By Timothy Inklebarger

Staff Reporter

The owner of a gay nightclub in Oak Park, who claimed his business was the target of a hate crime in 2012, has pled guilty to burning the club himself in an insurance fraud scheme.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office confirmed that Frank Elliott, owner of the Velvet Rope, formerly located at 728 Lake St., reached a plea deal admitting to arson and attempted insurance fraud in return for two years of probation. Elliott also was ordered to pay a $1,179 fine and restitution of $107,000, of which $97,000 would go to Badger Mutual and $10,000 to building owner R.P. Fox & Associates.

The business was set ablaze in June of 2012. Wednesday Journal reported that there was "evidence of anti-gay graffiti on a wall inside the nightclub."

Elliott said at the time that he believed the fire may have been a hate crime.

Oak Park Chief of Police Rick Tanksley said in a telephone interview praised law enforcement officials "who were able to get to the bottom of this and prove that it was not a hate crime but a crime for profit."

"I'm very happy that the investigators and state's attorney were able to gather strong evidence which resulted in an admission of guilt," Tanksley said. "Oak Park is a welcoming community of all people, and crimes like this that were initially thought to be a hate crime causes a lot of anxiety in the community."

* The original story was updated to include comments from Oak Park Police Chief Rick Tanksley.

Contact:

Email: tim@oakpark.com