The plea agreement of Robert Ponozzo tells of a high interest loan made to a McHenry County businessman and his efforts to collect itl

The part relevant to McHenry County follows:

Beginning as early as January 1, 2005 and continuing at least through December 20, 2009, at McHenry County, in the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, and elsewhere, defendant conspired with Joseph D. Abbott (“Abbott”), and others, to commit extortion, which extortion obstructed, delayed, and affected commerce, as “extortion” and “commerce” are defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, in that

• they conspired to obtain property from an individual (“Victim 1”), with his consent, induced by the wrongful use of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear. b
• Specifically, in 2005, defendant visited Victim 1 at Victim 1’s place of business in McHenry County, Illinois and loaned Victim 1 approximately $40,000.
• After the initial loan of $40,000, defendant made additional loans to Victim 1 in McHenry County, Illinois. c
• In 2006, defendant and Victim 1 met at a Palatine, Illinois restaurant. During this meeting Victim 1 handed defendant an envelope containing $25,000 in cash which Victim 1 believed was the last in a series of payments that satisfied his loans from defendant. However, after taking possession of this envelope, defendant said Victim 1 still owed $100,000 from the previous loans defendant had made to Victim 1. At the conclusion of this meeting, defendant said, “This is serious, I want my money.” The additional $100,000 that defendant demanded from Victim 1 represented interest on the loans that defendant had made to Victim 1.
• Defendant recruited Abbott and others to use violence and other criminal means to cause harm to the person and property of Victim 1 in order to coerce Victim 1 to repay loans given to Victim 1 by defendant.
• On October 5, 2006, defendant, Abbott, and others confronted Victim 1 at Victim 1’s place of business in McHenry County, Illinois. During this confrontation, defendant demanded that Victim 1 pay off his outstanding loans made by defendant. When Victim 1 said he could not do so, defendant, Abbott, and others struck Victim 1 on his arms and about Victim’s body causing injuries and contusions to Victim 1’s head and arms requiring Victim 1 to seek medical treatment
• Defendant was incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections from November 3, 2006 through September 25, 2008, and was unable to demand that Victim 1 pay off his outstanding loans made by defendant during that 4 time.
• After defendant was released from the Illinois Department of Corrections and continuing throughout 2009, defendant repeatedly called and left voice-mail messages for Victim 1 at his residence demanding that Victim 1 either pay off his loans made by defendant or meet with defendant to discuss repayment of the loans.
• On February 8, 2009, Abbott left a note at Victim 1’s residence in McHenry County, Illinois, which requested a meeting between defendant and Victim 1 for the purpose of defendant demanding that Victim 1 repay the $100,000 to defendant.
• On February 11, 2009, defendant or someone at defendant’s request left a note at Victim 1’s residence which requested that Victim 1 call defendant.
• On February 28, 2009, Abbott used a flammable liquid to set fire to a Dodge Caravan that was parked in the driveway of Victim 1’s residence. Defendant paid Abbott $1,000 to set fire to Victim 1’s van.
• On February 28, 2009, defendant and Abbott used cellular telephones to communicate with each other and discuss collecting the loans defendant made to Victim 1 including the fact that Abbott had set fire to Victim 1’s van.
• On March 3, 2009, defendant called Victim 1’s residence and left a voice mail message that announced defendant’s intent to arrive at Victim 1’s residence within one hour and later on March 3, 2009, defendant called Victim 1’s residence and demanded to speak with Victim 1.
• In April 2009, defendant and Victim 1 engaged in a series of conversations in which defendant demanded that Victim 1 repay the loans that defendant had made to Victim 1.
• On April 8, 2009, Abbott used an incendiary device to knowingly set fire to the contents of several trash cans and the garage located at Victim 1’s residence. Defendant paid Abbott $4,000 to $5,000 to “blow up” Victim 1’s residence.

The plea agreement calls for up to fourteen years in jail.

The time will be served concurrently with a previous eighteen year sentence for racketeering conspiracy.

The whole plea agreement may be found here.

The Tribune story is here.