East St. Louis (Illinois) Police Chief and Deputy in FBI Custody

http://971 Talk Radio ^ | 1/21/05 | 97.1 Talk Radio

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Links not updated yet, this was just announced on 97.1 Talk FM.

The Chief of Police and his assistant/deputy are in FBI Custody. There is to be a press confrence at 2:30 to announce the details.

All indications is that this is in regard to an investigation into Voter Fraud that began immediately after the November presidential election.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

This could prove to be very interesting - this area is a big Dem stronghold.

I will update as I hear more and you can keep an eye on things at the above link or www.stltoday.com .

[AppyPappy]

I sure hope so. East St Louis gave the Dems a Senate majority when a dead man won the race.

[EternalVigilance]

Posted to the Illinois board...

[rhombus]

Voter fraud needs to be taken much more seriously. I'm encouraged by this and would also like to see some action in Wisconsin and Washington state. I'm tired of being disenfranchised by this nonsense. We should also demand identification before ANYONE gets a ballot.

[EternalVigilance]

If you're talking about Ashcroft, we are in bigger trouble than I thought (if East St. Louis voters voted in a Missouri Senate race) since it's in Illinois...

;-)

[2banana]

Maybe there is hope for Philadelphia too...

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[hipaatwo]

If only! Street may be toast soon :)

[Lady Heron]

East St Louis gave the Dems a Senate majority when a dead man won the race.

East St. Louis is in Illinois. Very run down not to mention very dangerous place to drive through, which we did once.

[kcvl]

bttt

[jamaly]

Bump

[SAJ]

I trust you remember the tornado that passed through E. St. Louis a couple of years ago and did $31,700,000 of improvements?

[drjimmy]

Perhaps they will be singing toodle-oo to East St. Louis!

[Grampa Dave]

This is at least about 5 decades overdue.

[show me state]

(KSDK) - East St. Louis Police Chief Ronald Matthews and an assistant were taken into custody by federal authorities Friday morning.

Sources tell NewsChannel 5 that Kelvin Ellis, the ESL Director of Regulatory Affairs, was also taken into custody Friday morning.

All three have been taken to an undisclosed location where they will be presented to a federal magistrate.

U.S. Attorney for Southern Illinois has scheduled a 2:30 p.m. news conference in Fairview Heights to discuss the investigation which involves the FBI, the Postal Inspection Office, the IRS, and the Illinois State Police.

We will stream that news conference live on ksdk.com.

There is no word on what the investigation is about, but it follows testimony given to a grand jury in November, and a raid on the East St. Louis City Hall a week later by FBI agents.

In that November raid, computers and stacks of boxes filled with documents were seized by the FBI, who would only state they were executing a federal search warrant. The raid included the City Manager's office, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and the Finance Office.

Ellis had been called to testify in the grand jury court proceedings in November.

KSDK

http://ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=73713

[Grendel9]

Now they need to go a bit further north into the
Chicago area! They wouldn't have to dig too deep
to find all kinds of fraudulent activities. <>g<>

[umgud]

bumpity

[RetroWarrior]

Anyone know what the DUmmies say about his? I need a good laugh.

[pt17]

Bump for follow-up.

[show me state]

Thu, Jan. 13, 2005
Federal grand jury investigation widens

BY MIKE FITZGERALD

mfitzgerald@bnd.com

--

EAST ST. LOUIS -- The federal grand jury probe into allegations of election fraud and public corruption in East St. Louis has continued to widen since it began more than two months ago.

One result was an FBI raid on City Hall and the seizure of computers and boxes of documents in December.

The probe now has spread into the office of Police Chief Ron Matthews.

Matthews, 55, has received a subpoena to testify about a .38-caliber pistol belonging to David Qattoum, an East St. Louis businessman and former East St. Louis auxiliary police officer.

Federal prosecutors and the grand jury want to learn about the whereabouts of the pistol that police seized from Qattoum in August, but which has since vanished.

Matthews has been ordered to appear in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis and testify before the grand jury scheduled to meet Jan. 20, according to a copy of the subpoena Matthews received Jan. 3.

Matthews, however, denied that he has been called to testify before the grand jury.

"I was contacted by them and they said they didn't want my presence," Matthews said. "They just wanted to make sure they had all the necessary reports that have been forwarded to them."

As for the subpoena, Matthews said, "I don't know what it's about."

For his part, Qattoum said he has not received a subpoena, just as he denied any knowledge of his pistol's fate.

"I don't know nothing about that," said Qattoum, 40, of Belleville.

Matthews must produce "any and all records and physical evidence relating in any manner whatsoever to the arrest of" Qattoum, who is also known as Ayoub Qattoum, according to the subpoena signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith.

Matthews must submit all police reports, memos, lab reports, correspondence dating from Nov. 16, as well as Qattoum's arrest record and the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, according to the subpoena.

Ricky Perry, the head of the department's internal affairs division, also received a grand jury subpoena.

