(CHICAGO) A Northbrook couple will serve federal prison time for their decade-long, cross-country shoplifting spree stealing Furbys, Legos and American Girl dolls, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood sentenced Branko Bogdanov, 60, to four years in prison Monday afternoon. Two hours later, the judge also sentenced Bogdanov’s wife, 55-year-old Lela, to three years in prison.
The ethnic Romani immigrants from the former Yugoslavia apologized to the judge for their scheme, which may have netted them as much as $9.5 million, prosecutors say. But the judge wondered aloud if the Bogdanovs were simply sorry they got caught. Their 37-year-old daughter, Julia, is already serving a 15-month prison sentence for her role in the caper.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey said the taxes on the tony Bogdanov home in Northbrook — shared by 12 members of the family who are preparing to lose it — hover around $29,000 a year. He said Branko Bogdanov appeared to have no legitimate source of income to pay for it.
But Branko Bogdanov later told the judge, “if I was wrong, I admit. I accept it. But I didn’t make my living from stealing.”
The three Bogdanovs were arrested in March 2014 by the U.S. Secret Service, which teamed up with investigators from Toys “R” Us, eBay and Barnes & Noble to nab them. Authorities said they found $74,698 in merchandise in the family’s home.
The federal case against the trio was built around the cooperation of an informant who told prosecutors he acted as the Bogdanovs’ fence.
Branko Bogdanov, also known as Franko Kalath, had a “decades-long, unbroken pattern of crime” dating back to the 1970s, Havey said. He wrote in a memo that Branko Bogdanov has seven prior convictions “in almost every part of the country, from the Midwest to the South, from East to West.” His wife’s criminal history dates back to her teenage years.
Their latest scheme took them through Louisiana, Tennessee, Maryland, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. They grabbed Legos, Furbys and baby items and tucked them into a blue lining under a skirt Lela Bogdanov would wear. For example, when the Bogdanovs left a Toys “R” Us in New Orleans, investigators said they watched as a gust of wind blew up her dress — revealing a box hidden in the lining underneath.
Murdoch Walker, Branko Bogdanov’s defense attorney, told the judge his client was simply trying to do what “he needed to do for his family.” Branko Bogdanov has already served 33 months of the 48-month sentence handed down by the judge.
But Lela Bogdanov’s attorney, Michael Goode, said his client cannot read or write, doesn’t know exactly how old she is and relies completely on the kindness of family and strangers. Prosecutors have acknowledged they don’t even know her real name. She also goes by Maca Moa, but prosecutors say her true legal name “could be” Lela Konstantinov.
“I have a client who is two feet out of the stone age, living in Chicago,” Goode said.
The defense attorney said Lela Bogdanov’s parents “gave” her to her husband. They married when she was about 14. Goode said she simply did what he told her to do.
“This is life,” Lela Bogdanov told the judge shortly before she was sentenced. “My life, no good. My husband in the jail. My daughter in jail.”
It’s the last weekend to get out to U.S. Cellular Field and grab a helmet full of nachos before the Chicago White Sox regular season comes to an end…and U.S. Cellular Field still goes by that name. Here’s some of the fun promotions.
Midnight Circus in the Parks
Date: Every weekend through October 16th!
Time: Various
Location: Various
A big show under the big top comes to local parks in Chicago each fall since 2007. The Midnight Circus has breath-taking local performers, including two rescue dogs, perform while raising funds for Chicago parks! In the past 10 years, the organization has raised more than $800,000 for the Chicago Park District!
From the website: Midnight Circus was a young, brash, troupe of performers on our first adventure together in Europe. We were enchanted with the intimate theatrical circuses we saw in the small parks and piazzas in Italy and France. The idea that families could come together in their very own communities and enjoy unique, exciting, world-class entertainment was a revelation to us. We were of the mind that you had to travel across town, fight traffic, and spend time and money parking in order to enjoy such a treat. We said to ourselves that one day we would create such a venue in our country, in our city, in our community.
Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Joe’s Live in Rosemont
SWIZZLESTEVE presents “”MONSTERS of MOCK” Saturday, October 1st at Joe’s Live Rosemont featuring tributes to Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, Scorpions, Def Leopard & Poison.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Date: Sunday, October 2
Time: Registration 7:30 a.m., Event Start: 9:00 a.m.
Location: 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL
Help finish the fight against breast cancer by joining 94.7 WLS-FM and the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of North Shore 5K walk on Sunday, October 2nd at UL in Northbrook!
When you join Making Strides, you are supporting the world’s leader in the fight to end breast cancer. The money you raise helps the American Cancer Society do the most for people with breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event with 94.7 WLS-FM!
Sigur Rós
Date: Friday, September 30
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Chicago Theatre
Sigur Rós will be hitting up the Chicago Theatre for their North American Tour this fall and it’s a special one. The band won’t be touring with an opener… Instead, they’re rocking two sets (+ intermission) beginning at 8:30pm sharp!
Click to visit the page from sister station, 101 WKQX!
Lincoln Square Apple Fest
Date: Saturday, October 1 – Sunday, October 2
Time: Starting at 9 a.m.
