ST. LOUIS 鈥 When she moved into the Saum building at 1919 South Grand six months ago, Salinas Rangel immediately noticed the smell.
kAmu@C H66<D[ :E =:?86C65]k^Am
kAmu:?2==J[ tG6EE6 %@H?D6?5[ E96 AC@A6CEJ >2?286C 7@C =2?5=@C5 $%{ r:EJ(:56[ E@=5 #2?86= 2?5 @E96C D6G6?E9\7=@@C C6D:56?ED E92E 6>A=@J66D H@F=5 36 4964<:?8 E96 2A2CE>6?ED E96C6 E@ ECJ 2?5 7:?5 E96 D@FC46] (96? #2?86= C6EFC?65 7C@> H@C< E92E 62C=J yF?6 6G6?:?8[ E96 A@=:46 H6C6 E96C6] %96J 925 7@F?5 2 564@>A@D:?8 3@5J :? @?6 @7 E96 F?:ED]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E92E[ #2?86= 4@>A=2:?65 23@FE C@2496D E9C@F89@FE E96 3F:=5:?8] $96 ECF5865 FA D6G6? 7=:89ED @7 DE2:CD 5FC:?8 E96 7C6BF6?E 6=6G2E@C @FE286D]k^Am
kAmqFE D96 <6AE A2J:?8 ?62C=J S`[a__ :? >@?E9=J C6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?2= DEC2H 42>6 =2DE $2EFC52J[ H96? #2?86= 7@F?5 2 C2E DEF4< :? 2 EC2A] xE H2D F?56C 2 C25:2E@C[ D=@H=J C@2DE:?8] $96 =67E E92E ?:89E]k^Am
kAm鈥%96D6 A6@A=6 2C6 :?D2?6 :7 E96J E9:?< E96J鈥機6 8@:?8 E@ 86E 2?@E96C 5@==2C @FE @7 >6[鈥 #2?86= D2:5]k^Am
kAm#2?86= :D 4@?D:56C:?8 96C =682= @AE:@?D ?@H[ 2?5 2 =2HDF:E 7C@> 96C H@F=5 36 E96 =2E6DE :? 2 8C@H:?8 ?F>36C @7 =682= 24E:@?D A:=:?8 FA 282:?DE @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE =2?5=@C5D :? $E] {@F:D 2?5 :ED @H?6CD[ 3C@E96CD ':4 p=DE@? 2?5 $:5 r92<C2G6CEJ]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C C646?E =2HDF:E 244FD6D 2 r:EJ(:56 6>A=@J66 @7 DE62=:?8 C6?E 2?5 :==682==J D9FEE:?8 @77 FE:=:E:6D 2E 2 5@H?E@H? =@7E 3F:=5:?8[ H9:=6 @?6 2==686D 2 C@249 :?76DE2E:@? 2E 2 r6?EC2= (6DE t?5 AC@A6CEJ] p?@E96C E9C66 E6?2?ED 92G6 C646?E=J D6EE=65 =2HDF:ED 282:?DE p=DE@?[ r92<C2G6CEJ 2?5 E96:C 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ鈥橠 4@?DECF4E:@? 2C>[ q:8 $FC r@?DECF4E:@?[ :D 724:?8 @G6C Sb]b >:==:@? :? 4@?DECF4E:@? =:6?D 7:=65 E9:D J62C 282:?DE C646?E 2A2CE>6?E 56G6=@A>6?ED :? &?:G6CD:EJ r:EJ 2?5 z2?D2D r:EJ]k^Am
Vic Alston, from left, his brother Sid Chakraverty, and accountant Shijing 鈥淧oppy鈥 Cao were accused in a federal indictment of falsifying records related to the city鈥檚 minority contracting requirements for developers who receive tax incentives.
Provided to the Post-Dispatch
kAm%96 =:6?D 2?5 =2HDF:ED 2C6 @? E@A @7 7656C2= 4C:>:?2= 7C2F5 492C86D F?D62=65 :? $6AE6>36C[ 2?5 E96J AFE 7FCE96C 7:?2?4:2= AC6DDFC6 @? 2? 6?E6CAC:D6 E92E @H?D 2?5 >2?286D 2? 6DE:>2E65 a[___ 2A2CE>6?ED :? E96 $E] {@F:D 2C62] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^4C:>6\4@FCED^=FI\=:G:?8\@H?6CD\:?5:4E65\@?\7C2F5\492C86D\2==68:?8\>:?@C:EJ\9:C:?8\D496>6^2CE:4=60663g4heg\ff`g\``67\g2dd\`7bg2fd64664]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4C:>:?2= 492C86D 282:?DE p=DE@?[ r92<C2G6CEJ 2?5 E96:C 49:67 7:?2?4:2= @77:46C[ $9:;:?8 鈥!@AAJ鈥 r2@k^2m[ 244FD6 E96 EC:@ @7 567C2F5:?8 $E] {@F:D鈥 >:?@C:EJ 9:C:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C 56G6=@A6CD H9@ C646:G6 4@?DECF4E:@? :?46?E:G6D] p== E9C66 92G6 A=62565 ?@E 8F:=EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 E6?2?ED 7:=:?8 C646?E =2HDF:ED 2C6 36:?8 C6AC6D6?E65 3J p= y@9?D@?