A former building inspector for the City of St. Louis, Adebanjo “Banjo” Popoola, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of wire fraud, admitting he diverted $1.64 million intended for the repair of dilapidated city properties to himself and his relatives.
Popoola, 57, was responsible for managing aspects of the Stable Communities STL and Prop NS programs, which aimed to stabilize and rehabilitate properties using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and city general obligation bonds, respectively. He confessed to orchestrating a scheme where he had his sister incorporate Farst Construction LLC and his future wife establish Premier Finish Contractors LLC.
He then steered numerous construction contracts from both programs to these companies. From June 2023 to November 2024, Farst received $1.4 million from Stable Communities STL and $339,500 from Prop NS. Premier was awarded approximately $1.3 million from Stable Communities STL and $853,100 from Prop NS between October 2023 and May 2024. These two companies collectively received 42% of the total ARPA funds disbursed through the Stable Communities STL program.
Despite receiving payments, private building owners and the Land Reutilization Authority reported that Farst and Premier often failed to perform the contracted rehabilitation and stabilization work. Popoola, however, falsely certified that the work was completed properly, enabling the disbursement of funds. He, his sister, and his wife then shared and personally used about $1.64 million of these funds.
Popoola admitted using the illicit gains for personal expenses, including residential mortgage payments, vehicle purchases and repairs, travel, his September 2023 Hawaii wedding, casino gambling, and other dining and entertainment. He also concealed his connections to the companies on city Employee Secondary Employment Questionnaires, falsely stating he had no personal interest in city contracts or businesses. His sister and wife also made false certifications on contract documents, claiming, “No officer, employee, or member of the governing body of the City of St. Louis, Missouri who exercises any functions or responsibilities in connection with the carrying out of the Project to which this Contract pertains shall have any private interest, direct or indirect, in this contract.”
Popoola is scheduled for sentencing on October 6 and faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, and will be ordered to repay the defrauded money. The FBI investigated the case with significant cooperation from the City of St. Louis Comptroller’s Office.