Jones adds William D. Stiehl, Jr. to defense team

Attorney William D. Stiehl, Jr. of Belleville has been added to Rick Jones legal defense team.

Jones, of Wood River, is scheduled to be sentenced May 7 in U.S. District Court before Judge Phil Gilbert on tax evasion charges. He pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to dodging $1.2 million in 2003 taxes, and he admitted he evaded a similar amount before and after 2003.

Jones faces up to five years in prison, but can earn a shorter stretch if he cooperates "fully" with the government, his plea agreement states.

On sentencing day, he is required to pay restitution of $1,207,415.82 to BP Amoco North America, on top of a promise to pay $2.4 million in federal income taxes for 2002 through 2005.

In his plea agreement, he stipulated that his company, Triad Industries, received money from BP Amoco to clean up refinery pollution but spent it in other ways.

Jones has posted $100,000 bond for release pending sentencing.

Gilbert granted Jones's request to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on March 28 for a medical examination at the Mayo Clinic and to return on or about April 8.

Jones also is represented by James Martin of Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis.