Veteran East St. Louis policeman pleads guilty to taking thousands in overtime pay
A former East St. Louis Police sergeant pleaded guilty in federal court for the Southern District of Illinois to collecting thousands of dollars in overtime pay he didn’t earn.
How much additional pay he took, exactly, remains in dispute.
Mario Fennoy, 48, of Lebanon, stood before Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengal, wearing a black two-piece suit with his attorney standing to the right of him. He spoke in soft tones as he told the court he understands the charges against him.
Fennoy, a 21-year veteran of the East St. Louis Police Department, then admitted to receiving more than $5,000 in fraudulent overtime from roughly April 2017 through March 2018. Some of that pay came through a $34,000 federal program grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Marshals Service.
But the prosecution believes he took at least $130,000 through 50 requests claiming more than 200 hours or overtime. During that time, Fennoy’s salary jumped from $69,382 to more than $200,000.
How much of that additional pay was collected fraudulently remains in dispute. Prosecutor Norman Smith said that will be argued during the sentencing hearing on Feb. 27.
Fennoy could face up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, a $250,000 fine and a $100 assessment fee. He also may have to serve up to three years of supervised release.
Fennoy also was accused of falsely clearing calls and reporting that he had responded to dispatches when, in fact, he never left a secondary residence he maintained in East St. Louis.
Fennoy has been allowed to remain free while awaiting his day in court. Talmage Newton, Fennoy’s St. Louis attorney, asked the judge to allow Fennoy remain free until sentencing.
The lawyer argued that Fennoy has been cooperative and was not a flight risk or danger to the community. He also has a wife, who was the only family present at Friday’s hearing, and a young child, Newton said.
“He has been fully compliant,” Newton said to Rosenstengal. “He voluntarily made it to every appointment. He appeared, voluntarily, here today.”
Smith didn’t object and Rosenthal granted Fennoy his release until February.
Fennoy made no comment, but Newton said after the plea hearing that his client is regretful.
“Mario has accepted responsibility for his actions,” Newton said. “He has spent his life dedicated to public service to his country and community, first with the United States Army, and for the last 24 years to the city of East St. Louis.
“Mario regrets this betrayal of the public trust. He apologizes to the East St. Louis citizens and police department for his conduct.”
This story was originally published November 15, 2019 at 1:50 PM.
