Woman allegedly took club money
A former treasurer and event chairman for a club that stages an annual show of vintage British cars in the Village of East Davenport has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing money from the organization.
Naomi S. Swanson, 69, of 4828 47th Ave., Moline, is charged with theft, a Class 3 felony under Illinois law. She is accused of writing checks to herself or to cash from an account of the Quad-City British Auto Club, according to documents on file in Rock Island County Circuit Court.
Swanson is scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing on the matter, said Mark Senko, an assistant Rock Island county state’s attorney. Senko said he could not discuss details of the case or the amount Swanson is accused of taking. Swanson did not return a telephone call seeking comment Monday.
According to a document, Swanson wrote the checks between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 12, 2005. She was arrested by Moline police Sept. 14 following an investigation and spent four days in the Rock Island County Jail before a relative posted bond and gained her release. She will have a public defender, but a specific attorney has not yet been assigned to her case, a spokesman for the Rock Island County Public Defender’s office said.
Jim Scott, vice president of the car club, said Swanson served simultaneously in several official capacities for the group up until about a year ago “because no one else wanted to do it.” The club has about 90 members in the Quad-City region and takes in about $3,000 a year from membership dues and the annual car show.
“There is some money there,” Scott said, but added he could not talk in detail about the case or about Swanson.
The club sponsors monthly events such as dinners and drives. Scott said he did not expect the alleged theft to harm the activities of the club. The annual Heartland British Autofest in the Village of East Davenport is the club’s big event of the year. It is held in mid-August.
Tom Saul can be contacted at (563)383-2453 or tsaul@qctimes.com.