONTROL/>100K
Two: Individual Inmate Report
Jail I.D. # 2013-0209205
Inmate Full Name SHER, JOEL
Booked Date 02/09/2013
Bail Amount 500,000
Charges 720 ILCS 5 16-1(a)(1) [1014700
THEFT/UNAUTHD CONTROL/>100K
Three: Individual Inmate Report
Jail I.D. # 2013-0209205
Inmate Full Name SHER, JOEL
Booked Date 02/09/2013
Bail Amount 500,000
Charges 720 ILCS 5 16-1(a)(1) [1014700
THEFT/UNAUTHD CONTROL/>100K
Four: Individual Inmate Report
Jail I.D. # 2013-0209205
Inmate Full Name SHER, JOEL
Booked Date 02/09/2013
Bail Amount 500,000
Charges 720 ILCS 5 16-1(a)(1) [1014700
THEFT/UNAUTHD CONTROL/>100K
Five: Individual Inmate Report
Jail I.D. # 2013-0209205
Inmate Full Name SHER, JOEL
Booked Date 02/09/2013
Bail Amount 500,000
Charges 720 ILCS 5 16-1(a)(1) [1014700
THEFT/UNAUTHD CONTROL/>100K
To read the court documents from 2010 on the electricity/gas theft charges, Click Here
To read the Cook County State’s Attorney Charges Press Release from March 2010, Click Here
To read the FDA Warning Letter to Evangers Pet Food from May 2011, Click Here (not related to this incident)
When anything else is learned of this, it will be shared with all.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
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