Effingham County man admits to federal charges for financially exploiting an elder out of more than $330,000

BENTON, Ill. – An Effingham County man appeared in federal court to plead guilty to several charges for exploiting an elder out of an estimated $338,773.

Edward L. Stief, Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of unlawful monetary transactions in criminal derived property. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 2 at the federal courthouse in Benton.

“The defendant posed as a trusted helper, offering lawn care services to gain the victim’s confidence, only to exploit his trust,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “He then deceived this vulnerable victim into leaving a nursing home with false promises of care, just to pocket more money. We will relentlessly pursue such financial predators to protect southern Illinois communities.”

According to court documents, Stief met the victim in May 2023 after becoming acquainted to him while offering lawn care and landscaping services. Shortly thereafter, Stief used several misrepresentations to convince the victim to appoint him as his Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney.

"After a lifetime of hard work, our seniors deserve to feel safe and secure. Instead, criminals like this defendant shatter that trust, stealing not just their money but their sense of security,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “FBI Springfield and our partners will continue to hold those who commit elder fraud accountable for their callous and reprehensible actions."

Stief became a signatory on the victim’s bank accounts. In August 2023, he talked the victim into cashing out life insurance policies and deposited most of the victim’s money into Stief’s personal bank accounts. In addition, Stief also took the victim’s gold coin collection, gold necklaces and watches.

In October 2023, Stief persuaded the victim to leave a nursing home facility and move into his full-time care. Under Stief’s care, the victim was not cared for and his medical needs were not met.

Convictions for wire and mail fraud are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and monetary transaction in criminally derived property is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The FBI Springfield Field Office and the Effingham Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard is prosecuting the case.

The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a service from the U.S. Department of Justice that helps victims over 60 years report crimes and access resources. The hotline is available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. ET, at (833) 372-8311 or (833) FRAUD-11. Callers can remain anonymous, and translation services are available.

Haubstadt woman arrested for Battery

On August 18, 2025, at 4:39 p.m. Gibson County law enforcement officers were dispatched to a residence in the 3200 block of West Sycamore Street in Princeton.  Upon arriving Deputy Shawn Holmes spoke with Princeton Officer Bryce Jutzi about a battery that had occurred in the Fort Branch area.  At that point Deputy Holmes began an investigation into the incident.  At the end of his inquiry Deputy Holmes placed 34-year-old Loveta Stuckey-Earl of Haubstadt into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Detention Center.  Upon arriving at the Detention Center Ms. Earl was charged with Felony Battery. 
 
Princeton Officers Bryce Jutzi and Jeremy Robb assisted Deputy Holmes in his investigation.  Additional assistance was provided by the Haubstadt Police Department.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Wabash County Commissioner Agenda

August 18, 2025

4:30pm

Wabash County Courthouse

AGENDA

1) Call to order:

2) Approve minutes of previous meeting:

3) Commissioner’s reports:

4) Officer’s reports:

5) Old Business:

a. Request from Tourism Committee/Market Street for moneys from the Hotel Motel Tax Fund.

b. Consider salaries for the newly elected officials in 2026.

6) New Business:

a. Appointments to various Drainage Districts.

b. Discuss Snedeker Risk Management 2025 Fall Client Conference.

c. Bill Eblin has asked to speak to the Board.

7) Executive Session:

8) Correspondence:

9) Approval of payment of claims presented:

10) Adjournment:

This agenda is subject to change prior to the time of the meeting if necessary.

Dated this 13th day of August, 2025.

