ST. LOUIS, MO – William Miller, 54, of Richmond Heights, Missouri, has confessed to his role in a sprawling ‘pay-to-play’ scheme that corrupted St. Louis County government. Miller, former Chief of Staff to ex-County Executive Steve Stenger, pleaded guilty today to one count of aiding and abetting honest services wire fraud/bribery before U.S. District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel. The confession marks another fall in a case that has already toppled a local political figure and exposed a rotten underbelly of influence peddling.
Court documents reveal Miller’s central role in facilitating Stenger’s illicit activities. Appointed Chief of Staff in December 2017, Miller was responsible for the daily operations of St. Louis County and oversaw Stenger’s executive staff. He was also strategically placed on the Board of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. This position proved crucial in the scheme, which revolved around Stenger secretly leveraging his office to enrich himself through campaign contributions – essentially selling access and favorable treatment to the highest bidder. Stenger himself previously pleaded guilty on May 3, 2019, to three counts of honest services mail fraud/bribery.
The charge against Miller specifically centers on his efforts to secure a $200,000 state lobbying contract for “Company One” from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership in 2019. In exchange for campaign donations and fundraising, Miller actively pressured Sheila Sweeney, then CEO of the Partnership, and the Partnership Board – of which he was a member – to award the contract to Company One, despite competition from another lobbying firm. Miller personally met with Sweeney, twisting arms and ensuring the fix was in. This blatant disregard for fair process directly deprived the citizens of St. Louis County of honest governance.
This guilty plea is the latest development in a federal investigation that began in March 2018 and remains active. Authorities are continuing to untangle the web of corruption and identify all those involved. John Rallo, principal owner of Cardinal Insurance, Cardinal Creative Consulting, and Wellston Holdings LLC, remains under indictment on related charges. The FBI and Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation, with support from the IRS Criminal Investigations division.
If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mandatory restitution will also be required. Sentencing will be determined by the judge, who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Meanwhile, Steve Stenger is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9, 2019, and Sheila Sweeney on August 16, 2019. Their fates now hang in the balance, a stark warning to anyone who thinks they can buy influence in St. Louis County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and expose the dark side of power in St. Louis. This case underscores the need for constant vigilance and a relentless pursuit of justice when public officials betray the trust placed in them.
Related Federal Cases
- St. Louis County Exec Indicted in Pay-to-Play Scam · Missouri
- John Rallo Indicted in Bribery Scheme with Ex-County Exec · Missouri
- Ex-Healthcare Exec Admits Bribing Arkansas Senator · Illinois
- Bribery Scheme Unravels in St. Louis Health Inspection Scandal · Missouri
- Ex-Senator Gets 8 Years in Charity Bribery Scheme · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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