St. Louis Call Newspapers

Take our poll: Should businessman John Rallo have gotten more time in prison in his federal corruption case?

John Rallo exits the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse Thursday, March 5 after being sentenced to 17 months in prison for his role in a federal corruption case involving former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger.

March 16, 2020

Our Call: Rallo shows the benefits of the business of corruption

March 12, 2020

Editorial Businessman John Rallo was given 17 months in prison last week by U.S. District Judge Richard Webber — not a light sentence, certainly, but not enough for the crimes Rallo committed either. For his central role in ripping off all 1 million St. Louis County citizens to benefit his bank ac...

Businessman in Stenger case sentenced to 17 months in prison

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

March 5, 2020

The businessman who urged former County Executive Steve Stenger to give him lucrative county contracts in exchange for campaign donations was sentenced to 17 months in prison Thursday — lower than federal guidelines. John Rallo, 54, now of Utah and formerly of St. Louis County, is the final person �...

County adds whistleblower rights and creates fraud hotline to fight future corruption

3rd District Councilman Tim Fitch takes questions from reporters after being sworn into office on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Fitch said that a primary focus of his during his time in office will be public safety. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

September 5, 2019

By GLORIA LLOYD News Editor In an effort to prevent future corruption, St. Louis County will set up a whistleblower hotline that will anonymously take reports of wrongdoing from county employees, with protection granted so that they can’t be fired. It’s another step in the effort to safeguard the coun...

Former CEO of city-county economic agency sentenced to probation in Stenger scheme

Pictured above: Former Economic Development Partnership CEO Sheila Sweeney, second from left, and her team of attorneys leave the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse Friday. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

August 16, 2019

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com Sheila Sweeney, the former CEO of the St. Louis joint city-county economic development agency, was sentenced to probation and a fine Friday for helping to cover up former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger’s pay-to-play corruption sch...

After Stenger apology, prosecutors ask judge for longer sentence than their initial request

Former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, left, and Stenger's lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, right, exit the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse Friday, May 3, after Stenger pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of honest services/bribery and mail fraud. A sentencing hearing will be held Aug. 9. Stenger faces to three to four years in federal prison. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

August 9, 2019

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com In an unusual move, the federal prosecutors overseeing former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger’s corruption scandal upped their sentencing request to ask for the high end of the sentencing range, after first asking only that he ser...

Stenger asks to serve three years in federal prison; sentencing is this week

August 6, 2019

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com County Executive Steve Stenger asked a judge to give him three years in prison when he is sentenced this week, the low end of federal sentencing guidelines in his corruption case. Stenger is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. ...

Stenger accomplice John Rallo pleads guilty in federal corruption case

Businessman John Rallo, left, walks out of court a convicted felon after pleading guilty Tuesday, along with his attorney John Rogers. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

July 18, 2019

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com The businessman at the center of the pay-to-play federal corruption case that engulfed former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger pleaded guilty to bribery Tuesday and will likely serve time in prison. John Rallo, 53, formerly of St. L...

As Stenger’s victim, county is owed restitution for his deals

Former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger exits the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in downtown St. Louis May 3, 2019, after pleading guilty to three charges of theft of honest services/bribery and mail fraud. Stenger initially pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment Monday, April 29 after an April 25 indictment was unsealed that morning, prompting Stenger to resign as county executive minutes later. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

July 16, 2019

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com When former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger is sentenced next month on federal corruption charges, the judge will receive letters from the victims of his pay-to-play scheme to trade county contracts for campaign donations. And wh...

Galloway to conduct state audits in St. Louis County post-Stenger

June 4, 2019

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announces that she will perform an audit of St. Louis County at the St. Louis County Library headquarters May 15, after the County Council voted unanimously to approve an audit May 7. Former County Executive Steve Stenger requested an audit of the county two yea...