CITY EMPLOYEE STILL ON JOB DESPITE DRUG FELONY

Worker Fired In Vote Fraud Case Asks Why Drug Conviction Is Allowed

EAST ST. LOUIS - City Councilman Karen Cason's nephew was allowed to keep
his City Hall job after pleading guilty to a felony drug charge last year.

But four other city employees, including one who worked in the same
department as Cason's nephew, were fired after being indicted in March and
later convicted on federal vote fraud charges.

The nephew, DiMario Cason, 28, of Converse Street, pleaded guilty to
possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and received probation,
according to St. Clair County Court records. He was arrested April 9, 2001.

Councilman Eddie Jackson said Friday that either all city employees with a
felony record should lose their jobs or all should keep them.

"It is a cause for concern because there should be fairness," commented
Jackson, who said he will investigate the matter.

"If the others aren't working, then neither should he," he said.

Neither Karen Cason or DiMario Cason could be reached for comment. Mayor
Carl Officer also could not be reached for comment.

Sheila Thomas was one of five city Democrats convicted in June following a
month-long vote fraud trial in East St. Louis federal court. Thomas, who
was fired, worked as a $27,000-per-year secretary in the same office as
DiMario Cason, a $35,000-per-year housing inspector in the city's
Department of Regulatory Affairs.

"We got let go because we were charged with a felony, and I was told you
couldn't have a felony and work in that department," Thomas said.

"DiMario Cason has a felony, yet he's still working. If he's able to work,
how come we weren't able to work? Especially because we haven't even been
sentenced yet," she said. "It is basically unfair."

Di Mario Cason was arrested on April 9, 2001, by agents of the Metropolitan
Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois and charged with possessing
marijuana with intent to deliver. St. Clair County court records show that
a second charge of illegally fortifying a residence to use it to store
marijuana was dismissed by Circuit Judge Jan Fiss as part of a May 20,
2004, plea agreement.

Cason was sentenced by Fiss to serve 18 months probation and pay $1,549 in
fines and court fees, court records state.

In December, State's Attorney Robert Haida filed a petition to revoke
Cason's probation for being arrested for disorderly conduct in Alorton and
for allegedly failing to pay the fines and court costs. Cason admitted to
failing to pay, and was ordered to pay $100 per month, according to a court
order.

Court records show Cason pleaded guilty in 2000 to a misdemeanor marijuana
possession count and was sentenced to four days time served and a $100 fine.