Barrett Jackson Las Vegas

[COPO 70 RS/Z28]

Not this story but a Related Artical in the paper today.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1236958,5_1_WA23_LAVARR_S1.article



BY NICHOLAS ALAJAKIS [email protected]

WAUKEGAN -- On a day where they both pleaded not guilty to more than two dozen felonies, a mother and son business team from Wauconda was indicted on 29 additional charges.

A Lake County Grand Jury Wednesday afternoon indicted Katherine Laverdure, 81, and Ronald Laverdure, 56, on 29 counts of tampering with vehicle identification numbers.

Earlier in the day, the two owners of K Konstrution, 29693 N. Route 12, Wauconda, pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a June raid on their business.

Illinois Secretary of State Police, Illinois State Police and Lake County State's Attorney Office raided K Konstrution on June 18 in an investigation stemming from falsified vehicle identification plates. At the business, which was owned by Katherine and operated by Ronald, authorities found a number of vehicles and tractors with falsified VIN numbers and registrations. Police also found a number of guns and cocaine.

On Wednesday, Ronald was arraigned on four counts of driving with a revoked license, 14 counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Additionally, both Ronald and Katherine were arraigned on 25 counts related to forging vehicle identifications and titles. Not guilty pleas were entered on all counts.

As the arraignment hearing was going on before Associate Judge Christopher Stride, a grand jury was indicting the pair on 29 additional counts. According to prosecutor Suzanne Willett, all those charges stem from fake identification numbers on the company's construction equipment. Katherine and Ronald, who are both free on bond, are expected to be arraigned on the newest charges next week.

The investigation into the Laverdures was going on for quite some time, investigators said in June. Roughly 20 tractors and vehicles registered to K Konstruction or Ronald Laverdure with fraudulent identification plates were impounded at a heavy equipment auction in Morris, Ill.

Looks like they are serious about this stuff.