The stop occurred Wednesday on US 41 near Hazelton.
Former Bank of O’Fallon executive sentenced to prison for swindling $2 million in check kiting fraud scheme
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced the former second-in-command of the Bank of O’Fallon to 63 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to federal charges for engaging in a fraud scheme to obtain more than $2 million.
Andrew P. Blassie, 70, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of interstate transportation of security or funds obtained by fraud. In addition to imprisonment, he was ordered to pay $2,461,887.67 in restitution.
“Blassie’s prison sentence underscores the severity of his crimes to betray his clients, employer, family, and community,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The outstanding work by the investigators and the Bank of O’Fallon’s vital cooperation to dismantle this scheme delivered justice and helped to protect the integrity of our financial system.”
According to the indictment, Blassie served as the Executive Vice President for the Bank of O’Fallon and defrauded the bank out of $1,972,887.67 in a check kite scheme from September 2023 through September 2024 during his employment.
Blassie admitted to falsely inflating the balance of his personal checking account at the Bank of O’Fallon by depositing checks he knew to be backed by non-sufficient funds. He deposited checks with non-sufficient funds from four personal accounts at three other banks and one credit union into the Bank of O’Fallon account.
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to pursuing criminal actors who seek to rip off law-abiding citizens and undermine our nation’s financial system in the process. This was an outrageous scheme that hurt innocent victims,” said acting Resident Agent in Charge David Bolin, of the U.S. Secret Service’s Springfield Resident Office. “I am proud of our agency’s work in this case. Thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Illinois as well as our federal and local law enforcement partners who helped to bring justice for the victims, including the O’Fallon Police Department.”
Blassie paid nearly $2.7 million for personal expenses from the falsely inflated account thus using funds belonging to the Bank of O’Fallon. As the former Executive Vice President, Blassie used his position to conceal his fraud from the Bank of O’Fallon by scrubbing his name and account number from suspected kiting reports.
“Today’s sentencing brings justice to the defendant, who violated his position of trust as Executive Vice President at the Bank of O’Fallon. He defrauded the bank of approximately $2 million through a check kiting scheme that he used to enrich himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Chicago Region. “This case exhibits the FDIC OIG’s steadfast commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to hold bank insiders, and other perpetrators of fraud, accountable for their role in such schemes, especially those that threaten the safety and soundness of our Nation’s financial institutions.”
From August 2022 through September 2024, Blassie also persuaded a couple from Lebanon, Illinois, to give him $489,000 of their retirement savings. In return for this investment, Blassie gave the couple two promissory notes. He agreed to pay the couple interest on the notes and used money he obtained through his check kite scheme to pay some of that interest.
As security for his promissory notes, Blassie pledged 128 of his and his wife’s shares of the holding company which owns the Bank of O’Fallon.
“Today’s sentencing holds accountable and brings to justice a former bank executive who abused his position to defraud Bank of O’Fallon and its customers,” said Don Daley, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to achieve this result. We will continue to vigorously pursue those who undermine the safety and soundness of our banking institutions.”
According to the indictment, Blassie later sold most of these shares and did not use those funds to repay the Lebanon couple. This left the couple with no means of recourse when Blassie later defaulted on the promissory notes.
“Bank officials who abuse their positions of public trust for personal gain pose an unacceptable threat to the integrity the Federal Home Loan Bank system,” said Korey Brinkman, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General’s Central Region. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investigating thoroughly allegations of fraud involving bank officials and supporting the prosecution of those charged with these offenses. We are proud to work with our investigative partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure insider fraudsters are held accountable under the law.”
Officials with the Bank of O’Fallon have fully cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation.
The O’Fallon Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General made contributions to the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.
Council Approves Date For Christmas Uptown
A popular holiday event in Mt. Carmel has gotten the go ahead from the city council. Christmas Uptown returns to Market Street on Friday, December 5th. Spokesman Terry Beckerman was at Monday’s City Council and said a portion of Market Street will be closed the evening prior to the event for the setup of food trucks.
City Airport Receives Significant Grant For New Hangar
It's the biggest grant the city of Mt. Carmel has received over the last 14 years that Joe Judge has served as Mayor and before that on the city council…
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Judge thanked Congressman Mike Bost, State Senator Terri Bryant, and State Representative Dave Severin for their help in securing the grant.
Possibility Of Burn Ban Being Evaluated
As hot, dry conditions continue, local officials are looking at the possibility of enacting a burn ban. At Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge asked Fire Commissioner Susan Zimmerman if a burn ban should be considered in light of other area counties taking that step. Zimmerman said fire chief Francis Speth is evaluating the situation. She also cautioned that fires within city limits can only be in fire pits.
Rash Of Vehicle Break-ins Continue
Lock your vehicles. That’s the warning this week from Mt. Carmel Police Chief Mike McWilliams. At this week’s City Council meeting, McWilliams said even after two juveniles were arrested last week in connection to separate vehicle break-in’s, there were more reports on Monday. McWilliams said if you find out someone entered your vehicle illegally, but didn’t take anything…you still need to report it to MCPD……
McWilliams said there have been no reports of forcible entry into the vehicles. He said unlocked doors have made it easy for the thieves to enter.
WCHD Participating In Voter Registration Day
Today is National Voter Registration Day and the Wabash County Health Department is joining a non-partisan voter engagement project through the Illinois Association of Public Health Administrators. Health department administrator Judy Wissel talked about the importance of the initiative..
