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Updated: Kinloch mayor pleads guilty to three federal charges


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Updated 11:39 a.m. with story including guilty plea

The mayor of the impoverished St. Louis County town of Kinloch faces sentencing in November after pleading guilty to three federal charges.

Keith Conway admitted in his plea that he used city money for things such as Caribbean cruises, a time-share condominium in Florida and even to pay electric bills and delinquent income taxes.

He was indicted in the spring for wire fraud, federal program theft and witness tampering.

The witness tampering charge accuses Conway of lying to city officials about the allegations and encouraging them to lie on his behalf.

"Mr. Conway finally admitted he stole money from his own community when the City of Kinloch couldn't even afford to pay its employees," said Dennis Baker, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in St. Louis. "After he was indicted, he lied about the city owing him money to try and cover up his selfish crimes."

Conway has been mayor of Kinloch, a town of less than 300, since 1999. The wire fraud conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the felony theft and witness tampering a maximum of 10 years each. Conway will also have to pay significant fines. Sentencing is November 18th.