Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Misappropriating Funds From Non-Profit Organization

CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars from a non-profit organization for physically and psychologically challenged children.

From 2011 to 2016, STUART NITZKIN worked as Executive Director of an Illinois-based non-profit organization whose mission was the rehabilitation of physically and psychologically challenged children.  During that time, Nitzkin knowingly submitted to the organization invoices and receipts for payment and reimbursement of expenses that Nitzkin claimed were incurred on behalf of the organization.  In reality, Nitzkin knew the expenses were actually incurred by Nitzkin for his and others’ personal benefit.

The expenses included luxury vacations for Nitzkin and his family to Nevada, Florida, Ireland, and Puerto Rico, personal golfing expenses, tickets to professional sporting events, personal medical expenses, real estate taxes for his family residence, health club dues, and household goods.  Nitzkin also pocketed cash from the organization’s fundraising events and took money from the charity’s bank accounts through ATM and other withdrawals, all for his personal benefit.

Nitzkin, 45, of Deerfield, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a wire fraud charge.  In addition to the 42-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis on Thursday fined Nitzkin $150,000 and ordered him to pay the remaining restitution of $516,400.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri H. Mecklenburg.