Former Hackney's Employee Accused of Embezzling $186K, Pleads Not Guilty

A Glenview woman charged with embezzling more than $186,000 from pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts of financial crimes Thursday in Cook County Criminal Court in Skokie. 

Former Hackney’s waitress and bookkeeper Shawn Dragman, 52, was originally charged March 18 with one count of felony theft. On April 8 she was indicted on one count of criminal financial crimes enterprise, two counts of theft in excess of $100,000 and five charges of forgery, according to Cook County State’s Attorney spokesman Andy Conklin. 

Criminal financial crimes enterprise and theft are Class 1 felonies, according to Conklin. They can be punished by four to 15 years in prison. The forgery charges are Class 3 felonies. A conviction could mean a prison sentence of two to five years. 

A long time Hackney’s employee, Dragman began working for there as a waitress nearly 25 years ago. She later became a part-time bookkeeper with signature authority on the company’s bank accounts that allowed her to prepare and issue checks, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. 

Dragman allegedly began taking cash from Hackney’s daily deposits and issuing checks in the same amount in July 2008, according to Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Karyn Stratton. Since the bank does not send customers copies of deposit tickets or deposited receipts, Dragman’s activities went unnoticed for more than two years. 

When the bank sent Hackney’s a correction notice in August 2010 with a copy of a check enclosed, the restaurant office manager noticed inconsistencies and Hackney's began a review, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said.

Hackney’s co-owner Bill Blair had no comment. 

Dragman's attorney, Jake Rubinstein, told Judge Garritt Howard his client was pleading not guilty to all charges. Dragman is also represented by Jim Knibbs who was not present in court.

The prosecution is currently gathering information in the case that will be shared with Dragman.

“I have tendered financial reports and a compact disc of the victim restaurant’s bank records, bank still images from the ATM machine and other records,” Stratton said. 

Dragman remains free on $50,000 bond. Her next court date is at 9:30 a.m. May 25 at the Skokie branch of the Circuit Court of Cook County.