Banjo Popoola, a U.S.-based Nigerian who worked as a building inspector with the City of St. Louis, admitted on Tuesday to stealing $1.64 million meant for repairing decrepit buildings in St. Louis to sponsor a lavish wedding for his second wife, luxury cars, and other expenses.
Mr Popoola, 57, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said, adding that he now faces 20 years in prison.
“Popoola admitted using Prop NS and Stable Communities STL funds for residential mortgage payments, multiple vehicle purchases and repairs, travel expenses, his September 2023 Hawaii wedding, casino gambling, and other dining and entertainment expenses,” the statement said.
It added that Mr Popoola also admitted concealing his connection to the companies on City Employee Secondary Employment Questionnaires in 2022 and 2023. Mr Popoola falsely stated that he had no personal interest, directly or indirectly, in a contract with the City of St. Louis, and he also falsely represented that he had no interest in any business.
According to the DoJ, Mr Popoola admitted that his sister, a Texas resident who had never visited St. Louis, incorporated Farst Construction LLC in Missouri in October 2022. His future wife set up a different company, Premier Finish Contractors LLC, in February 2021.
From about June 12, 2023, through Nov. 22, 2024, Popoola caused Farst to be awarded $1.4 million in construction contracts as part of the City’s Stable Communities STL program. From about Feb. 22, 2023, through March 8, 2024, Popoola steered $339,500 in Prop NS contracts to Farst. From Oct. 9, 2023, through May 7, 2024, Popoola steered about $1.3 million from the Stable Communities STL program and about $853,100 from the Prop NS program to Premier,” the DoJ said.
The DoJ said Mr Popoola is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6. Wire fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and fine. He will also be ordered to repay the money.
In March, Peoples Gazette reported that a U.S. grand jury indicted Mr Popoola for fraudulently awarding multimillion-dollar construction contracts to his sister and wife in return for kickbacks traced to a lavish wedding Mr Popoola held with his second wife in Hawaii, casino gambling, luxury car purchases and r