Inset: Calderon (top) and Patterson

UPDATE MAY 2: In court papers, prosecutors specifically charge the men with stealing an estimated $11,000 on April 15, 2018. The stolen money included $350 in “marked” or “recorded” bills. prosecutors said.

———————–

Two guards who worked for a politically-connected security company have been charged with stealing up to $100,000 from Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located at 730 North Wabash.

Police said Artemio Calderon, 25, and Jarrell Patterson, 22, used a key to enter the church at 7:30 p.m. on April 15. Inside, the pair gained access to a safe and removed cash, according to a CPD press release.

Both men were identified through surveillance images and were taken into custody on Sunday.

The two are each charged with one felony count of burglary of a house of worship. They are due in bond court on Monday afternoon. Calderon and Patterson worked for Monterrey Security, which had been contracted to provide services for Holy Name.

In an email last week, Fr. Greg Sakowicz told parishioners that “evidence of repeated criminal trespass at the Cathedral offices” had been discovered during an audit of donations to the church.

Initial estimates of losses were estimated to be between $80,000 and $100,000, according to a report last week in the Chicago Tribune. The paper said thefts had been on-going for several weeks. An investigation began earlier this month after donations collected during weekly services repeatedly fell short of norms.

Monterrey CEO Juan Gaytan’s company lost its contract to protect the Minnesota Vikings’ stadium | Monterrey

Monterrey Security has been under scrutiny for its hiring practices in other states. The company lost its contract to protect the home stadium of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings last October over “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds” of personnel problems.

The company was then spiked by the Buffalo Bills’ stadium managers after Monterrey’s application for a license was rejected by New York state officials.

In Chicago, the company continues to enjoy political connections and lucrative contracts with Soldier Field, Navy Pier, Lollapalooza, the Chicago Marathon, and most of the city’s major street festivals.

The Chicago Cubs recently replaced Monterrey with Andy Frain Services at Wrigley Field.

Support CWBChicago for as little as $49 a year or $5 a month. April’s member’s only perks include first-quarter crime performance reports for North Side neighborhoods.