Missouri Mayor Arrested

ST. LOUIS (CN) - The FBI arrested the mayor of a St. Louis suburb on extortion charges.

Pine Lawn Mayor Sylvester Caldwell, 54, was arrested Thursday.

A federal grand jury indicted Caldwell on one felony count of interference with commerce by extortion. Caldwell appeared in court Thursday and was released on bond.

The indictment states that Caldwell extorted cash payments from the owner of a towing company so city Police Department would use its service.

Caldwell faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Pine Lawn, pop. 3,261, is 5 miles northwest of St. Louis. Residents are 95 percent African-American and have a median income of $26,447, according to city-data.com.

Follow @@joeharris_stl

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit