NW Illinois News

Li Arellano, Illinois State Senate District 37 Senator, has commented on the arrest of retired Rock Island County court services administrative assistant Leisa Streeter. Streeter is accused of stealing $900,000, an incident Arellano compares to a previous case involving a former Dixon employee charged and imprisoned for fraud.

"After local and state police investigations, retired Rock Island County employee Leisa Streeter has been arrested and charged with theft of government property, forgery, money laundering, and official misconduct," said Li Arellano, Jr., State Senator, according to Facebook. "Many of the details are awfully similar to the fraud committed in my hometown of Dixon: a trusted employee set up a fake bank account and stole money over 20 years using forged invoices. In fact both governments were being robbed simultaneously for a time! We MUST pass stronger ethics and anti-corruption laws in Illinois."

Leisa Streeter, aged 62, faces multiple charges including theft, theft of government property, forgery, money laundering, and three counts of official misconduct. According to a joint news release from the county prosecutor and sheriff's office, Streeter allegedly embezzled $900,000 from Rock Island County during her tenure as an administrative assistant in court services. The investigation began after her retirement when irregularities were identified by the Treasurer’s and Probation Departments. It was discovered that in 2003 she had opened a fraudulent bank account and continued to withdraw funds until 2024 for personal use. She is currently held in the Rock Island County Jail without bond.

Screenshot of State Senator Li Arellano's May 15 Facebook postator | State Senator Li Arellano's Facebook page

According to Our Quad Cities, the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Illinois State Police Special Investigative Unit executed a search warrant at Streeter’s residence leading to her arrest. Initially detained at Mercer County Jail, further actions are pending. Meanwhile, Rock Island County Board Chair Richard "Quijas" Brunk refrained from commenting on this specific case but noted that measures are being taken to improve financial oversight within the county administration.

Arellano emphasized that Streeter’s arrest underscores persistent issues with government fraud. "Our current systems are broken," he said. "Oversight is insufficient, accountability is inconsistent, and taxpayers continue to pay the price." He advocated for stronger ethics laws and mandatory audits of government accounts. Additionally, Arellano supports using modern fraud detection tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent misuse before it escalates. "Illinoisans deserve a government that protects public funds with the same care and scrutiny expected in the private sector—transparent, accountable, and built to serve the people," he concluded.