Location: Lincoln and Leland, Lincoln Square
According to the website, dozens of vendors participate in the event yearly, selling everything from candy apples to scarves and hats. Stop by and pick up a fresh baked apple pie, a bushel of apples, hot apple cider, or even an apple pizza. Bring the kids along and hang out in the Kid Zone where children’s activities will occur throughout the day. Or relax in Giddings Plaza and listen to the wonderful sounds of local musicians. There’s sure to be something for everyone at Apple Fest!
Fish’N Kids
Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Northerly Island
From the Chicago Park District website:
Fee: Free
Age Range: 8 and up
Family Fishing, Fly Tying & Tenkara Fly Fishing Classes
Fishing equipment and bait provided at no cost; using Spincast Rod & Reel combos, hooks, weight, floats, jigs and lures. Tenkara fly rods. (A unique form of fly fishing.) Professional Instruction by Chicago’s Fish`N Kids Program Fishing Instructors. Learn how to fish Chicago’s Lagoons and our Lake Front Harbors. Learn how to rig the equipment we provide easily and simply, and begin to quickly catch fish.
Perfect for everyone ages 8 and up, 60 minute classes include in-class instruction and on-the-water fishing (weather permitting). Fish are not really hard to catch. You and your family can learn how we help 10,000 people per summer catch fish. Bring clothing for all kinds of weather; we fish in the rain and wind, hot or cool.
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
The Illinois Department of Transporation is warning drivers to expect delays on the Stevenson Expressway, under Pulaski Road.
The Pulaski bridge needs to be inspected.
Temporary lane closures are scheduled between 7 and 11 a.m.
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
BLUE LINE Sep 30 – Oct 1 10pm Fri to 5am Sat
Boarding Change, Delays Between Cumberland and Jefferson Park
How does this affect my trip? Board/exit trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Harlem (O’Hare branch) station.
Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Cumberland and Jefferson Park, resulting in minor delays.
Allow extra travel time.
Why is service being changed? We are performing station construction to improve the Harlem (O’Hare branch) station as part of the Your New Blue modernization program.
Oct 1 – 2 10pm Sat to 6am Sun
Oct 2 – 3 10pm Sun to 4am Mon
Boarding Change, Delays Between Jefferson Park and Irving Park
How does this affect my trip? Board/exit trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Montrose station.
Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Jefferson Park and Irving Park, resulting in minor delays.
Allow extra travel time.
Why is service being changed? We are performing station construction to improve the Montrose station as part of the Your New Blue modernization program.
GREEN LINE Sat, Oct 1 6am to 6pm
Delays Between Roosevelt and Cermak-McCormick Place
How does this affect my trip? Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Roosevelt and Cermak-McCormick Place.
Allow extra travel time.
Why is service being changed? We are performing structural maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Green Line.
ORANGE LINE Sat, Oct 1 6am to 6pm
Delays Between Roosevelt and Halsted
How does this affect my trip? Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Roosevelt and Halsted, resulting in minor delays.
Allow extra travel time.
Why is service being changed? We are performing structural maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Orange Line.
Oct 2 – 3 10pm Sun to 4am Mon
Boarding Change, Delays Between Roosevelt and Ashland
How does this affect my trip? Board/exit all trains on the Loop-bound side of the platform at the Halsted station.
Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Roosevelt and Ashland, resulting in minor delays.
Allow extra travel time.
Why is service being changed? We are performing track maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Orange Line.
(Northbrook) A document storage company tossed sensitive medical records into an unlocked Dumpster outside its north suburban office, putting thousands of people’s identities at risk, according to a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
The suit, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court against FileFax Inc, claims hundreds of files containing complete medical records were discovered discarded in a dumpster outside the firm’s Northbrook office.
The medical records belonged to patients of Suburban Lung Associates, which operates out of several locations in the north and northwest suburbs, a statement from the attorney general’s office said. The company contracted with FileFax to maintain and destroy patient medical records.
The lawsuit claims FileFax “failed to provide safe, secure and proper collection, retention, storage and destruction of Suburban Lung records.” It also alleges violations of the state’s Personal Information Protection Act and the Deceptive Business Practices Act.
In some instances, FileFax disposed of records in an unlocked garbage Dumpster outside of its offices that was accessible to the public, according to the suit.
“This company brazenly violated the law and jeopardized the personal information and privacy of thousands of Illinois residents,” Madigan said in the statement.
(NORTHBROOK) A north suburban man allegedly hacked into three computers, stealing “private” photos of the female owners, then demanded more, according to police.
A woman contacted Northbrook police in July and reported someone had hacked into her Facebook and Dropbox accounts and stole images of her that were “private in nature,” Northbrook Police Cmdr. Mike O’Malley said.
He then demanded the woman send him additional photos or he would release the stolen ones, O’Malley said.
Northbrook police conducted a four-month investigation and identified 24-year-old Demetrius Patton as a suspect, O’Malley said.
Authorities executed a search warrant at his home in the 2100 block Rugen Road in Glenview on Nov. 25, and seized his computer, which was sent to a crime lab, O’Malley said. Patton is unemployed and lives with his mother.
Patton was charged with two counts of soliciting child pornography and three counts of intimidation, but the investigation remains open, O’Malley said.
Two girls from the North Shore area have also been identified as victims of the scheme, and there may be more, O’Malley said.
