Prosecutors: Manager bilked Itasca company out of over $1 million

A supply-chain manager at a northwest suburban office technology manufacturer has been charged with bilking the business out of more than $1 million over almost six years.

McHenry resident Abel Aguirre, 45, faces four felony theft charges and six felony forgery charges involving his former employer, Itasca-based Fellowes, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

Starting in April 2008, Aguirre used his position at Fellowes to buy materials from his own company, Global Commerce Group, Inc., at inflated prices, siphoning more than $1 million through February 2014, prosecutors said.

He used the same scheme with another supplier, causing Fellowes to waste another $500,000, prosecutors said. Aguirre is also accused of signing someone else’s name on paperwork for his company’s dealings with Fellowes.

His employer eventually caught on and contacted the Itasca police. A grand jury returned the 10-count indictment against Aguirre Nov. 22, and he was arrested Thursday.

Aguirre was released from jail after posting 10 percent of his $250,000 bail.