Lake County Gazette

Let me be perfectly clear: Alan Hanke is a liar, a thief, and a disgrace to this community. And I’m not saying that based on rumor—I’m saying it because he looked me in the eye and lied.

It happened at Dinghy’s in Fox Lake, the bar he manages. I confronted him face-to-face and asked about the thousands of dollars stolen from American Legion Post 491—the post I proudly belong to. He looked me dead in the eye and said he didn’t do it.

Now? He’s pleaded guilty. He admitted to stealing from veterans. Everything he denied to my face turned out to be true.

Alan Hanke being arrested. | Michael Scornavacco

Let me walk you through just how bad this really is.

A Theft From Those Who Served

While acting as the commander of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 491, Hanke misused the Legion’s debit card to fund his personal lifestyle. The charges included restaurants, retail shopping, and even a boat rental in Florida—all while pretending to serve a veterans’ organization.

That debit card was meant to help fund transportation to VA hospitals. To pay for groceries. To help a vet get a warm coat in the winter or fuel up his car to make a job interview. But Hanke used it like it was his own credit card—racking up over $10,000 in charges.

This wasn’t some accounting error. This wasn’t a slip-up. This was theft—calculated, sustained, and deliberate.

He’s set to be sentenced in McHenry County on September 26, and the only acceptable outcome is maximum accountability. Because Hanke didn’t just steal money—he stole from veterans, plain and simple.

The Ponzi Scheme That Made Him a National Disgrace

And if you think this is an isolated case of bad judgment, think again. Before this local betrayal, Hanke was already facing federal charges in New York for orchestrating an $8 million Ponzi scheme that stretched across state lines.

Here’s how it worked: Hanke promised investors massive returns through a scheme involving bond trading. But instead of investing the money, he used it to fund a lavish lifestyle—casinos, private jets, cruises, luxury vehicles, and hotels. And when the scheme started to collapse, he filed a fraudulent bankruptcy in an attempt to hide his assets and escape responsibility.

Federal prosecutors didn’t fall for it. He pleaded guilty there too. They’re seeking the statutory maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and restitution in excess of $8 million—a figure Hanke hasn’t paid a dime toward.

So let’s do the math: He stole from investors across the country, he lied to a federal judge, he defrauded veterans in his own backyard, and he looked me in the eye and said he didn’t do any of it.

That’s not a misunderstanding. That’s not a “mistake.”

That’s a career con man who thought he could get away with it.

Throw the Book at Him. Twice.

His sentencing in the federal case is set for September 4, and then McHenry County follows on September 26. I say this directly to both judges: throw the book at him. Twice.

Make an example of this man. Because if someone can scam investors out of millions, steal from veterans, lie in court, lie in public, and then turn around and beg for leniency—what does justice even mean anymore?

We’re supposed to be a country that values service, honor, and accountability. People like Alan Hanke spit on all three.

I’m not writing this on behalf of the American Legion. I don’t need to. I’m writing it as someone who respects what veterans have sacrificed. And as someone who’s sick of watching frauds like Hanke abuse the goodwill of others and walk away with a slap on the wrist.

The truth is simple:

Alan Hanke wasn’t the victim. He was the villain.

And now, finally, the mask is off.

— Michael Scornavacco, Republican Committeeman, Antioch 6