Chicago Radio: Collusion Suspected In Thefts From WDCB-FM

John Valenta

An alleged theft at the College of DuPage radio station in Illinois went on for more than twice as long — and was twice as costly — as prosecutors charged this week, a high-ranking administrator at the college has alleged.

The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that Lynn Sapyta, the community college's controller, as saying phony invoices were submitted for 16 years and the college was bilked of $440,000 before radio engineer John Valenta's abrupt resignation February 2014. Valenta was charged with felony theft Thursday.

In the administration's most extensive comments about the scandal to date, Sapyta told the college's board of trustees Thursday that Valenta could not have acted alone to pull off such an extensive theft over such long a period of time. However, she stopped far short of calling the assistance criminal in nature.

"I believe there was some kind of collusion, and it's usually one of three things," she said in a later interview with the Tribune. "Sometimes it's done on purpose and people are working together to make money. Other times someone in authority turns a blind eye or a supervisor is plain irresponsible."

Chicago Tribubne graphic

DuPage County prosecutors charged Valenta with stealing more than $200,000 from the college between June 2006 and December 2013. While working for the college's jazz radio station, WDCB 90.9 FM, Valenta was alleged to have submitted phony invoices from his side business for materials the school never received and work he never performed.

If convicted, Valenta, 65, faces up to 15 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Prosecutors would not comment on the college's timeline or its allegations of collusion.

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