Wyllie Fraud Trial: Status Hearing Delayed Again To June

NEW LENOX, IL — After a joint status report in March, former Lincoln-Way District 210 Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie's status hearing was reset to a date in June, according to court documents. Wyllie was indicted in 2017 on five counts of wire fraud and a single count of embezzlement, and his trial was supposed to start in November 2018, but has been delayed several times.

Proceedings have been delayed several times due to Wyllie's "serious and ongoing medical conditions" that he has coped with since August 2018, according to the joint status report.

In December 2020, the court ordered a joint status report to be filed which would address "what work remains before they will be in a position to determine how this case will proceed" and whether a March 9 status hearing should be rescheduled or a change of plea hearing set.

Wyllie's counsel informed the government that his serious medical conditions remain unchanged, according to the joint status report. He is represented by Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago.

"While the parties are not yet in a position to determine how this case will proceed, the parties are committed to continuing their dialogue about what work remains before they will be in a position to determine how this case will proceed," court documents read.

Patch reported in 2018 that Wyllie's medical records were filed in court under seal. At that time, lawyers for both sides agreed that Wyllie's health wouldn't allow him to prepare for an upcoming jury trial. The case has since been delayed for nearly two years.

The court reset the status hearing date for a date during the week of June 7, court documents state.

"At that time, the parties will be better position to address the court's inquiry as to how this case will proceed," according to the joint status report.

Wyllie is accused of misusing school district bond money to finance his personal projects, according to court records. Prosecutors said that included spending $50,000 on Superdog, a dog-training school.

The federal indictment also accuses Wyllie of concealing the district's "true financial health" while he was superintendent.

While under his leadership, the district generated at least $7 million in additional debt, according to the complaint. In 2015, Lincoln-Way landed on the state's financial watch list, which led to the closing of Lincoln-Way North High School in June 2016.

If convicted, Wyllie could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count. The embezzlement charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence if convicted.

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