A former accounting staffer at the Elise Flagg Academy of Dance based in Geneva is under indictment, accused of pilfering a hefty sum in excess of $100,000 from the establishment. Desiree Cortez, 47, of Geneva, stands charged with three counts: theft greater than $100,000 but less than $500,000, financial exploitation of an elderly person over $50,000, and the exploitation of a victim over 70 to the tune of more than $15,000.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Cortez is suspected of directing anywhere from $146,000 to $160,000 into her own pockets. The Daily Herald notes that the alleged financial maneuvers unfolded between June 2022 and March 2024. Cortez, who was trusted with the financial reins due to the owner's lack of business acumen, reportedly paid herself significantly beyond her agreed $1,000 weekly salary using the digital payment platform Zelle and in some instances, redirected studio funds for personal expenditures including her daughter's ballet camp and even European travels.
Investigations by Geneva Police propose that Cortez employed the company's funds for an Amazon account brimming with no less than 980 personal purchases and local food delivery services like DoorDash and UberEats. These unearthed transactions, devoid of legitimate business purpose, supposedly delivered goods directly to Cortez's residence. The indictment also paints a scenario where Cortez buoyed her luxurious lifestyle with funds earmarked for the dance academy's operational costs.
Despite the financial debacle, optimism endures at the Elise Flagg Academy of Dance. Elizabeth Brubaker, a parent whose son is enrolled at the academy, offered a helping hand to stabilize the studio's financial situation after Cortez was fired in January. Brubaker stated in a text message, "We got caught up with paying all of our teachers," suggesting a semblance of financial stability has been re-established. Her son's remarkable progress at the academy, manifesting in a two-year full-ride scholarship, speaks volumes about the institution's resilience and stand against adversity.
The gravity of the situation finds its balance with the solidarity of the dance academy's community. A synod of parents came together, refreshing the studio's ambiance with fresh coats of paints and displays venerating Flagg’s storied dance career. Brubaker lauds Flagg not as "an older woman who didn’t know what she was doing," but perceives her as a "phenomenal woman with an impressive career with a commitment to training future ballet dancers," as reported by the Chicago Tribune. A preliminary hearing for Cortez is slated in Kane County court per the stipulated calendar.
