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A payroll clerk at a North Side prep high school has been charged with theft for forging time sheets and collecting and cashing checks that were supposed to be going to students participating in a work study program at the school, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Maha Shahwan, 47, of Chicago, has been charged with one felony count of Theft.  She appeared in court this morning at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building where bond was set at $15,000 and her case was continued to November 29.

According to prosecutors, Shahwan worked as a payroll clerk at North Side College Prep High School where part of her responsibilities included submitting time sheets for students enrolled in a work study program through the school.

Over the course of 3 months, beginning in March of 2010, prosecutors allege that Shahwan began submitting work orders for students who were no longer participating in the program, including one student who had already graduated from North Side Prep and was attending college and another student who was living out of the country.  She would then process the time sheets and collect and cash the checks for her own use. 

According to prosecutors, the scheme was uncovered when several of the students received W-2 forms for time they hadn’t worked and notified the school.  The investigation revealed that three of the student’s checks were deposited directly into Shahwan’s personal bank account. The remainder were cashed at the defendant’s bank and Shahwan’s signature and account number were on the checks.

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

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