Former Police Chief Found Guilty of Selling Forfeited Motorcycles and Keeping Money
A former American police chief has been found guilty of two motorcycle-related offences, including selling confiscated bikes and keeping the money himself
Anson Fenton, former police chief of Wayne City, Illinois, has pleaded guilty on two charges, including one that involves selling two forfeited motorcycles and keeping the money all to himself.
The two motorcycles sold by Fenton were a 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special and a 2000 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, both of which were valued at more than $5,000 (around £3,845) and kept the proceeds without authorisation from the Wayne City Board of Trustees.
The second offence involved a 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle which he traded for a 1991 Ford Mustang for his personal benefit. Fenton admitted to riding the Suzuki cross-country to complete the sale from Wayne City to Alexandria, Virginia which is more than ten hours by vehicle.
Fenton was the police chief in Wayne City for two years (2022 and 2023) but has since lost his position due to the charges he pleaded guilty to. During his role as police chief the American was supposed to be at the forefront of “safeguarding property that Wayne City received from asset forfeiture proceedings” which these two counts clearly indicate he did not do.
As a result of the charges, Fenton could face up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 (roughly £192,275) per count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 30 July at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
In a statement regarding the guilty plea, US Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office strongly supports our police, but we must take decisive action when things like this happen. By taking unauthorized possession of forfeited property for his personal benefit, the defendant used his position of trust as police chief to deceive the community he was sworn to protect.”
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