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An employee of Nike Town has been charged with stealing nearly $20,000 from the Michigan Avenue Store since the beginning of this year, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Ellean Hughes, 27, of Chicago has been charged with one count of theft, a class three felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. She was taken into custody Tuesday when she reported for work.

According to prosecutors, Nike Town managers became suspicious when they noticed Hughes’ cash register was processing an unusually large number of returns. When they began to more closely monitor her activity they found no customers were present when she was processing the transactions and the returned funds were credited to a personal debit card.

The investigation found that defendant had stolen $19,239.14.

Hughes appeared in Central Bond Court at 26th Street yesterday where her bail was set at $25,000 by Judge Peggy Chiampas. Her case was continued to August 2 for a preliminary hearing.

The public is reminded that charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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