ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A former St. Louis City building inspector pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday on charges accusing him of over a million dollars of fraud using taxpayer money.
Adebanjo “Banjo” Popoola, 57, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud.
In late 2024, First Alert 4 Investigates first revealed questionable connections between then-Building Inspector Popoola and certain city contractors paid hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In March, federal prosecutors indicted Popoola on three counts of wire fraud. The charges alleged he steered more than $4 million in public money to two companies he created, personally obtaining more than $1.6 million for his own gain, including a trip to Honolulu for his wedding, mortgage payments, casino gambling and repair payments on his Lexus.
First Alert 4 Investigates tried to catch up with Poopla outside the courthouse…
This involves defrauding the state or using government systems to steal from individuals.
- Tax Identity Theft: A criminal uses your ID and income details to file a tax return in your name and claim a refund before you do.
- Grant/Benefit Fraud: Falsely claiming unemployment, disability, or social grants that the perpetrator is not entitled to.