Former southern Illinois pastor sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief money in church’s name

BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a former church pastor in Hamilton County to 21 months’ imprisonment for obtaining COVID-19 money from the SBA by fraudulently representing to the SBA that the money would be used for his church.

Terry L. Hall, 58, of McLeansboro, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and three counts of making false statements. Following imprisonment, he will serve two years of supervised release. Hall was ordered to pay $199,900 plus the accrued interest back to the Small Business Administration.

“The vast majority of pastors across southern Illinois answered the pandemic with selfless service,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Terry Hall chose a different path: he requested federal relief on behalf of his congregation, then used nearly $200,000 for purely personal expenses. Conduct that far from the calling of ministry demands accountability, and accountability arrived in the form of a 21-month federal prison sentence.”

Enacted in March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from impacts by the pandemic.

Under the CARES Act and administered by the SBA, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provided low-interest funding to small businesses, renters and homeowners. As appropriated, EIDL funds could be used for payroll, sick leave, production costs and other general business expenses.

"FBI Springfield is committed to exposing those who abuse positions of trust in southern Illinois" said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Springfield Field Office, Christopher J. S. Johnson. "Our communities deserve honesty, and we remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates that trust."

According to the indictment, Hall was the lead pastor of a religious congregation in McLeansboro. As pastor, Hall applied for economic relief on behalf of the church and received two EIDL disbursements totaling approximately $199,900 to his personal bank account in 2020. To ensure he received the loan, Hall created fake documents, contacted elected representatives and intimidated fellow church members.

Hall admitted to using the EIDL funds to pay off his mortgage, the construction of a pole barn, various travel and other personal expenses like clothing, gas and food. The church did not receive any assistance to alleviate the economic hardships during the pandemic.

The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.

Lawrence County meth dealer sentenced to 15+ years’ imprisonment

BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Lawrenceville, Illinois, man to 188 months’ imprisonment for distributing meth in Lawrence County.

Jeffrey S. Metz, 49, pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of meth. Following imprisonment, he will serve four years of supervised release. He was sentenced Nov. 6.

“Trafficking drugs in any county of southern Illinois will earn dealers a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

According to court documents, Metz admitted to distributing more than 25 grams of meth in Lawrence County in October and November 2024.

"The Illinois State Police is committed to stopping illegal drug trafficking and keeping dangerous drugs from flooding and hurting our communities," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.  " ISP is targeting drug traffickers and will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to put them behind bars."

The Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force of the Illinois State Police, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and DEA contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.

Winslow man arrested for DUI

On November 19, 2025, at 1:24 a.m. Gibson County Ambulance Medic 4 was traveling County Road 800 South near US 41 and observed a Ford F150 attempting to back out of a ditch.  Upon observing the vehicle, they made direct contact with Gibson County Central Dispatch and Deputy Michael Bates was dispatched to the scene.  Upon arriving Deputy Bates spoke with 23-year-old Klayton Kixmiller of Winslow who was inside the vehicle.  While speaking with Mr. Kixmiller Deputy Bates detected multiple clues that Mr. Kixmiller was intoxicated.  At that point he began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the end of the investigation Deputy Bates placed Mr. Kixmiller into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center.  Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Kixmiller was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. 
 
Sgt. John Fischer 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.

City Council Approves TIF Funding For Local Business

The Mount Carmel City Council has approved TIF funding to support the relocation and expansion of TJD Electric in the Southgate Industrial Park.

City Clerk Ryan Turner explained that business owner Tony Delgado recently purchased city-owned property in the industrial park for $25,000 to build a new facility. After review, the city’s TIF advisors recommended approving a $50,000 one-time TIF grant through TIF District 6.

Under the agreement, the first $25,000 will reimburse the city’s general fund for the property purchase, while the remaining $25,000 will go toward site improvements and construction costs once the project is complete.

Delgado told council members that site work is underway and that, weather permitting, construction could begin this week with hopes of having the new building under roof before the end of the year.

Council members unanimously approved the funding, supporting another step forward in the city’s efforts to grow business activity in the Southgate Industrial Park.

Chamber Hands Out Honors At Annual Banquet

The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 78th annual banquet Tuesday night at the Anderson Building, recognizing outstanding businesses, employees, and community achievements from across the county.

This year’s Retail Merchants Committee Employee of the Year award went to Danielle Stevens of Wabash General Hospital.

The Chamber also honored two standout businesses:
• Schoogie’s was named Small Business of the Year, and
• Motorad received Large Business of the Year.

A special moment of the evening came when WSJD’s Rodger Beard was presented with a Distinguished Citizen Award. Beard is set to retire in January after more than 50 years on the local airwaves.

The Chamber also recognized several organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries including:
• Wabash Valley College – 65 years
• WADI – 60 years
• Big Farm and Home – 60 years
• WSJD – 30 years
• Gottman’s Custom Jewelry – 30 years
• Charlie’s Collision and Customs – 20 years

The banquet brought together local leaders, businesses, and community members to celebrate accomplishments and highlight the continued growth of Wabash County.

WSJD was recognized for its’ 30th anniversary.

Photo credit: Wabash County Chamber of Commerce

Indiana State Police Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Sullivan

Sullivan County - Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post have been requested by Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler to investigate an officer-involved shooting incident that took place on November 18, 2025, at approximately 1:50 a.m., at 615 South Bell Street in Sullivan. 

