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USA v. Distefano — U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

USA v. Distefano — 85 court filings in the archive from U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, filed between September 10, 2024 and September 17, 2026. Among them: 32 notices, 9 motions and 7 orders.

Case facts

CourtU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Filings85 public filings
Filed2024-09-10 – 2026-09-17
Document typesnotices (32), motions (9), orders (7), exhibits (5), indictments (3), judgments (3)
Original PDFs85 of 85

Case summary

Francesco Distefano was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:24-cr-00424; a second superseding indictment was returned on December 10, 2024. A government detention filing of December 12, 2024 describes the charges as 11 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution, arising from Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan and mortgage loan applications filed between March 2020 and February 2021. He pleaded guilty to count 1ss, wire fraud. Judgment was entered March 20, 2026 and twice amended: 78 months' imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $100 assessment and restitution of $3,368,892.42. A forfeiture money judgment of $1,049,595 was entered on March 19, 2026.

Case at a glance

Defendant(s)Francesco Distefano. The government's filings refer to a co-defendant, not named in the judgment on this page
Court and docketU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, No. 1:24-CR-00424(1), Judge Jeremy C. Daniel
DistrictNorthern District of Illinois prosecutions →
ProgramPaycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, both described in the indictment and the government's filings
ChargesCount of conviction as printed: 18:1343.F Fraud By Wire, Radio, Or Television, offense ended 07/20/2020, count 1ss of the second superseding indictment
Outcome and sentencePleaded guilty to count 1ss; judgment entered March 20, 2026, amended March 31 and April 3, 2026 to correct a clerical mistake: 78 months' imprisonment, three years of supervised release, $100 assessment and $3,368,892.42 restitution, plus a $1,049,595 forfeiture money judgment. The original and superseding indictments and counts 2ss through 17ss were dismissed on the motion of the United States
Status checked2026-09-23 · against the court docket and DOJ press releases through 2026-09-22

What was Distefano sentenced to?

78 months as to count 1ss of the second superseding indictment, with a recommendation of FPC Terre Haute, Indiana, and three years of supervised release as to the same count.

What does the government say the schemes obtained?

Its December 12, 2024 filing states that two charged schemes fraudulently obtained approximately $3,330,947 in PPP and EIDL funds and would have obtained an additional $3,458,696 in fraudulent second-draw PPP loans but for the intervention of law enforcement in February 2021.

What was forfeited?

A money judgment of $1,049,595 under 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C), 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c) and Rule 32.2. The order records net sale proceeds deposited in the Asset Forfeiture Fund, including $167,878.98 for a 2016 Lamborghini Huracan, $87,378.50 for a 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S, $10,926.98 for a 2020 Land Rover Evoque and $4,670.98 for a 2017 Maserati Ghibli.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.

Filings

85 public filings from this case, in filing-date order.

