Spanky Stone/Eli Miller | WCSO Photo
On October 30, 2025, at approximately 1:55 p.m., Will County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of West North Street in Manhattan for a report of a fraud in progress. Upon arrival, deputies met with officers from the Manhattan Police Department who had two individuals detained in a parking lot. Manhattan PD had been alerted by a local bank about suspicious withdrawals made by an elderly customer.
Deputies interviewed the victim and learned she had been contacted by two people who claimed her driveway needed to be sealed. Over the course of three weeks, the men accompanied the victim to her bank multiple times, convincing her to withdraw large sums of money totaling more than $10,000.
24-year-old Spanky S. Stone of Chicago and 69-year-old Eli Miller of Cicero were taken into custody and brought back to the Will County Public Safety Complex where they were interviewed by detectives. Based on statements that were made and evidence gathered, both men were transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and have initially been charged with Aggravated Home Repair Fraud – Victim Over the Age of 60.
This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
Sheriff Mike Kelley stated, “Our elderly residents are among the most vulnerable targets for scammers who use trust and intimidation to take advantage of them. I’m grateful to our deputies, the Manhattan Police Department, and the alert bank employees whose quick actions prevented this situation from becoming worse.”
If you believe you may have been a victim of these offenders or a similar scam, please contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (815) 727-8574.