Kathleen Lewis of Edwardsville was sentenced to five months in prison for forging a bankruptcy order which allowed her failing business--Royal Thrones--to keep a pumper truck. The business pumps waste from portable toilets.
Ronald Tenpas, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced the sentence Thursday. Lewis' sentence includes five months of home confinement with electronic monitoring after she is released from prison.
“Fraud on the bankruptcy courts in any manner threatens the integrity of the system and we are, therefore, strongly committed to seeing that where there is abuse, it is prosecuted to the fullest extent the law permits,” Tenpas said.
Lewis also was fined $100 and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Simpkins.
Tenpas also announced that Steve Jones, 39, was found guilty after a five day trial in East St. Louis of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting the sale of a firearm to a convicted felon.
The offenses took place from August 2002 through November 2002 in Randolph and St. Clair Counties. Jones was incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center. He and co-defendant Illinois Department of Corrections officer Michael Poenitske conspired to buy and sell crack cocaine and firearms to recently paroled felons.
Jones faces a sentence of 10 years to life and a $4 million fine. His sentencing is set for June 17.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deirdre Durborow.