Former Alorton Police Officer Charged with Obtaining Funds From the Village of Alorton Police Department by Fraud

EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. – Jay A. Cobb, 57, of Cahokia, Illinois, formerly a police officer with the 
Village of Alorton Police Department, was charged in a one-count Indictment with “Obtaining Funds 
by Fraud from the City of Alorton Police Department, a Unit of a Government that Received Federal 
Funds.”   The Indictment alleges that Cobb falsified time records for the period of January 2020  
through  April  2021  and  acknowledges  that  he  obtained  funds  by  fraud  from  May  2018 
through April 2021 claiming to be working when he was out of the jurisdiction, usually at his 
residence in Cahokia, Illinois.   The Indictment alleges that there was approximately 654 hours 
where Cobb claimed he was working but he was outside the jurisdiction of the Village of Alorton 
causing a financial loss of approximately $9,815.

U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The allegations in this indictment should reassure the 
public that allegations of police misconduct are investigated seriously; but the charges should not 
undermine the public’s confidence in law enforcement, which is overwhelmingly made up of good and 
decent public servants who risk their lives for our safety.”

Embezzling money from an organization that receives federal funds carries a maximum sentence of ten 
years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution.

An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendant is 
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the 
satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force which 
consists of agents with the FBI and the Illinois State Police.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.

Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public
Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.