Pine Lawn mayor pleads guilty to extortion charges

The mayor of the St. Louis County city of Pine Lawn pleaded guilty Monday to charges related to the extortion of the owners of a towing company and convenience store.

Sylvester Caldwell, 55, admitted he accepted cash payments from the towing company in exchange for awarding it government work, according to the St. Louis Business Journal. He was accused of inducing payments by threatening to use a rival towing company.

Caldwell, who also admitted to extoring payments from Pine Lawn Market, could face 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per charge.

Read more from the St. Louis Business Journal.