In the last 17 years, Sun City Huntley has provided unparalleled and popular resort-style senior lifestyle activities and facilities to thousands of residents in the first Del Webb active adult community outside the nation’s Sun Belt.
But now it has come at a price. It’s in the form of a theft of residents’ funds by a former staff employee.
Lupo. (Photo provided)
On Nov. 30, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office approved a charge of unauthorized control of property over $10,000, a class 2 felony, against Jennifer Lupo, a former Sun City finance manager. On Dec. 9, she turned herself in to the Huntley Police Department. She was transported to the Kane County jail to await a bond hearing which had not been scheduled as of press time for this online Sun Day report. Ms. Lupo is 38 years old and is a resident of Lake in the Hills.
Ms. Lupo was fired from her job as Sun City’s finance manager on Oct. 21, 2015. In an email to residents on that date, Executive Director Deanna Loughran said, “Jennifer has been unable to perform to the level expected by a manager within our organization.” About seven weeks later, on Dec. 15, association officials notified the Huntley Police Department about missing funds from the association. It is not known if her dismissal was related to this theft issue.
According to Deputy Police Chief Mike Klunk, an investigation was immediately launched last December that lasted nearly a year. “The investigation included multiple interviews, review of financial records, and several subpoenas,” he said. “The investigation revealed numerous unauthorized personal purchases charged to the Sun City Community Association of Huntley, in excess of $20,000. “We worked closely with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office as well as Sun City officials.”
Loughran announced this incident to community residents on Dec. 2 in her weekly email message. “At the end of 2015, management detected irregularities involving some financial transactions handled by former finance manager Jennifer Lupo. Steve Doran, Vice President of Lifestyle Compliance for our management company, First Service Residential, and I notified the board of directors and then conducted an extensive financial investigation. Improprieties were uncovered, and FSR promptly compensated the Sun City Community Association of Huntley financially. We referred the matter to the Huntley Police Department. Internal controls were reviewed and additional controls were implemented.”
FSR became directly involved in this issue because Ms. Lupo was an FSR employee, as are all of the approximately 55 staff members that coordinate and manage the community’s finances, activities, and property.
“We were in contact with Ms. Lupo and her attorney during the investigation, and in this case it was determined by all the parties that Ms. Lupo would turn herself in voluntarily,” Klunk said.
The Sun Day will publish updates about this issue as soon as information about the criminal court case becomes available.
