LAKE COUNTY, Illinois — As Filipino surgical nurse Raymond Marquez sobbed, a Lake County Circuit Court judge sentenced him to 11 years in prison and ordered his deportation to the Philippines after serving his sentence for burglarizing the homes of seven people who were patients or relatives of patients.

Marquez, 32, of the 4400 block of West Hill Avenue in Waukegan, pleaded guilty last June 7 to seven counts of residential burglary before Judge Fred Foreman.

He was arrested in February after sheriff’s detectives noticed a pattern in several 2004 burglaries, said Assistant State’s Atty. Michael Mermel.

Marquez, who apologized to the court and his victims, has lived in the United States since 1996 and was a nurse at Lake Forest Hospital for two-and-a-half years, authorities said.

After he befriended patients and their families and learned where they lived, authorities said Marquez broke into their houses in Lake Bluff, Lindenhurst, Highwood, Long Grove, Gurnee and Libertyville between July and December of 2004 and stole electronic equipment, jewelry and computers, Mermel said. Total value of all items taken is more than $10,000.

Authorities said Marquez would ask patients if anyone would be at their homes for the hospital to contact. He would later call to verify the homes were empty before breaking in.

Foreman stayed remand until June 21 to allow Marquez, who has been out on bond, to make arrangements for his wife and their two children to return to the Philippines. Marquez and his wife are Filipino citizens. If Marquez fails to surrender, he will face additional charges.

He will serve his sentence at an Illinois Department of Corrections facility.

The recommended plea and sentence were negotiated by prosecutors Michael Mermel and Eric Kalata, and defense attorney Stephen Simonian. The judge accepted both recommendations.

Marquez has no prior convictions and had been a nurse at the hospital, in good standing. Prior to his being hired, he passed a criminal background check.

Simonian said Marquez supports his parents, as well as his wife and their children, who are aged two and five. Marquez’s wife is ill, Simonian added.

The judge said prison is appropriate and he agreed to an 11-year sentence.

The judge said Marquez had been a positive contributor to the U.S., except for the six-month period of burglaries, when “you abused your visa. Now you have the consequences of deportation after the DOC sentence. You will be deported right from the penitentiary.”

However, he told Marquez his crimes “have created serious problems for your family” and expressed hope that they would recover.

A tearful Marquez said, “I’m sorry.”

Several of the stolen items were found at a pawnshop in Waukegan. Investigators retrieved the identity of Marquez from store records, Mermel said, and a store clerk identified him.

Another link was a stolen wireless laptop computer. Marquez used it to illegally tap into a neighbor’s wireless network.

Lindenhurst police determined Marquez used a MapQuest search to find directions to a home he had burglarized in their village.

Items stolen from that home, including china, silverware, a frying pan and towels, were later found in Marquez’s home.

The hospital terminated Marquez’s employment as soon as he confessed to police.

Marquez surrendered his nursing license in February after signing a consent order with the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation. He obtained his nursing license in April 1996 and had incurred no disciplinary actions.