Mother Of Former Police Chief Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud

ST. LOUIS, MO — Carol Dotson, the 70-year-old mother of former St. Louis police chief Sam Dotson, pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud after prosecutors accused her of embezzling more than $2 million from a commercial real estate company. She appeared in federal court Thursday morning.

Carol Dotson was the Olivette real estate company's office administrator, and according to court documents, she wrote herself several large checks from the company's bank account.

Prosecutors say she used the money for personal expenses like lawn care, cleaning services, and shopping, as well as home renovations, mortgage payments, and to care for her own mother. The checks were written between 2003 and February 2017, when she was arrested. She had worked for the company for almost 30 years.

KMOV Channel 4 reports that Carol Dotson has been estranged from her son, the former police chief, for many years. He told the television station that he is saddened and angered by the allegations.

Dotson now faces up to 20 years in prison and a quarter-million dollar fine, plus restitution. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Olivette Police Department.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

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