  1. INDICTMENT as to Francesco Distefano (1) count(s) 1Indictment · PDF
  2. DESIGNATION Sheet: FELONY (Category 4)Dkt. 2 · PDF
  3. Order: Initial appearance and arraignment — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 6, N.D. Ill.)Order · PDF
  4. Order Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 5(f) — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 7, N.D. Ill.)Order · PDF
  5. Attorney Appearance for defendant Francesco Distefano by John C. Legutki — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 9, N.D. Ill.)PDF
  6. ATTORNEY Appearance for defendant Francesco Distefano by Jennifer Waugh CorinisDkt. 5 · PDF
  7. Notification of Docket Entry — In-Person Detention Hearing Reset to 9/17/2024 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2024-09-13)Notice · PDF
  8. Attorney Appearance for defendant Francesco Distefano by Nick Oberheiden — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 11, N.D. Ill.)PDF
  9. Notification of Docket Entry — Defendant Waives Detention Hearing and Consents to Detention — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2024-09-16)Notice · PDF
  10. Motion by USA for protective order as to Francesco Distefano Motion for Entry — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 14, N.D. Ill.)Motion · PDF
  11. Text of Proposed OrderProposed order · Dkt. 14.1 · PDF
  12. Notice of Motion by Jeffrey S. Snell for presentment of motion — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 15, N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  13. PROTECTIVE ORDER GOVERNING DISCOVERYOrder · Dkt. 16 · PDF
  14. Notification of Docket Entry — Status Hearing to Be Held by WebexNotice · PDF
  15. Notification of Docket Entry — Telephone Status Hearing Held; Continued to 10/30/2024Notice · PDF
  16. Notification of Docket Entry — Telephone Status Hearing Held; Continued to 12/12/2024Notice · PDF
  17. Motion to Withdraw as CounselMotion · PDF
  18. Notification of Docket Entry — Motion Hearing Set for 12/12/2024 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2024-11-18)Notice · PDF
  19. Notice of withdrawal of motion by Francesco DistefanoNotice · PDF
  20. Notification of Docket Entry — Motion to Withdraw as Attorney Withdrawn — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2024-11-22)Notice · PDF
  21. Unopposed Motion to Withdraw as Counsel — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill.)Motion · PDF
  22. Attorney Appearance for defendant Francesco Distefano by Robert A. Fisher — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 26, N.D. Ill.)PDF
  23. Attorney Appearance for defendant Francesco Distefano by Barry A. Spevack — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 28, N.D. Ill.)PDF
  24. Notice of Filing — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  25. MOTION by Francesco Distefano For Hearing On DetentionMotion · PDF
  26. Notice of Motion by Barry A. Spevack for presentment of motion — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 30, N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  27. Superseding Indictment as to Francesco Distefano (1) count(s) 2-11, 12, 13-17 — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 31, N.D. Ill.)Indictment · PDF
  28. DESIGNATION Sheet: FELONY (Category 4)Dkt. 32 · PDF
  29. Motion to Withdraw as Attorney Granted; Detention Motion Referred to Magistrate Judge — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill.)Motion · PDF
  30. Notification of Docket Entry — Case Referred to Magistrate Judge Cole for Detention Hearing — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2024-12-05)Notice · PDF
  31. Transfer of Case to the Executive Committee for a Referral to…PDF
  32. Notification of Docket Entry — Hearing on Motion for Release from Custody Set for 12/13/2024 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2024-12-06)Notice · PDF
  33. Second Superseding Indictment as to Francesco Distefano (1) count(s) 1s-11s, 12s — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 39, N.D. Ill.)Indictment · PDF
  34. DESIGNATION Sheet: FELONY (Category 4)Dkt. 40 · PDF
  35. Government's Memorandum in Support of Continued Detention — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 45, N.D. Ill.)PDF
  36. Notification of Docket Entry — Telephone Status Hearing Held; Status Hearing Set for 1/30/2025Notice · PDF
  37. Order: An Arraignment hearing was held on 12/13/24 — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 46, N.D. Ill.)Order · PDF
  38. Notice of Correction 46.(gcy,) (Main Document 47 replaced on 12/17/2024) — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 47, N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  39. Notification of Docket Entry — Status Hearing Set for 1/7/2025 Stricken — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2025-01-06)Notice · PDF
  40. Notification of Docket Entry — Status Hearing to Be Held by WebexNotice · PDF
