46-year-old Anson Fenton, the former Police Chief of Wayne City, pleaded guilty in federal court at East St Louis Monday to charges stemming from his illegal sale of confiscated property intended for forfeiture.
Fenton, a resident of Belle Rive, admitted to one count of misapplication of property from federally funded programs and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois disclosed that Fenton exploited his position to profit from assets seized by his department.
Under federal law, asset forfeiture allows authorities to confiscate property tied to criminal activity. These items….including vehicles, cash, or real estate are typically stored by the Wayne City Police Department until the city formally authorizes their disposal.
As Chief, Fenton was entrusted with safeguarding such property. However, court records show he sold two Harley-Davidson motorcycles (a 2017 and a 2000 model) valued at over $5,000 and retained the proceeds without approval from the Wayne City Board of Trustees.
In a separate transaction, Fenton traded a 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle for a 1991 Ford Mustang for personal use. He acknowledged transporting the Suzuki across state lines from Wayne City to Alexandria, Virginia, to finalize the deal.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Fenton’s sentencing is scheduled for July 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the East St. Louis federal courthouse.
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