St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger has resigned in the face of corruption charges.
The U.S. attorney in St. Louis announced Monday that a federal grand jury had indicted the county’s top elected official on charges of bribery, mail fraud and the theft of honest services. A not guilty plea was entered for the former St. Louis County Executive at a arraignment Monday afternoon in US District Court.
Stenger, a Democrat who was elected to his second term in November, is accused of ensuring that John Rallo and his companies obtained contracts with the county and received other favors in exchange for campaign donations and fundraising events.
Stenger also is accused of ensuring that an unnamed company obtained a state lobbying contract from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and taking actions to conceal the illegal conduct.
Stenger could face up to 20 years in prison on each count if convicted.
An emergency meeting of the St. Louis County Council is planned for tonight to name a replacement for Stenger. The replacement will serve until the November 2020 election.
