Cook County State's Attorney's Office:
Press Releases

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-3423

A Chicago man accused of scamming elderly victims in a string of incidents on the South Side pled guilty in court today and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Zelma Wortheam, 55, of 6344 S. Stewart Ave., appeared before Judge Diane Gordon Cannon and pled guilty to theft and residential burglary. The charges stemmed from five separate incidents in which Wortheam targeted senior citizens at local stores.

On April 26, the defendant went to the home of an 84-year-old woman, told her that oil was leaking from her car, and offered to fix it. The defendant drove away in the victim's car, telling her that he would return it later that day. The defendant called the victim a few days later, but failed to return her car. The car was recovered from the defendant upon his arrest on July 17. The license plate on the car had been replaced.

On June 14, the defendant approached a 78-year-old woman in the Walgreen's parking lot, 7525 S. State St., and offered to fix her car for $78. Wortheam drove the victim home to get money, and then to a gas station, where she bought oil. The defendant then grabbed the oil and the victim's money, told the victim that her car was fixed, and drove off.

On July 15, a 77-year-old woman was inside Target, 8560 S. Cottage Grove Ave., when Wortheam approached her. He told her that her car was leaking oil and drove her to AutoZone, where they bought $88 worth of supplies. The defendant then took the victim back to Target, before driving off with the supplies and receipt from AutoZone.

Also on July 15, Wortheam approached an 81-year-old woman at the Walgreen's at 7528 S. Prairie Ave. The defendant told the victim that her car may catch fire, and that the parts necessary to fix it would cost $90. The defendant followed the victim home, grabbed $100 from her hand and fled.

On July 17, Wortheam approached an 82-year-old victim at the Walgreen's at 11 E. 76th St. The defendant took $110 from the victim to fix her car. A Walgreen's security guard called police, confronted the defendant, and took back the victim's money.

At the time of these offenses, Wortheam was on parole for an aggravated vehicular hijacking conviction. Assistant State's Attorney Virginia Bigane handled the case.

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