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Highland Park, IL - A Glenview woman, who stole approximately $230,000 from the Ravinia Music Festival Association when she was an employee, had pled guilty to the felony crime.
Michelle Bringham, 39, charged with theft of over $100,000, must pay the money back in restitution and is on probation for the next two years, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
As part of her plea, Ms. Bringham has also agreed to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and treatment.
In August 2023, Raoul's office announced Bringham was working as an accounting coordinator with the RFA, the non-profit that operates the Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park.
She reportedly wrote checks to a fake vendor to steal funds from the association. Bringham also allegedly used another employee's signature stamp on checks without the employee's permission.
"Anyone who abuses their position of authority for their own financial gain must be held accountable," Raoul said in a statement released Tuesday. "I would like to thank the FBI for their assistance in investigating this case. My office will continue to collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate financial crimes and hold perpetrators accountable."
Assistant Attorney General Haley Bookhout prosecuted the case as part of Raoul's Public Integrity Bureau.
Full Disclosure: This reporter works as a seasonal bartender at the Ravinia Music Festival location in Highland Park, and has no knowledge of this employee prior to this story becoming public knowledge.
