East St. Louis police chief taken down in Xbox 360 sting

Former East St. Louis police chief Michael Baxton pleased guilty in U.S. District Court on Thursday to stealing four Xbox 360 consoles, St. Louis news station KDSK reports.

Baxton abruptly resigned from his position as police chief after being caught stealing four Xbox 360 consoles in a sting operation conducted by the FBI. The police chief plead guilty to felony charges of stealing evidence and making false statements to federal investigators. Baxton faces up to 15 years in prison.

According to the report, federal agents became suspicious of Baxton after several officers in the Alorton Police Department brought to the attention of federal investigators that Baxton was giving special treatment to friends and family, and that he was failing to send evidence to the crime lab.

The FBI then decided to test him, and placed five Xbox 360 consoles in the back of a car and reported the car as being stolen. Baxton and another officer responded to the call, and the police chief took the bait–he took four Xbox 360 consoles for himself, and told the other officer to take the remaining one.

“Unbeknownst to Baxton, the unnamed officer voluntarily came forward to report other acts of misconduct occurring in Alorton and had been assisting the federal investigation from its inception. The unnamed officer was equipped with covert surveillance devices at the time of the theft — and he audio and video recorded the entire incident,” reads the court record.

Baxton, 49, posted bond shortly after being arrested and is now waiting for his sentencing, which is scheduled for April 27.

Source: KDSK