All too often we hear about politicians embezzling funds or getting arrested for a driving under the influence violation. The latest victim is Kinloch Mayor Keith Conway who was arrested on a federal indictment accusing him of funding vacations and personal expenses with public money.
His response to the charges is somewhat surprising. He vehemently insisted it was salary due him — not a crime. After all, he is experienced, having been mayor since 1999.
Poorest Region Funds Caribbean Cruise
But Conway reversed course and admitted in federal court here that he broke the law in using funds from one of the poorest cities in St. Louis County in Texas to pay for Caribbean cruises and other travel with friends, as well as personal expenses that included federal taxes and a Florida time share.
Conway pleaded guilty to all three pending felonies: wire fraud, theft from a federal program and witness tampering, and prosecutors dropped no charges as part of the plea. Conway will face 15 to 21 months in prison and also will be ordered to repay the city.
The city attorney expects the mayor to tender his resignation, and if Conway does not quit officials would have to begin the impeachment process.
Conway stole more than $34,900 from the struggling city from Jan. 1, 2009, to March 31, 2011, using the city's checking account or debit card. That works out to just over $117 for each of Kinloch's 298 residents.
Residents Foot the Bill For Taxes and Vacations and DirecTV
Conway paid for several Caribbean cruises, plane tickets to Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale and train trips, often traveling with a friend. Conway paid his $9,000 delinquent federal tax bill and monthly DirecTV and electric bills for the city-owned house in which he lived.
Stolen funds also paid for clothes, his tax preparation software and bought videophone equipment.
Some of the stolen money was part of a $90,000 grant that was supposed to be used for hiring an extra police officer.
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After his indictment on the fraud and theft counts, Conway was warned by a judge to stay away from other city officials. Instead he persuaded an alderman the next day to give him the keys to City Hall and prepared a packet of documents that he handed out to fellow officials. In it, the mayor maintained that the money he spent was owed to him for pay not received.
It is yet another case of government officials letting us down. Aren’t things tough enough without our elected officials robbing us blind? Come on – let’s all respect other people’s property and don’t steal and be a good person!