East St. Louis Tow Truck Operator Sentenced for Theft of Government Property, Making False Statements to the FBI, and Making False Declarations Before a Federal Grand Jury

Eddie Johnson, Jr., 47, of Cahokia, Illinois, was sentenced to 15 months in prison the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. In addition to the prison sentence, Johnson was ordered to serve three years’ supervised release and was ordered to repay to the FBI $6,194.66 in investigative costs.

Johnson was charged in a three-count indictment that charged theft or conversion of government property; making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer; and making a false declaration before a federal grand jury.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation who was investigating allegations of potential corruption in the City of East St. Louis. The FBI conducted an integrity test wherein federal agents placed diamond earrings, a purse, a debit card, and other valuables in a Mercedes that which appeared to be an abandoned stolen vehicle. Audio and video surveillance was in place around the vehicle. On February 12, 2011, Johnson responded to the location following a call from the East St. Louis Police Department to a towing company. Johnson stole diamond earrings and other valuables from the vehicle that was set up as a stolen vehicle crime scene. Johnson subsequently made false statements to the FBI and to a federal grand jury in the investigation of the theft.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Norman Smith.