ST. LOUIS (AP) - A suburban St. Louis mayor pleaded guilty Monday to federal extortion-related charges as his trial was unfolding and agreed to resign as a condition of being allowed to remain free pending sentencing.
Sylvester Caldwell, mayor of 3,300-resident Pine Lawn, pleaded guilty to charges of extortion and attempted extortion, with each of the two felony counts punishable by up to three years in prison, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (https://bit.ly/1FGgYKH) reported. Sentencing was scheduled for July 7.
Caldwell’s attorneys acknowledged during the trial that began last week in St. Louis that their client accepted bribes, although they insisted his actions did not constitute extortion.
A tow truck driver and convenience store manager testified for prosecutors that they feared repercussions to their businesses if they didn’t meet Caldwell’s requests for cash.
Akram Samed, manager of a Pine Lawn convenience store, testified that Caldwell asked for money about 14 times, with Samed each time giving the mayor $200 to $300.
“I was scared,” Samed testified. “He would say, ’I’m in charge of Pine Lawn and the police and the whole city.’”
Samed’s brother - Mazen, who owns the store with a business partner - said Caldwell often took meat, liquor, canned goods and other items without paying and without repercussions from the brothers, who feared the mayor.
Eduard Shapshovich, owner of Eddie’s Towing, in Wellston, testified he feared losing Pine Lawn’s business if he did not pay Caldwell with cash or goods, with part of the deal for a time involving buying the community a police car every other year.
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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, https://www.stltoday.com
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