Thomas Flanagan, also known as drag
entertainer Lady Vera Parker, has been jailed on two felony counts,
one of theft and one of theft by deception as confirmed to
ChicagoPride.com by the Circuit Court's Information Office.
The 25-year-old Flanagan was booked on
Thursday, July 2 and is being held at the Cook County Jail, 2700 S.
California Ave., according to County records obtained by
ChicagoPride.com. Flanagan appeared in court Tuesday, July 7 at
9:00AM.
Flanagan appeared on the Chicago drag
scene in 2007 from Provincetown, Massachusetts, according to his
performance bio. As Lady Vera Parker, Flanagan has appeared at a
number of different drag performances and shows in the area. Most
recently Flanagan hosted a night at Spin Nightclub and appeared on
the club's Pride float on June 28. Flanagan's persona of Lady Vera
Parker also received a 2008 "Best Drag Performer" Pressie
award from the Chicago Free Press.
Although the precise details and facts
of the case are not known, the Illinois Statute defines "theft
by deception" as when "a person commits the offense of
online theft by deception when he or she uses the Internet to
purchase or attempt to purchase property from a seller with a mode of
payment that he or she knows is fictitious, stolen, or lacking the
consent of the valid account holder." Penalties range from
probation to 30 years in prison.
Rumors since Flanagan's arrest have
been spreading in Boystown, Chicago's gay neighborhood, and according
to popular drag entertainer Teri Yaki, the community is "hysterical".
She added, "I'm happy to see [Lady Vera Parker] got what she
deserved."
Multiple posts speculating the reasons
for Flanagan's arrest have appeared on Internet blogs and Web sites,
including FeastOfFun.net. Teri Yaki is slated to tape a show about
Flanagan's arrest at the Feast of Fun website today.
Other Internet posts related to
Flanagan and an alleged scam for money have drawn the interest of the
Chicago Police Department with a posting from Detective Simpson
requesting anyone with information to contact Chicago Police at
312-744.8200.
Copyright 2009 ChicagoPride.com.