Criminal Defense Lawyer

Former State Rep. T.D. El Amin Sentenced To 18 Months

Posted at http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-td-el-amin-sentenced-bribe-010610,0,2750312.story

ST. LOUIS, MO -- (KTVI - FOX2now.com) - The third Missouri politician to plead guilty under a federal anti-public corruption campaign failed Wednesday to convince a judge to be lenient. U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey ordered 39-year Talibdin "TD" El-Amin of St. Louis to serve 18 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release for soliciting and accepting a bribe of $2100. He was also ordered to pay back the bribe money.

Standing before the federal judge, El-Amin admitted he broke the law and must accept the consequences. "I detest myself," he told Autrey. His lawyer, Paul D'Agrosa told the judge his client's actions were "aberrant conduct" and he deserved a sentence less than the federal guidelines of 18 to 24 months. D'Agrosa pointed to El-Amin's previous efforts to help those in his north St. Louis community, his willingness to support his five children and his generosity in donating a kidney to his father. "Twelve months and a day is sufficient to address this crime and still serve as punishment," D'Agrosa said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith disagreed arguing El-Amin "sold his public office and used the power of his office to prey on constituents." Goldsmith added, "what citizens got was a classic shakedown."

The conviction derailed what had been a promising political career for the northside politician. He was elected to the 57th district seat after his wife, State Representative Yaphett El-Amin vacated it to seek the Democratic nomination for the fourth Senate District seat in 2006. She lost that race to Democrat Jeff Smith who is now serving a year long federal prison term for lying to federal agents about campaign activities during his 2004 bid for Congress. "TD" El-Amin had been considered a frontrunner for Smith's Missouri Senate seat until he too ran afoul of the law.

El-Amin pled guilty in September 2009 to one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe after he learned federal agents had surveillance video showing him accepting cash from a small business owner and passing written notes about the bribe in his state representative office. The business owner had asked El-Amin for help dealing with St. Louis City inspectors who were impacting his business. The man subsequently sought help from federal authorities who launched an undercover investigation.
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