Qattoum's pistol was seized from him in early August, after a scuffle between him and an East St. Louis Police officer.

Qattoum was arrested after he allegedly refused to obey the officer's order to leave the scene of a traffic stop. Qattoum was also charged with having an unauthorized gun and a red-and-blue oscillating light. Qattoum's arrest led to his removal from the auxiliary police unit and prompted an investigation by Perry, the internal affairs officer.

Qattoum, who owns a gas station and convenience store at the corner of 25th and Louisiana streets, has developed close ties to East St. Louis Police officers over the years.

Through his friendship with Rudy McIntosh, the department's deputy chief, Qattoum has been allowed to take part in drug busts initiated by the federally funded Street Corner Apprehension Team, even though Qattoum is not a trained police officer.

The grand jury in East St. Louis began its probe in early November, when it issued subpoenas to Democratic committeemen from nine East St. Louis election precincts. The committeemen were ordered to testify as to how tens of thousands of dollars were spent getting out the vote Nov. 2.

In late November, the FBI raided City Hall, seizing boxes of documents and computer hard drives from the offices of Bob Storman, the city manager, and Kelvin Ellis, the director of the city's Department of Regulatory Affairs.

In late December, McIntosh -- a Democratic committeeman for Precinct 30 -- testified before the grand jury, along with another Democratic committeeman and a woman who worked for Ellis.

So far no charges have been filed against anyone who has been called to testify since November.

[PilloryHillary]

WOWOWOWOW!!!!!

[show me state]

Nov. 17, 2004
ESL vote is under probe
Party leaders subpoenaed for spending records

BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK AND PATRICK J. POWERS

Belleville News-Democrat

--

FBI agents served subpoenas Tuesday to key Democrats in East St. Louis, ordering them to appear before a grand jury to answer how they spent money in the Nov. 2 election.

James Lewis, director of the East St. Louis Board of Elections, said he also received a summons to appear before the grand jury Thursday at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.

City Councilman Charlie Powell, chairman of the city's powerful Democratic Central Committee, confirmed he, too, was subpoenaed.

Asked whether he had been held for questioning by the FBI for several hours, as other precinct committeemen said, Powell answered: "I can't comment. You're going to have to talk to them," meaning federal agents. Powell, who said he had not been arrested, declined further comment.

East St. Louis Director of Regulatory Affairs Kelvin Ellis also received a subpoena, said City Manager Robert Storman. Ellis is a Democratic precinct committeeman who in 1990 served a federal prison term after using his city job to obtain federal money for a nursing home he partly owned.

Asked whether the city's 44 Democratic precinct committeemen were being targeted by the subpoena servers, Storman said, "Yes, I have heard that."

Storman confirmed that Ellis had received a subpoena. Storman said Ellis was in the city manager's office when a reporter called. Ellis would not comment, Storman said.

According to a copy of a subpoena served to another Democratic precinct committeeman, the politicians were ordered to bring to the grand jury "any and all records relating in any manner whatsoever to the receipt of money and funds by East St. Louis precinct committeemen relative to the Nov. 2, 2004, election."

The subpoena also stated "this investigation of possible violations of federal criminal laws includes your conduct during the Nov. 2, 2004, election in East St. Louis." It was dated last Wednesday and was signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Massey said Tuesday that his office does not comment about grand jury matters.

East St. Louis played a crucial role on Nov. 2 in the contest for County Board chairman between the Democrat, Belleville Mayor Mark Kern, and his Republican challenger, Steve Reeb, a County Board member.

Reeb won 52 percent to 48 percent in the county outside of East St. Louis, which has its own election board. But Kern's 82 percent winning majority in the city where more than 13,000 ballots were cast decided the race in his favor by more than 4,000 votes.

County election department records show Kern donated, loaned or made in-kind contributions totaling $177,730 to the county Democratic Central Committee between Oct. 17 and Nov. 1. Kern could not be reached at his home or office.

"Where there's smoke there's probably fire," Reeb said of the probe. "I have my suspicions, but I'm going to leave it to the government."

The federal subpoena specified that any records showing the "disbursement and spending of those moneys" must be presented, including "budgets, receipts, checks, precinct sheets, poll lists, deposit slips, bank statements and notes."

According to several political sources who asked not to be named, about $80,000 in money from the St. Clair County Democratic Committee to get out the vote on Nov. 2 was handed out on Oct. 31. The sources said the money distribution was at the East St. Louis Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

On Tuesday, St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Robert Sprague said he knew about the subpoenas in East St. Louis but denied he had received one.

"I have heard about it, but that's it," he said. He declined further comment. Sprague is also Belleville's city attorney.

The subpoenas delivered Tuesday aren't the first suggestion of possible East St. Louis voting irregularities. Illinois Republican Party chairman and state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka traveled there four days before the election questioning absentee ballot procedures.

Topinka highlighted a high number of absentee ballots and multiple names registered to the same address in East St. Louis, including a boarding house operated by Powell.