At approximately 1:50 a.m., officers of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and Sullivan City Police Department were dispatched to 615 South Bell Street, in reference to a possible domestic situation between a male and female.  Officers arrived at the scene a short time later.  Upon the officers’ arrival, a female was observed in the roadway with visible injuries.  A male subject then exited the residence and proceeded to run towards officers with a knife in his hand.  The officers gave loud verbal commands for the male subject to drop the knife, but he disregarded the commands and advanced towards the officers, still wielding the knife.  One officer fired their police-issued weapon at the subject, resulting in the male subject being shot. 

Medical assistance was immediately rendered at the scene, and the subject was subsequently transported to a local hospital in Terre Haute; later being transported to a hospital in Indianapolis via air ambulance.  The male suspect has been identified as Kylan Holbert, age 31, of Sullivan, Indiana. 

The female subject was also transported from the scene to a local hospital in Sullivan with non-life-threatening injuries. Upon her arrival at the hospital, she refused medical attention.     

The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives Angie Hahn and Don Curtis, with the assistance of Trooper Justin Bell, and CSI Sergeant Tim Rader of the Putnamville State Police Post. 

Assisting Agencies: Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Sullivan City Police Department and the Sullivan County Ambulance Service.  

This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation.  There is no further information to be released at this time.  Upon completion of their investigation, Indiana State Police detectives will submit a full report of the incident to the Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office for review. 

Former Belleville attorney sentenced to prison for stealing from clients

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a former Belleville attorney to spend 90 months in federal prison after he admitted to embezzling more than $1 million from his clients.

Jason R. Caraway, 51, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud in February. He was sentenced on Oct. 1.

“This lawyer didn’t just steal—he preyed on clients who trusted him to fight for them after suffering life-altering injuries,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “He pocketed their settlements, grabbed money intended to pay doctors, falsified court records, and even defrauded the children of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Attorneys must be held to account when they fail to honor their duty to serve as officers of the court. This sentence rightly delivers justice for his victims.” 

Caraway was a partner at Caraway, Fisher & Broombaugh, P.C., a personal injury law firm in Belleville. According to court documents, Caraway had control of the firm’s bank accounts and misappropriated funds by improperly spending client funds on personal and business expenses, issuing checks to himself, accepting settlements without client notification or payment, failing to pay medical lienholders from legal proceeds, and misapplying retainers without authorization.

The investigation identified more than 40 clients that were impacted and a loss of more than $1 million. To help facilitate his theft, he also forged the signatures of St. Clair County judges on two court orders.

"The actions of Mr. Caraway, which involves stealing from his clients, including child beneficiaries, are reprehensible" said FBI Springfield's Special Agent in Charge, Christopher J. S. Johnson. "FBI Springfield believes this guilty plea offers a measure of peace to the victims and hopes this can restore trust in the justice system."

Caraway represented two children of Ricardo Davis, a Washington Park Police officer who was killed in the line of duty after a tragic accident in 2018. He obtained more than $128,000 for their benefit that was never disbursed to them. Thanks to the ARDC Client Protection Program, the beneficiaries were paid after years of waiting.

FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.

St. Peters man sentenced to 15+ years for kidnapping his pregnant girlfriend with a firearm to force her to get an abortion

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a man from St. Peters, Missouri, to 188 months in federal prison after he admitted to kidnapping his pregnant girlfriend at gun point and driving to Fairview Heights to force her into obtaining an abortion.

Kevin L. Smith, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping. In addition to imprisonment, he will serve three years of supervised release. He was sentenced on Oct. 1.

“It is not easy to shock law enforcement officials because we have pretty much seen it all—but then someone like Kevin Smith comes along. It is difficult to find words adequate to describe someone who would kidnap his pregnant girlfriend to force her to have an abortion at gunpoint and then continue to threaten her from jail,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This vile crime terrorized the victim and threatened the life of her unborn child. Smith deserves every minute of that prison sentence.”

According to court documents, Smith kidnapped his pregnant girlfriend from her job in St. Charles, Missouri, and drove her to Planned Parenthood in Fairview Heights to force her to obtain an abortion on Dec. 7, 2022. During the car ride, he used a loaded firearm to intimidate and threaten to kill the victim by shooting her in the head.

“This case represents a disturbing act of violence and abuse,” said Steve Johnson, Chief of the Fairview Heights Police Department. “Kevin Smith kidnapped his girlfriend at gunpoint and drove her across state lines against her will in an attempt to make her obtain an abortion. His actions were those of a dangerous and manipulative individual. Our investigators worked tirelessly to bring the facts forward, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office ensured Smith was held accountable in federal court. This sentencing sends a clear message that acts of violence will not be tolerated in our community.”

Court documents explain Smith faced higher sentencing penalties, because he repeatedly harassed the victim and continued to threaten her from jail.

The Fairview Heights Police Department led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Trippi prosecuted the case.

Owensville woman arrested for DUI

On November 14, 2025, at 4:48 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a Grey 2005 Mercedes after Deputy Hunt observed a moving violation.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt detected the odor of alcohol and began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his inquiry, he placed the driver 53-year-old Angela Andrew into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Detention Center.  Upon arriving at the detention center Ms. Andrew was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. 
 
Deputy Wes Baumgart assisted Deputy Hunt 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.

Oakland City man arrested for DUI

On November 14, 2025, at 8:31 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Black 2013 Ram Truck in the 300 block of South State Road 57 near Oakland City after observing multiple clues that the driver was intoxicated.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.  At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in the driver 42-year-old David Dunn being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center.  Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Dunn was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
 
Deputy Zach Lienemann assisted Deputy Smith 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.