Marathon Pundit: Illinois corruption 8/20/12: Metro East mayor sentenced to 43 months in prison

Monday, August 20, 2012

Illinois corruption 8/20/12: Metro East mayor sentenced to 43 months in prison

While Cook County, where I live, is widely believed to be Illinois' most corrupt county, St. Clair County, which is east of St. Louis, is probably worse, if you view the situation on a per capita basis.

Randy McCallum, the former mayor of Alorton, a small Metro East town, was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison today for corruption.

From the Belleville News-Democrat:

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft argued for 60 months prison time for McCallum, who he said used a police officer to steal drugs and money. He called that action "armed robbery, pure and simple."

It gets crazier:

According to court documents, on three occasions McCallum arranged for cigarettes to be smuggled into the St. Clair County Jail to his son, who is charged with committing a double murder. Jail administrators permitted this to occur as part of the corruption sting, according to the documents. He also attempted to smuggle marijuana into the jail in December, court records show.

The attorneys on both sides also argued over the fact that McCallum has been charged in St. Clair County with violating the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Weinhoeft said even after he admitted and agreed to plead guilty and was resigning he still abused his power by participating in a back room deal in which his cousin, Trymella Johnson, was installed as his successor.