Disbarred Belleville attorney sentenced and more crime news

The following stories focus on crime and justice in the metro-east area from last week:

Sept. 29: A 38-year-old Belleville woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of an East St. Louis man.

Sept. 30: An East St. Louis man, 26, was charged in connection with the shooting death and armed robbery of a man over four years ago, Illinois State Police announced.

Sept. 30: A 42-year-old East St. Louis man was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal stabbing.

Oct. 2: A former attorney from Belleville was sentenced to seven years in prison in connection with wire fraud. He is accused of embezzling over a million dollars from clients, affecting those with settlements, like one who suffered a brain injury.

Oct. 2: A 42-year-old Fairview Heights pizza restaurant employee was sentenced to 10 months in prison on a charge of illegal alien in possession of a firearm. His family worries he will be deported.

Oct. 2: A Belleville woman was found mentally unfit to stand trial on a murder charge. She allegedly stabbed an East St. Louis man multiple times, raising questions about her mental state.

Oct. 2: A former Cahokia High School baseball coach was indicted on drug trafficking charges. Authorities discovered drugs, cash and weapons in his possession during an investigation.

The dates above reflect when the stories were published by the BND.

NO. 1: BELLEVILLE WOMAN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN STABBING DEATH

A 38-year-old Belleville woman was charged Monday with first-degree murder in the death of an East St. | Published September 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carolyn P. Smith

NO. 2: MAN NOW FACES CHARGES IN 2021 METRO-EAST SHOOTING DEATH, POLICE SAY

An East St. | Published September 30, 2025 | Read Full Story

NO. 3: CHARGES FILED IN FATAL STABBING OF EAST ST. LOUIS WOMAN

A 42-year-old East St. | Published September 30, 2025 | Read Full Story

Luis Morocho-Minga had worked at a Fairview Heights pizza restaurant for several years before he was indicted on an immigration-related charge in February.

NO. 4: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS PIZZA RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE SENTENCED; FAMILY FEARS HE’LL BE DEPORTED

Luis Morocho-Minga has spent about half his life in the United States after growing up in Ecuador. | Published October 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mike Koziatek

A 36-year-old Belleville man has been charged with first-degree harassment, a felony, for allegedly threatening to shoot the employee of a Central West End business for their sexual orientation.

NO. 5: FORMER CAHOKIA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACH INDICTED ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES

UPDATE 10/2/2025: | Published October 1, 2025 | Read Full Story

The U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis.

NO. 6: DISBARRED BELLEVILLE ATTORNEY WHO STOLE FROM CLIENTS GETS FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE

A Belleville attorney who admitted to stealing thousands from his clients has been sentenced to 7 ½ years in federal prison. | Published October 2, 2025 | Read Full Story

A U.S. District judge sentenced a former president of the Alton chapter of the AFSCME labor union to 18 months imprisonment after he admitted to embezzling more than $200,000 from the organization and using the funds for personal expenses.

NO. 7: BELLEVILLE WOMAN CHARGED IN MURDER IS FOUND ‘UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL’

A psychologist has found a Belleville woman is currently not mentally fit to stand trial on allegations she fatally stabbed an East St. | Published October 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mike Koziatek

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.