Lakin free on $250k unsecured bond

Prominent Metro-East plaintiff's lawyer and Lakin Law Firm founder Tom Lakin was indicted on seven counts by a federal grand jury.

At his arraignment in federal court in East St. Louis Monday afternoon, Lakin pled not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Donald Wilkerson.

Wilkerson ruled that Lakin, who will be electronically monitored, could go free on a $250,000 unsecured bond.

Wearing a black suit with a white shirt, Lakin appeared before Wilkerson in shackles.

Wilkerson ruled that Lakin could travel to his homes in Malibu, Calif. and Key West, Fla., as well as in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

According to Lakin's attorney, Scott Rosenblum of St. Louis, Lakin was in Key West prior to turning himself in.

Lakin will have to surrender his passport.

Wilkerson gave Lakin a curfew to abide by ruling that Lakin must be at home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Evidence for the indictment was gathered in an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Illinois State Police. The prosecution has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Clark and Kevin Burke.

U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert of Benton has been assigned to the case.

The indictment released today includes the following charges:

Counts I and II: From about 1998 to August 2002, and from June 2005 through September 2005 in Madison County, Lowell Thomas Lakin knowingly used and maintained a place for the purpose of distributing a controlled substance, mainly cocaine.

Count III: In May 2002, Thomas Lakin distributed cocaine to a person under 21.

Count IV: Thomas Lakin distributed cocaine in August 2005.

Count V: In August 2005, Thomas Lakin distributed cocaine to a person under 21.

Count VI: On May 29, 2005, Thomas Lakin transported John Doe who was under 18 years old from Madison County to Malibu, Calif. with the intent to engage in sexual activity under circumstances that would constitute criminal offense by any person under California penal code. That is, oral copulation, by a person over age of 21 with another a person under 16 years of age at the time.

That charge carries a life sentence.

Count VII: As a result of his alleged offenses, the property located at 287 Oakley Place in East Alton -- used or intended to be used in any manner or part to commit or facilitate the commission of these offenses -- shall be forfeited.

Lakin surrendered to federal authorities early this afternoon. He did so at the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis at approximately 12:45 p.m.

The maximum penalties that can be imposed on each of Counts I and II are not more than 20 years' imprisonment, and a $500,000 fine.

The maximum penalties that can be imposed on each of Counts III and V are not more than 40 years' imprisonment, and a $1 million fine; the minimum sentence that can be imposed for a violation of this statute is one year imprisonment.

The maximum penalties that can be imposed on Count IV are not more than 20 years' imprisonment, and a fine of $1 million.

The maximum penalties that can be imposed on Count VI are life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The minimum sentence that can be imposed for a violation of this statute is 10 years' imprisonment.