Judge Says She Was a Victim of Chicago Con Man

On October 30, Cook County Judge Jeanne Wrenn said she had been a victim of Jawad Fakroune, a convicted felon who presented himself to others as Pablo Escobar’s son. Wrenn, who handles domestic violence cases, confirmed she had once been involved with Fakroune but did not explain what happened. “I’m a victim,” she said.

At 46, Fakroune received a prison term of six years and six months for extorting and assaulting restaurant owner Adolfo Garcia over a claimed debt. In a separate tax-fraud case, he admitted to leaving $6.6 million in state and federal taxes unpaid. His sentencing in that case is scheduled for December 1; under his plea agreement, he faces an additional 12 to 42 months in prison.

Former Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker aide Lisa Duarte also had a relationship with Fakroune, federal authorities said. The FBI says he obtained $168,000 from her through a gold investment scheme. Duarte handled financial transactions for him, including payments related to properties. She has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Authorities also say Fakroune obtained $2.45 million from an unnamed NBA player by promising to invest the money in cannabis and shipping-container ventures. Investigators say the funds went instead toward property and luxury purchases. Duarte transferred portions of the money to others and toward a Lemont mansion, court records show.

Patricia “Trisha” Rooney, who served on the governing board of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, also had a personal relationship with Fakroune, court testimony said. She was dining alongside him at a restaurant during his gunpoint confrontation with Garcia, according to testimony. Fakroune is awaiting sentencing in the tax case while serving his extortion sentence.