Illinois Grand Jury Accuses Tow Truck Driver of Stealing

A southwestern Illinois tow truck driver faces federal charges that accuse him of stealing from a car that investigators set up to look like a stolen and abandoned vehicle.

An indictment accuses 46-year-old Eddie Johnson Jr. of Cahokia of theft or conversion of government property and with lying to the FBI and to a federal grand jury.

Authorities say the FBI planted a Mercedes in East St. Louis and called a local tow company last year. Authorities say Johnson hauled the car away and later stole diamond rings, a purse, some cash and a debit card from it as video cameras secretly recorded the theft.

Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment He doesn’t have a listed home telephone number, and court records don’t show whether he has an attorney.