Well, I hate to say “I told you so,” but …
That was all I could think as East St. Louis Police Chief Ronald Mathews, his secretary Janerra Carson-Slaughter, Department of Regulatory Affairs Director Kelvin Ellis and former auxiliary cop Ayoub “Dave” Qattoum were hauled away by FBI agents almost two weeks ago as the result of an ongoing federal investigation into voter fraud and public corruption in ESL.
Kelvin Ellis plotted to discredit, then murder, a federal witness, obstruct justice in the voter fraud investigation and engaged in income tax evasion for the past 3 years, according to a federal indictment filed on January 20, 2005.
Chief Mathews was indicted for committing perjury before the grand jury, as well as attempting to obstruct justice by concealing the whereabouts of a gun seized from a felon, Ayoub Qattoum, who was allowed to function as sort of a “Keystone Cop” in the role of ESL auxiliary police officer.
Janerra Carson-Slaughter is charged with receiving a $1,500 bribe in exchange for the missing revolver and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Qattoum, a Palestinian gas station owner, was indicted for being a convicted felon in possession of a gun as well as making false statments to the Department of Homeland Security.
The very public and highly publicized “East Boogie round-up” sent chills up the spines of ESL City Hall workers as the handcuffed Chief Mathews and his secretary were hauled away. Today, many ESL citizens are still applauding what amounts to a day of reckoning and the rooting out of political corruption in ESL at last.
Hard-working, God-fearing ESL residents throughout the city, juggling emotions of embarrassment and jubilation, seem to be taking the indictments and arrests in stride, as would a family member of a terminally ill patient. You know that the end is near, yet nothing prepares one for the hurt.
Head of the FBI’s Springfield, Ill. field office, Weysun Dun, made it clear during a televised press conference that these arrests were “only the beginning” of their efforts to root out public corruption in ESL and elsewhere.
You hear that, Charlie Powell? Eddie Jackson? If you play your cards right, you could be joining Kelvin Ellis on the prison runway, modeling the latest in “prison-chic” attire: orange jumpsuits accessorized with shiny handcuffs!
Speaking of Kelvin Ellis and orange jumpsuits, if Ellis’ detention hearing last Friday is any indication of what’s to come, then ESL political boss Charlie Powell (and his cronies) ought to be very, very afraid.
The biggest surprise of the hearing was video surveillance footage in which Deputy Chief Rudy “Showtime” McIntosh was revealed (on both video and audio tape) serving as the federal informant who was instructed by Ellis to plant crack cocaine on n as well as murder n “Jane Doe,” a female witness who cooperated with federal authorities
At one point during the hearing, a video clip revealed a smiling Ellis as McIntosh showed him a faked photo of the so-called “murder” of “Jane Doe.” It looked like a criminal version of “Taxicab Confessions.”
However, the shock of the hour unfolded during Ellis’ detention hearing, when further allegations surfaced that Ellis’ motivation for murder stemmed from a threat by “Jane Doe” to expose a prostitution ring supposedly operating out of Ellis’ City Hall office, with Ellis allegedly in the role of “head pimp.” Now, that gives a whole new meaning to “providing city services” (if you know what I mean)!
Yet, one can only wonder what else “Jane Doe” must have known in order to be deemed worthy of death.
Might it possibly shed some light on the death (some say murder) of former ESL City Manager Harvey Henderson?
Character witnesses were presented, including one of Ellis’ 15 children and his parents and brother. But, in the end, U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Proud ordered Kelvin Ellis to remain incarcerated due to the “powerful and compelling” nature of the evidence presented against Ellis during the hearing.
So, memo to Charlie Powell (and any other would-be political “powerbrokers” in ESL): if you’ve been “hanging-out” or riding around with Rudy McIntosh, I hope you smiled pretty for the camera, because we’ll probably be viewing more episodes of “East Boogie’s Dumbest Politicians” (with you as a “guest star”) in the very near future!
Rudy McIntosh, fresh from his “hero” role (in exposing Kelvin Ellis) is faced with a personal dilemma. McIntosh is in the process of running for political office while concurrently facing criticism for allowing a felon, Ayoub Qattoum, to accompany him on federal drug busts. Then there’s the recent revelation of an old police report implicating him as the possible shooter in a 1979 murder case (which remains an open case). What’s a hero to do?
In his undercover role, has McIntosh undermined his credibility among paranoid politicians with the label of “government snitch”? Further, what politician would confide in a candidate that they suspect of being wired? Also, has McIntosh jeopardized his own safety in being revealed as a federal informant? And, finally, what happens if McIntosh is found guilty in the 1979 murder case?
Stay tuned, and don’t be surprised if the FBI doesn’t have another similar parade of politicians marching from ESL City Hall in the very near future.
Email: HYPERLINK jtingram_1960@yahoo.com jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.