  41. Notification of Docket Entry — Telephone Status Hearing Held; Continued to 4/1/2025Notice · PDF
  42. Notification of Docket Entry — Status Hearing Reset to 4/8/2025 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2025-03-31)Notice · PDF
  43. Notification of Docket Entry — Status Hearing to Be Held by WebexNotice · PDF
  44. Notification of Docket Entry — Telephone Status Hearing Held; Continued to 6/10/2025Notice · PDF
  45. Motion by Francesco Distefano for release from custody Unopposed to set date for Hearing — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 61, N.D. Ill.)Motion · PDF
  46. Exhibit Appearance BondExhibit · Dkt. 61.1 · PDF
  47. Exhibit Order Setting Conditions of Release (Proposed)Exhibit · PDF
  48. Notice of Filing as toFrancesco Distefano regarding Motion — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 62, N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  49. Notification of Docket Entry — Motion Hearing Set for 4/24/2025 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2025-04-18)Notice · PDF
  50. Notification of Docket Entry — Motion Hearing Held — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2025-04-24)Notice · PDF
  51. FORFEITURE AGREEMENT by USA as to Francesco Distefano (Received…PDF
  52. Motion by Francesco Distefano for return of property Unopposed — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 69, N.D. Ill.)Motion · PDF
  53. Exhibit List of propertyExhibit · Dkt. 69.1 · PDF
  54. Exhibit Letter withdrawing FOIA RequestExhibit · PDF
  55. Notice of of Filing as toFrancesco Distefano regarding Motion — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 70, N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  56. Notice of Motion by Robert A. Fisher for presentment of motion for return — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 75, N.D. Ill.)Notice · PDF
  57. Notification of Docket Entry — Status Hearing to Be Held by WebexNotice · PDF
  58. Notification of Docket Entry — Telephone Status Hearing Held; Unopposed Motion for Return of PropertyNotice · PDF
  59. Change of Plea Hearing Reset to 2:00 p.m. (Time Change Only) — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill.)PDF
  60. Order as to Francesco Distefano — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 81, N.D. Ill.)Order · PDF
  61. PLEA Agreement as to Francesco DistefanoPlea agreement · PDF
  62. Clerk's Minutes — Revocation Hearing Held — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill.)Minute entry · PDF
  63. ORDER as to Francesco DistefanoOrder · Dkt. 88 · PDF
  64. In-Court Hearing Set for July 23, 2025 at 2:00 P.M — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill.)PDF
  65. Transcript of Proceedings as to Francesco Distefano — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 93, N.D. Ill.)Transcript · PDF
  66. Notification of Docket Entry — Case Referred to Probation Office for Presentence Report — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2025-11-18)Notice · PDF
  67. Notification of Docket Entry — Order Amended; Presentence Report Due 2/3/2026 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2025-12-03)Notice · PDF
  68. ATTORNEY Appearance for defendant Francesco Distefano by Jacqueline Sharon JacobsonDkt. 98 · PDF
  69. MOTION re bond 66 , forfeiture agreement 68 Motion to Exonerate…Motion · PDF
  70. ORDER EXONERATING BONDOrder · Dkt. 101 · PDF
  71. Transcript of Proceedings as to Francesco DiStefano — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 109, N.D. Ill.)Transcript · PDF
  72. Exhibit Exhibits 1-14Exhibit · Dkt. 110.1
  73. Notification of Docket Entry — Sentencing Hearing Reset to 3/18/2026 — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2026-02-27)Notice · PDF
  74. RESPONSE by USA to sentencing memorandum 110Response or reply · PDF
  75. RESPONSE by USA to response 116 , sentencing memorandum 110…Response or reply · PDF
  76. Motion by USA for forfeiture as to Francesco Distefano for Entry — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 118, N.D. Ill.)Motion · PDF
  77. Notification of Docket Entry — Sentencing Held; Motion for Forfeiture Money Judgment Order Granted — USA v. Distefano (N.D. Ill., 2026-03-18)Notice · PDF
  78. FROFEITURE MONEY JUDGMENT ORDER as to Francesco DistefanoPDF
  79. Judgment (Sentencing Order) as to Francesco Distefano (1) — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 125, N.D. Ill.)Judgment · PDF
  80. Amended Judgment as to Francesco Distefano — USAJudgment · PDF
  81. AMENDED JUDGMENT - Correction of Sentence for Clerical Mistake…Judgment · PDF
  82. Forfeiture motion concerning Sargis UrumiehPDF
  83. Forfeiture orderPDF
  84. Agreed motion to extend third-party forfeiture petition deadlinePDF
  85. Agreed order extending third-party forfeiture petition deadlinePDF

Other cases in the archive from U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Court, dates and docket numbers are as recorded on the filings.

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