Deadbeat Parents Rounded Up On Valentine's Day
WHEATON, Ill. (WBBM/CBS) -- Deadbeat parents in DuPage County got an unwanted surprise on Valentine's Day.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports, DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin called them the worst offenders.
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"We targeted 42 individuals who currently owe more than $2 million in unpaid child support," Berlin said.
As a result, the Operation Love sting resulted in the arrests of six delinquent parents, owing a combined $208,000 in back child support.
Aurora resident Timothy D. Meeks, 47, was among those arrested Monday. He owes $16,728 in unpaid child support, according to Berlin's office.
"We started this operation (Monday) because it is Valentine's Day, and we want to remind the public that we are serious about going after deadbeat parents who owe child support," Berlin said.
The operation began in the early morning hours of Valentine's Day.
Four teams, each composed of a state's attorney's investigator, a DuPage County Children's Center investigator, and a county sheriff's deputy, fanned out across the region.
In addition to Meeks, authorities on Monday were seeking Aurora residents Richard C. Dahlberg, 40, who owes $79,003; and Rodolfo Ibarra, 29, who owes $26,604.
Berlin's office did not provide debt totals for all 11 of the other suspects. They include Bolingbrook resident David B. Acovelli, 46; Carol Stream resident Casey J. Koster, 39; Downers Grove resident Michael A. Lorenzini, 57; and Steven E. Cheatham, 40, of Westmont.
Also being sought were Glen Ellyn residents Alec A. Lehmann, 44, who owes $16,916, and Robert C. Scudder 32, who owes $66,241; Robert L. Dilworth, 37, of Joliet, who owes $42,732; and Roland W. Graf, 44, of Downers Grove, who owes $21,061.
Also being sought were Vincent L. Harris, 48, of Lisle, who owes $28,396; Albert G. Saldana, 44, of Westmont, who owes $74,516; and Brian J. Conrad, 34, of Wheaton, who owes $53,373.
And Bloomingdale resident Nicola Vavalle, 51, has the dubious distinction of being the most in arrears in his child support payments, with a debt of $219,034.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