Wissel said slogans associated with the campaign include “Don’t Play Games With Your Health, Vote”, “Voting Impacts Your Health”, and “Vote Like Your Health Depends On It”. You can register to vote at the county clerk’s office at the courthouse or online by going to the state board of elections website.
College Drive Road Work Causing Headaches For Motorists
If you’re able to avoid College Drive this week, you might end up saving yourself some time. That’s because crews started working on the repaving project yesterday and that work will continue all this week and into next week. City engineer Dave Dallas told the city council yesterday that milling of the road surface will start today ahead of paving work Thursday and Friday. Dallas said the project, including striping, should be finished by the end of next week. If you do have to use College Drive this week, allow for extra time and be patient with the crews.
Crimestoppers Offering $500 Reward In Connection To MCPU Criminal Damage
$500 CASH REWARD
On 09.05.25 the Wabash County Sheriff's Office to a report of Criminal Damage to Property.
The criminal damage occurred on N 1900 Blvd. just east of E 850 Rd.
Unknown person(s) used a chainsaw and cut out a three foot section of a Mt.Carmel Public Utility power pole.
Damage is estimated at over $1,500.
Anyone with information leading to an arrest in this case will earn a cash reward of $500. Drop Crimestoppers a tip on the Wabash County Sheriff App or call crimestoppers at 618-262-HALT.
You may remain anonymous.
*This was an extremely dangerous act, as the guilty party could have injured themselves or others. Playing with power is a deadly game.*
Sources: Darren Bailey to run for governor again in Illinois
Bailey is biggest name to enter Republican primary despite 2022 loss
By BEN SZALINSKI
Capitol News Illinois
bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com
Article Summary
Former State Sen. Darren Bailey will announce a second campaign for governor, according to sources close to Bailey.
Cook County Republican Party Chair Aaron Del Mar will be Bailey’s running mate, according to a source.
Bailey lost the 2022 election to Gov. JB Pritzker by 13 points after a strong showing in the Republican primary. He later lost a race to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Bost.
Bailey would likely be the fourth person to announce plans to challenge Pritzker this year.
This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
Darren Bailey plans to run for governor for a second time in 2026, Capitol News Illinois confirmed with sources close to the campaign.
The former state senator and farmer from Clay County would become the highest-profile Republican to enter the race, having lost the 2022 campaign against Gov. JB Pritzker and a close primary race in 2024 against U.S. Rep. Mike Bost for a downstate congressional seat.
A formal announcement is expected next week. News of the planned announcement was first reported by NBC Chicago on Monday afternoon.
Bailey rose to statewide notoriety in 2020 as a state lawmaker who opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 emergency actions early in the pandemic. He capitalized on his opposition to the Pritzker-imposed restrictions and ran for governor in 2022.
Bailey easily won the Republican primary that year with 57% of the vote. His campaign was indirectly helped by Pritzker, who ran TV ads during the primary calling Bailey “too conservative” for Illinois, which helped to boost his credentials with Republican voters.
But Pritzker handily won a second term with 55% of the vote, defeating Bailey by 13 points in a race that the Associated Press called for Pritzker just moments after the polls closed. Pritzker dumped millions of dollars into his campaign as Bailey struggled to compete despite receiving some financial help from Lake Forest billionaire Dick Uihlein.
Bailey then tried to unseat Bost in 2024 in the 12th Congressional District but came up about 2,700 votes short. While he received President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the governor’s race, Trump endorsed Bost over Bailey in 2024.
New running mate
Bailey plans to enlist Cook County Republican Party Chair Aaron Del Mar as his running mate, a source said.
Del Mar ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 alongside Gary Rabine, receiving 6.5% of the vote.
Del Mar was elected to lead the Cook County Republican Party earlier this year, marking the second time he has held that role after previously leading the party in the early 2010s. He is also a member of the Illinois GOP’s State Central Committee and is Palatine Township’s highway commissioner.
Outside of politics, Del Mar has led a career in business and as an entrepreneur.
Bailey ran in 2022 with Stephanie Trussell, a conservative radio host from the west suburbs.
Bailey’s message
It’s unclear how Bailey plans to overcome his 2022 loss and what message he will take to voters in 2026.
He focused much of his 2022 campaign on crime and public safety, criticizing the SAFE-T Act and bashing Chicago as a “hellhole.”
The message failed to gain traction with voters, however, as Democrats focused heavily on abortion rights in the months after Roe v. Wade was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Facebook has been Bailey’s primary communication platform to voters, and in recent weeks, he has focused many of his posts on Pritzker and various ways he believes the governor has failed Illinois. Like other Republicans, Bailey has criticized Pritzker’s growing national profile.
“In 2026, we have the chance to stop him,” Bailey wrote in a post Monday. “But it will take ALL of us. Every Illinoisan who knows we deserve better. Together, we can end JB’s presidential ambitions before they even begin and finally turn Illinois around.”
Read more: New Republican to run for Illinois governor as election season begins
Bailey would become at least the fourth candidate to enter the Republican primary for governor, which has been slowing taking shape this fall. DuPage County Sheriff Jim Mendrick, Lake Forest resident Joe Severino, and conservative media writer Ted Dabrowski have also formed committees to run for governor.
Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner released a statement Sunday saying he was also considering running for governor as a Republican.
Pritzker is running for a rare third term as governor amid speculation he will also run for president in 2028. Candidates must turn their petitions in to the State Board of Elections by the end of October.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
ormer state senator and unsuccessful candidate for governor and later Congress Darren Bailey is pictured at the 2023 Illinois State Fair during his unsuccessful congressional campaign. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)