A spokesman for the state Republican Party, Jason Gerwig, said Republicans were concerned about "... instances of voter fraud we discovered just before the November election. We are pleased the U.S. attorney shares our concern."

[Protagoras]

This could prove to be very interesting - this area is a big Dem stronghold.

So if it's a Republican in a Dem stronghold, then what?

[jmhfnyc]

"Matthews must submit all police reports, memos, lab reports, correspondence dating from Nov. 16, as well as Qattoum's arrest record and the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, according to the subpoena."

What's the gun about?

[Protagoras]

Are you posting to the right person?

[jdm]

Did you say East St. Louis?

[expatpat]

No, that was Missouri. E St. L is on the other side of the river, in Illinois, and is a sh*t-heap.

[Graybeard58]

in Illinois, and is a sh*t-heap

Oh, it's much worse than that!

[shield]

bumping to keep my eye on this....hopefully the Republicans under President Bush will get this cleaned up throughout America before nxt election.

If it hadn't been for the Supremes the rats would have won in 2000, and it would have been pure and simple...VOTER FRAUD!!!

[misharu]

EStL is almost as bad, if not as bad, as St. Louis city and North County. Let's hope there is a paper trail that leads back to the Democrats.

[SmithL]

I'd like to read about arrests in King County, WA.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Hmmm, now isn't this interesting?!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[sure_fine]

fry hides

[misharu]

Its kind of interesting. I can remember my grandmother, who lived in St. Louis in the '20's, telling me that EAST St. Louis used to be the place to go. That St. Louis (MO) was run down and a dangerous place. Looks like the tide had turned.

[vox_freedom]

"I don't know nothing about that," said Qattoum, 40, of Belleville

Nope, he don't know nothing about that. In fact, he don't know nothin' about nothin'.

[Wheee The People]

Someone should arrest the Seattle crew also...

[SCALEMAN]

"I sure hope so. East St Louis gave the Dems a Senate majority when a dead man won the race"

I have no knoledge of Illinois electing a dead Senator. When did that happen? Are you thinking of Carnahan in Missouri? E. St. Louis is in Illinios.

[RetiredArmy]

East St. Louis has more crime than Baghdad and more drugs than Afghanistan.

[Recovering_Democrat]

East St Louis is not in Missouri.

[Cicero]

Great news. It won't change the election, but it's absolutely vital to punish this kind of flagrant fraud before the next election.

Demorats need to be taught that fraud will be punished. Even if they manage to get their candidate into office, they, personally, will go straight to jail without passing Go.

They have been getting more and more shameless, and we can no longer count on the media to expose them. They must learn to fear punishment.

I hope the FBI will look into Washington state as well, whether or not the lawsuits out there succeed.

[vox_freedom]

Someone should arrest the Seattle crew also...

[Hatteras]

Is that where Clark Griswold fell asleep at the wheel and careened down the ramp off the interstate only to wake up at the last second and avoid killing everyone? And then as he's getting directions from some locals on how to get back on the interstate, the rest of the gang is stripping their hubcaps and spray-painting "Honky Lips" on the side of the car...

Funny scene, it's too bad I can't stand Chevy Chase...

[Clintons Are White Trash]

UPDATE:

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=73713

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/A58729D50364D04386256F90006E4047?OpenDocument&Headline=East+St.+Louis+officials+indicted

The police chief of East St. Louis, along with his secretary and a former auxiliary police officer, were charged in federal indictments today with conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Also charged was Kelvin Ellis, director of regulatory affairs for East St. Louis. All were named in indictments unsealed today.

The indictments charge that Police Chief Ronald Matthews, along with Ayoub Qattoum, the former auxiliary officer, and Janerra Carson-Slaughter, Matthews' secretary, conspired to obstruct justice. Matthews is also charged with perjury before a grand jury. The indictment further alleges that Qattoum is a felon who illegally possessed a firearm and that those three defendants sought to obstruct an investigation into whether he possessed that firearm illegally.

Ellis is charged with seeking to have a federal witness discredited, and later killed, in a case involving alleged vote fraud. He is also charged with attempting to evade paying income tax.

All four defendants made court appearances today.

In announcing the indictments, U.S. Attorney Ronald J. Tenpas said:

"Public office is a public trust. The citizens of East St. Louis are entitled to public officials who respect and uphold the rule of law."

Jose A. Gonzalez of the criminal investigation division of the Internal Revenue Service added that "today's enforcement actions and indictments send a strong message that public corruption will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law."

[expatpat]

Quite a change, then.

[Graybeard58]

A lot of people don't read the comments before commenting do they?

[ShadowAce]

A lot of people don't read the comments before commenting do they?

BTW--East St. Louis is in Illinois, not Missouri.

[prairie dog]

Carl Sandberg called Chicago the city of broad shoulders. Guess that makes ESL a huge festering boil on Illinois' ass.

[prairie dog]

The State of Illinois will gladly swap East St. Louis to Missouri for Cape Girardeau or Hannibal.