Former ESL officials face prison time
Columnist James-Ingram
Well, it’s been an eventful week in East Boogie (my hometown). Just when you think that criminality, stupidity and the feds have taken a break, here we go again.
I started off the year predicting that we should expect more indictments in 2007. Well, thanks to the crooked politicians of East St. Louis, I can always count on appearing to be psychic.
Last week the federal courts were quite busy. Remember our buddy Charlie Powell? Recall, last year, Charlie (the former ESL Democratic Party boss) was sent packing for Marion Federal Penitentiary on a 21-month, all-expenses-paid vacation on federal vote fraud charges.
It would appear, however, that stealing votes wasn’t the only thing that old Chuck was up to. On last Tuesday, Powell was indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy and pollution charges. Imagine that.
In 2002, Powell, 63, and Isaiah Newton, 55 (also of ESL), violated the Clean Air Act during the renovation of the Spivey Building in downtown ESL, failing to properly protect workers during the removal and disposal of asbestos, according to the indictment.
Powell and Newton are also accused of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act, which could result in five years in prison and $250,000 in fines, or in the case of Powell 5 more years of vacation in Hotel Marion (I wonder if they have late checkout?).
But wait, we’re just getting warmed up here. Now, the nominee for the “knucklehead of the week” award (may I have the envelope, please?). And the winner is: George “Little Jack” Edwards.
Last Monday, Edwards, 48, the former demolition chief for the ESL Tax Increment Finance Department, was charged with extortion for attempting to blackmail a member of the St. Louis Cardinals for allegedly impregnating his daughter, according to a criminal complaint released last Tuesday in U.S. District Court (St. Louis).
The affidavit described a series of events in which Laura Edwards (George’s daughter) met with an unidentified Cardinals player on September 29, at a St. Louis nightclub, after which time she had an “encounter” with him.
Then, in late October or early November, Laura Edwards attempted to contact the athlete regarding her pregnancy. George Edwards became involved at this point, informing a friend of the athlete that his daughter was pregnant. In December, the athlete (through his agent) agreed to pay Laura $25,000 for a DNA test, establishing paternity, and an additional $125,000 if the child was, indeed, his.
On January 5, the agent gave George Edwards $25,000 in cash, then (5 days later) Edwards claimed that his daughter had suffered a miscarriage but still demanded the additional $125,000 in blackmail money, threatening to expose the athlete if he refused to comply.
Federal authorities were notified. George Edwards was arrested and was, at press time, denied bail. Unfortunately, this isn’t Little Jack’s first run-in with the law. Edwards’ prior convictions on drugs and other charges, in Illinois and California, extend as far back as 1979, with a conviction on federal drugs and weapon charges in 1983, according to court records.
Yet, when his home (in Shiloh) was searched, two firearms were discovered. Felons are not allowed to own guns. But why should that stop Little Jack?
If Edwards is convicted on these charges, it will prove that some people simply grow dumber with age. One would think that the last thing that a 48-year-old ex-con would do would be to shake down a professional athlete or to use his daughter to do so.
He’ll have his day in court, but it just sounds a bit shady that Laura Edwards would suddenly (and conveniently) suffer a miscarriage just days after her dad received a $25,000 payoff.
Will Laura be able to provide medical proof that she, indeed, lost her child (if, in fact, she was ever pregnant)? If she can’t, then we’re looking at conspiracy charges for both her and her dad. Not good.
By the way, George Edwards is the son-in-law of ESL Monitor Publisher Anne E. Jordan and the late Clyde Jordan. Prosecutors refused to confirm or deny whether Laura Edwards was considered as a participant in the crime. Edwards was also a crony of Charlie Powell and received his TIF position during Powell’s term on the ESL City Council.
Finally, I would advise George that, if he’s convicted, the name Little Jack might not be such a good nickname to have in prison. Try something a little tougher, like “Jackhammer.” Just a thought.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.
