Jodi Poole Chief County Assessment Officer | Official Website
Jodi Poole Chief County Assessment Officer | Official Website
A former police chief from Southern Illinois is facing federal charges related to public corruption. Anson Fenton, 46, of Belle Rive, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis for allegedly selling forfeited items for personal gain.
Fenton, who previously served as the Wayne City police chief, is charged with one count of misapplication of property from federally funded programs and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The allegations involve the sale and trade of motorcycles that were confiscated by the department.
Asset forfeiture allows authorities to seize assets connected to criminal activity. These items are stored at the Wayne City Police Department until city officials authorize their sale through an ordinance.
Court documents allege that Fenton sold two motorcycles valued over $5,000 and traded another motorcycle for a 1991 Ford Mustang for his own benefit.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal accusation and does not imply guilt. Under U.S. law, defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If found guilty, Fenton could face up to ten years in prison and fines reaching $250,000 per charge.
The investigation is being led by the Illinois State Police with assistance from the FBI Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Weinhoeft is handling the prosecution.
Wayne City is located in Wayne County within the Southern District of Illinois.
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