A former St. Louis alderman and member of a powerful political family in the city will spend a little more than a year in federal prison for defrauding an insurance company in 2021.
A federal jury found Brandon Bosley guilty of four felonies in January. The 16-month sentence issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey was within federal sentencing guidelines of 12 to 18 months.
Prosecutors had sought an extensive prison term, citing what they called numerous examples of Bosley’s poor character. The former alderman’s lawyers had asked for home confinement.
At the time of his federal conviction, Bosley was also facing a state-level misdemeanor charge of filing a false police report. The Circuit Attorney’s Office later dropped the case.
The scheme
In 2021, Bosley purchased a Toyota Prius from local business owner Mohammed Almuttan for far less than market value. About five months…
THE TUTUKA POWER STATION PROCUREMENT FRAUD (ESKOM)
Date: August 29, 2025 Perpetrator: Jessie Phindile Kubheka (Supplier Director)
Case Description: As part of the ongoing “cleaning up” of Eskom, Jessie Phindile Kubheka was sentenced to 12 years (with 5 years suspended) for defrauding the Tutuka Power Station. The case involved a sophisticated procurement syndicate that exploited Eskom’s emergency repair protocols. Kubheka’s company was contracted to deliver three high-specification containers for the power station. Only one container was ever delivered, and even that single unit failed to meet the required safety and technical specifications.
Despite the lack of delivery, Kubheka issued grossly inflated invoices, defrauding the utility of approximately R2.6 million. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ordered Kubheka to repay the full amount. This case is significant because it marks a shift in Eskom’s strategy toward “naming and shaming” suppliers and pursuing full asset recovery. It serves as a stark warning to contractors that the 2026 climate of “Zero Tolerance” for state-owned enterprise (SOE) fraud is backed by active judicial enforcement.
Link to Original: Eskom Official – Tutuka Fraud Sentencing