CHICAGO, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Two suspects were in jail this weekend for allegedly stealing checks from President Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago, prosecutors said.
The pair allegedly pinched two checks made out to legitimate vendors and deposited them in bank accounts they had opened under the vendors' names.
Cook County prosecutors alleged Jessie Adams and Willard Elam allegedly stole around $50,000 earlier this month before they were tripped up when the vendors complained about not being paid.
A campaign spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times that three checks had been stolen. "We're pleased that they (police) are dealing with the issue swiftly, and don't expect this to have any impact upon the campaign," said spokesman Ben Finkenbinder.
Prosecutors said Adams worked for a general contractor and Elam was a laborer. They allegedly gained access to the campaign offices along with a third suspect who was still at large, by posing as the owners of companies that do business with the campaign organization.
Prosecutors said Adams allegedly instructed Elam and the third suspect to open the illegitimate bank accounts at separate bank branches in the suburbs, the Chicago Tribune said.
