Steven Cook, the former president of SouthernTrust Bank in Illinois, is facing jail time after a sentencing for his involvement in falsifying bank records. Cook was sentenced to a notably light punishment — a mere $6,000 fine, 50 hours of community service, and two weekends behind bars in the Jackson County jail, according to the United States Attorney's Office report. The Department of Justice stated that Cook's banking career is likely over and he could face a lifetime ban from the industry.
Last year, Cook was found to have approved a series of real estate loans by falsifying documents. These transactions involved selling commercial real estate to Lawler and Maze Properties LLC. He even backdated documents to make loans seem like refinancings and inflated property sale prices. These actions compromised the bank's integrity and undermined trust in financial documentation.
The trust the public has in banks is reflected in the serious consequences that followed these crimes.. "The FBI works daily to disrupt fraudulent activity and we recognize the impact it has on banking institutions," said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson, in a statement that underscores the gravity of Cook's actions. Special Attorney Hal Goldsmith from the Eastern District of Missouri handled the prosecution, while the FBI Springfield Field Office and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General spearheaded the investigation, as stated by the United States Attorney's Office.
Cook's sentencing follows his guilty plea accepted by the U.S. District Court in Benton in June. He was convicted on three felony counts of aiding false bank entries. In a related case, former Williamson County State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti pleaded guilty in March to the same crime and received two years of probation, a $5,000 fine, and 20 hours of community service. Justin Maze and David Lawler, owners of Lawler and Maze, LLC, also admitted their involvement through a pretrial diversion program. In a twist of justice, Maze had to resign as Williamson County Circuit Clerk and agreed not to run for public office again, as required by the program, as mentioned by the United States Attorney's Office.