Disturbance call leads to arrest of Princeton man on multiple charges

On August 13, 2025, at 11:47 p.m. Gibson County Deputies responded to a residence in the 500 block of South Second Avenue in Princeton to investigate the report of a disturbance.  Upon arriving Deputies began an investigation into the incident while speaking with one of the parties Deputies were advised that the other party had left the scene before they had arrived.  While still on scene, the other party, 20-year-old Quincy Collins of Princeton arrived on scene driving a Silver 2007 Mitsubishi SUV.  When Deputies attempted to speak with Mr. Collins, he gave a false name in an attempt to inhibit their investigation.  While speaking with Mr. Collins the odor of an alcoholic beverage was also detected on his breath.  At that point Deputy Michael Bates began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of the investigation Mr. Collins was placed into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with False Informing, Minor Consumption, and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated/ Endangerment. 
 
Sgt. John Fischer, Deputy Shawn Holmes, and Deputy Wes Baumgart assisted Deputy Bates in his investigation. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Traffic stop leads to arrest of Henderson duo

On August 13, 2025, at 9:22 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wes Baumgart conducted a traffic stop on a White Ford F150 for speeding on South Main Street in Princeton.  Upon stopping the vehicle near the intersection of Main Street and Hights Chapel Road Deputy Baumgart approached the vehicle and detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.  At that point Deputy Baumgart began a roadside Drug and DUI investigation.  Once the roadside inquiry was done Deputy Baumgart placed the driver 46-year-old Johnny Teague and 30-year-old Halie Moore, both of Henderson into custody and transported them to the Gibson County Detention Center. 
 
Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Teague was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.  Ms. Moore was charged with Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamines. 
 
Deputies Shawn Holmes and Eric Powell assisted Deputy Baumgart in his investigation.  Princeton Officers David Jones, Logan Lashbrook, and Jackie Wood also assisted in this investigation.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

City Wide Water Outage Cancelled; Smaller Portion Of Mt. Carmel To Be Affected

The planned city wide water outage in Mt. Carmel has been cancelled. A much smaller portion of the city will be affected at 6:30pm tonight. Public Works Director Mike Gidcumb was a guest on today’s Morning Show to discuss the current situation.

The area marked in red will have their water shut off at 6:30pm tonight, August 14th, 2025 and will be under a boil order for 2-3 days once water is restored. All other areas not marked in red will not have their water shut off.

These businesses will have their water shut off at 6:3opm tonight (8/14/25) and will be under a boil order once water is restored.

These businesses and areas will have their water shut off at 6:3opm tonight (8/14/25) and will be under a boil order once water is restored.

These areas will have their water shut off at 6:3opm tonight (8/14/25) and will be under a boil order once water is restored.

Centralia drug dealer sentenced to 17 years on meth and fentanyl charges

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Centralia man to 204 months of federal imprisonment after he admitted to distributing pound quantities of meth and fentanyl.

Jackie T. Scanlan, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances: meth and fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance: meth.

“This career offender built a life around selling dangerous narcotics and has a criminal history spanning over three decades of drug distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “While he continued to make poor decisions following previous stints of incarceration, Scanlan’s 17-year federal prison sentence will help to protect the public from any further crimes.”

According to court documents, law enforcement began investigating Scanlan for distributing meth and fentanyl from a motel room in February 2024. Initially, agents recovered 79 grams of meth, 24 fentanyl capsules and two scales in a traffic stop of Scanlan’s vehicle.

“Our success in combating drug trafficking in southern Illinois is a direct result of the collaboration both within the FBI Springfield's Southern Illinois TOC-W Task Force and outside it with our dedicated partners,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. S. Johnson. “By combining our resources, we're able to effectively seize drugs and firearms, and arrest those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”

In March 2024, Scanlan admitted to driving from Centralia to St. Louis to purchase at least a pound of meth and more fentanyl capsules. In a subsequent traffic stop, law enforcement recovered 232 grams of meth and another bag of fentanyl capsules.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Scanlan qualified as a “career offender” for amassing several previous drug trafficking and other felony convictions. Career offenders are eligible for longer terms of federal imprisonment.

Following imprisonment, Scanlan will serve four years of supervised release.

The FBI Springfield Field Office TOC-West Task Force led the investigation with support from the Centralia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert prosecuted the case.