June 04--A 35-year-old woman is accused of luring an 86-year-old man into a romantic relationship and then stealing more than $1.2 million in cash after claiming she had cancer and needed a "spinal transplant," police said.
Candy Ely "baited" the man "into a false relationship as a love interest," after meeting him five years ago in a restaurant, according to the Illinois State Police. Ely was married at the time.
Ely told the man she had cancer and needed money for treatment and "even a spinal transplant," the state police said in a statement.
Chicago police records show Ely was first charged with taking money from the man after a theft was reported March 14 in the 4100 block of North Mozart Avenue.
State police and Chicago police worked together to investigate the case, using the state police Ruse Burglary Task Force. Ely was arrested recently at a traffic stop by state police and booked at the Jefferson Park district police station.
Ely was charged with theft by deception of more than $500,000 and was ordered held in lieu of $90,000 bail during a hearing Wednesday before Cook County Criminal Court Judge James Brown, according to court records.
Ely, of the 3500 block of West Diversey Avenue, already was on probation after she was found guilty of stealing items Oct. 25 from a retail store in the 1200 block of North Larrabee Street. So Brown ordered her held without bail because of the probation violation.
She is due back in court Friday
