Former St. Louis-area Mayor Sentenced for Corruption

December 18, 2006

A former mayor of the St. Louis suburb Rock Hill pleaded guilty Friday to charges related to taking an illegal commission from a pension fund company, but won't spend time in jail.

Robert Salamone, 48, now of Quincy, Ill., was given a suspended one-year sentence and placed on probation for two years. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and pay $34,000 in restitution.

The charges stemmed from Salamone's dealing with the city's pension fund insurer. He pleaded guilty to acceding to corruption by a public servant, a felony, and two misdemeanors, St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch said.

In 2004, Salamone was paid more than $33,000 by Nationwide Trust Co. to move the city's pension plan from another insurer to Nationwide. As mayor, Salamone was prohibited from receiving personal compensation for representing the city.

Salamone has already paid back $15,000. The rest is due within a year. He was elected mayor of the town of 4,700 in 2002. He resigned in August 2004.