Former Business Dean at Illinois College of Law Charged With Theft and Forgery

The University of Illinois College of Law has already had a bad year with allegations of less qualified students being given entrance into the school as favors for politicians. Now, Dean Ming Liu Bengtsson, 38, the assistant business dean at the law school has been arrested for allegedly stealing $20,000 at her previous job working for Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs. She recently resigned her position.

She has been charged with theft, official misconduct and forgery, according to Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. Police allege that she stole $20,000 intended to promote tourism while working as a project administrator from 1997 through June 2006. They accuse her of writing a $20,000 check payable to herself, then altered the payee in the electronic accounting system so it appeared to be payable to the U.S. Postal Service. She then allegedly forged the signature of the Chicago Tourism Fund’s executive director and deposited the check into her personal checking account.

Both she and her husband, Lars O. Bengtsson, a professor of finance, were hired by the school.

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