A 58-year-old executive of the Illinois Secretary of State’s drivers license division has been charged in connection with allegations that he gave personal information he found in the Libertyville customer database to identity thieves in exchange for gift cards and sports tickets.

Charles DiPrima of Round Lake, was charged at the Lake County courthouse in Waukegan with three counts of conspiracy to commit identity theft, and he could face up to three years in prison if convicted, according to David Druker, spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White’s office.

“We find these allegations unacceptable,” Druker said. “We take it very seriously and we’re going to prosecute the matter to the fullest extent of the law.”

DiPrima is on an unpaid leave of absence, which is the first step toward removing him from his office, Druker said. His salary is $49,332 a year.

DiPrima has worked for the drivers license division since 1988 and most recently worked out of the Woodstock office. It appears he lifted the personal information of a couple of clients during his time at the Libertyville office, 342 Peterson Road, in 2007, Druker said.

However, even though the number of times DiPrima allegedly took information in exchange for the the gift cards and sports tickets was small, “the idea is that he would try to compromise the system, which is unacceptable,” Druker said.

The Secretary of State’s police conducted an investigation of the identity theft and handed the case over to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office, Druker said.

He was released on a personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear at a Dec. 28 status hearing.

DiPrima could not be reached for comment.