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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Suspect in felony public corruption case gets vacation pass to the Bahamas

BELLEVILLE – Some felony suspects have to go to jail, but felony suspect Ruth Hamilton Dean gets to go to the Bahamas. 

The former East St. Louis township consultant, facing charges of forgery and contractor misconduct, obtained court approval for her trip on June 16. 

St. Clair County Circuit Judge Jan Fiss granted her motion to spend June 22 to 29 in Raleigh, N.C., and June 29 to July 3 in Nassau. 

Fiss has set a bench trial for Sept. 18. 

St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly did not object. 

Kelly gained headlines last December by announcing public corruption charges against Dean and eight others, but he has gained little ground since. 

The only one to stand trial, Board of Review member Michael Crockett, beat four felony charges of bribery and forgery. 

Associate Judge Randall Kelley ruled after a bench trial that the state didn’t produce a scintilla of evidence. 

The only one to plead guilty, postal worker Christopher Malone, agreed to spend 24 months on probation and pay $277.63 for property he stole. 

Conditions of his probation include substance abuse treatment. 

According to his lawyer, Justin Kuehn, treatment could qualify Malone for an order vacating his conviction and dismissing the proceedings. 

Kuehn has already moved for such an order, asking for a hearing in 2019. 

Judge Kelley plans a July 17 hearing for Teanna Gillespie, who as an Alorton police officer allegedly possessed a firearm after the state revoked her card. 

Circuit Judge Zina Cruse planned a June 29 hearing for Anthony Davis, who as an auxiliary officer in Washington Park allegedly lied about a squad car accident. 

Fiss plans a July 18 bench trial for Raesha Lacy, who allegedly committed forgery by passing a phony job reference to a prospective employer. 

Kelley plans a June 29 status conference for Alorton mayor Jo Ann Reed, who allegedly promised money for a vote and campaigned near a polling place. 

Reed won another term in office in April. 

Kelley plans a July 5 status conference for East St. Louis Township Trustee Edith Moore, who allegedly committed forgery and prevented two persons from voting. 

Moore won another term in office in April. 

Cruse plans an Aug. 8 status conference for former East St. Louis township trustee Michael Roberts, who allegedly flew to Las Vegas on township funds. 

Roberts ran for another term in April but lost. 

On his trip to Vegas he and his wife accompanied former township supervisor Oliver Hamilton, brother of Ruth Hamilton Dean. 

Oliver Hamilton pleaded guilty of wire fraud in federal court earlier this year, admitting he spent more than $40,000 of township funds on himself. 

District Judge Michael Reagan sentenced him to five years, but Hamilton appealed to the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. 

Judges there will hear oral argument on Aug. 8.   

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