Staff Reports
A federal judge has sent a clear message: steal from the people and you will go to prison. U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone sentenced former City of St. Louis building inspector Adebanjo “Banjo” Popoola to 72 months behind bars and ordered him to repay $1,642,908.07 after prosecutors say he steered taxpayer-funded contracts to companies he secretly controlled. The theft crippled local rehab programs meant to fix decaying homes and may force the city to return federal ARPA money.
Sentenced for stealing ARPA and city funds
Popoola pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and was handed a six-year sentence, three years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment. The judgment also sets restitution at about $1.64 million. Prosecutors say the money came from two city programs: Stable Communities STL (paid with federal ARPA dollars) and Prop NS (paid with city bond funds). The court record shows the judge signed the judgment this week, closing a chapter on a brazen scheme that preyed on taxpayer goodwill.
How the scheme worked — and who benefited
Plain and simple, prosecutors say Popoola abused his power. He picked properties, wrote work scopes, awarded bids, inspected work, and certified completion — then steered dozens of contracts to companies he helped set up and hid his involvement with. Court filings say 41 contracts went to Farst Construction LLC and 50 to Premier Finish Contractors LLC. Popoola and family members ultimately received roughly $1.64 million and spent it on mortgages, car purchases and repairs, travel, gambling, and even a Hawaiian wedding. As Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith put it, “This is a case of greed, plain and simple.” And the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker warned that corrupt inspectors don’t just steal money — they put communities at risk.
Local fallout: frozen payments, stalled repairs, and ARPA risk
The damage wasn’t only financial. Mayor Cara Spencer warned the city might have to return millions in ARPA dollars because the fraud could compromise federal compliance. Innocent contractors saw payments frozen during the probe, leaving ongoing stabilization work stalled — including repairs needed after a tornado. Victim impact statements filed in court describe buildings left with “severe, unaddressed structural decay” after fraudulent certifications. That’s taxpayers paying twice: once when the money is stolen, and again when the bills for repairs and returned federal funds come due.
What should happen next — oversight, clawbacks, and real accountability
Fix process, follow the money, and protect neighborhoods
St. Louis needs answers and real fixes. The city should demand full restitution, press for strict enforcement of ARPA rules, and launch an independent audit of the affected programs. Tighten oversight on who can bid for rehab work, require third-party inspections, and publish conflict-of-interest checks so no inspector can secretly funnel funds to relatives. Prosecutors did their job — now officials must make sure this kind of theft can’t happen again. If taxpayers can’t trust building inspectors, then what trust remains in city government? Call it tough, but the city should treat corruption the way it treats unsafe buildings: condemn it and clear it out for good.