[ 2 7@C>6C $E] {@F:D r@F?EJ AC@D64FE@C 2?5 AC:G2E6 AC24E:46 2EE@C?6J H9@ ?@H 9625D ?@?AC@7:E =682= 4=:?:4 }6H r@G6?2?E {682= $6CG:46D] w:D 4=:6?ED鈥 4=2:>D 649@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^>6EC@^=FI\=:G:?8\:D\@?6\@7\E96\3:886DE\56G6=@A6CD\:?\DE\=@F:D\3FE\:E\4@FCED\4@?EC@G6CDJ^2CE:4=607ca34g`6\524e\de3b\245a\`5g`77d76hh4]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@>A=2:?ED E92E E6?2?ED @7 E96 3C@E96CD鈥 AC@A6CE:6D 92G6 366? G@:4:?8 7@C J62CDk^2m]k^Am
kAm鈥&?56C E96 5:C64E:@? @7 p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ[ r:EJ(:56 92D 56G:D65 2 DEC2E68J @7 AFC492D:?8 2A2CE>6?E 3F:=5:?8D :? E96 4:EJ @7 $E] {@F:D 2?5 6?828:?8 :? 2 A2EE6C? @7 5676CC65 >2:?E6?2?46[鈥 y@9?D@? HC@E6 :? @?6 @7 E96 C646?E =2HDF:ED] 鈥%96J FD6 7C2F5[ 5646AE:@?[ 2?5 32:E\2?5\DH:E49 E24E:4D E@ 2EEC24E E6?2?ED 2?5 E96? 6?8286 :? 288C6DD:G6 =682= E24E:4D H96? E6?2?ED 32=< 2E A2J:?8 E96 6I@C3:E2?E C6?ED :? 3F:=5:?8D E92E 2C6 7C6BF6?E=J 567:4:6?E]鈥漦^Am
k9am$E@=6? C6?E[ :==682= FE:=:EJ D9FE@77k^9am
kAm|682? ~鈥檚@??6== 2?5 #JF:49: *2>2>@E@ DF65 :? ~4E@36C @G6C E96:C 6IA6C:6?46 :? E96 pCE{@7ED 2E `db` (2D9:?8E@? pG6?F6] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96 3C@E96CD[ E96 4@FA=6 ?2>65 %@H?D6?5[ E96 r:EJ(:56 AC@A6CEJ >2?286C[ 2?5 y@D6 v2C4:2[ 2?@E96C >2?286C[ 2D 5676?52?ED]k^Am
kAmx? E96:C =2HDF:E[ E96 4@FA=6 244FD6 v2C4:2 @7 DE62=:?8 E96:C S`[`e_ pF8FDE C6?E 4964< 2?5 E96? :==682==J D9FEE:?8 @77 E96:C 6=64EC:4:EJ]k^Am
kAmp 76H 52JD 27E6C 56A@D:E:?8 2 4964< :? 2 5C@A 3@I[ D@>6@?6 7C@> r:EJ(:56 :?7@C>65 ~鈥檚@??6== 2?5 *2>2>@E@ E96:C C6?E H2D =2E6] ~鈥檚@??6== H6?E E@ 96C 32?< 2?5 5:D4@G6C65 E92E v2C4:2 925 42D965 E96 4964< :? 9:D ?2>6] $96 E@=5 v2C4:2鈥橠 DFA6CG:D@C[ %@H?D6?5[ H9@ EC:65 E@ 鈥723C:42E6 2 DE@CJ E92E H@F=5 D@>69@H 6I@?6C2E6鈥 v2C4:2[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =2HDF:E]k^Am
kAmr2@[ E96 r:EJ(:56 244@F?E2?E H9@ H2D :?5:4E65 7@C 7C2F5 2=@?8 H:E9 r92<C2G6CEJ 2?5 p=DE@?[ H2D 2=D@ ?2>65 2D 2 5676?52?E :? E96 =2HDF:E] $96 :D 244FD65 @7 4@?E24E:?8 ~鈥檚@??6== 2?5 *2>2>@E@ 2E p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ鈥橠 5:C64E:@? E@ ECJ 2?5 鈥4@G6C FA DJDE6>2E:4[ :==682= 8@:?8D\@? 2E r:EJ(:56]鈥漦^Am
kAmv2C4:2 =2E6C AC@>:D65 E@ 4C65:E E96 4964< E@ E96 4@FA=6鈥橠 pF8FDE C6?E[ 3FE 96 ?6G6C 5:5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 DF:E] ~? E@A @7 E92E[ 3@E9 %@H?D6?5 2?5 r2@ E@=5 E96> E96J DE:== 925 E@ A2J 2?@E96C S`[`e_ 7@C E92E >@?E9鈥橠 C6?E]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 =2HDF:E[ ~鈥檚@??6== 2?5 *2>2>@E@ 925 2=C625J ?68@E:2E65 H:E9 v2C4:2 2 @?6\>@?E9 6IE6?D:@? E@ E96:C =62D6 E9C@F89 $6AE6>36C] qFE @? pF8] ab[ 7@FC 52JD 367@C6 E96:C @C:8:?2= =62D6 6IA:C65[ %@H?D6?5 E@=5 E96> r:EJ(:56 H@F=5 ?@E 9@?@C E96 6IE6?D:@?] %96J 925 E@ 36 @FE :? =6DD E92? 2 H66<]k^Am
kAm%96 4@FA=6 4@F=5?鈥橢 7:?5 2 ?6H A=246 E92E BF:4<=J[ D@ E96J C6>2:?65 :? E96 F?:E :?E@ $6AE6>36C]k^Am
kAmx? C6E2=:2E:@?[ v2C4:2 D9FE @77 E96:C 6=64EC:4:EJ[ 6G6? E9@F89 ~鈥檚@??6== 2?5 *2>2>@E@ A2J p>6C6? 5:C64E=J 7@C 6=64EC:4:EJ[ E96:C =2HDF:E D2JD]k^Am
kAm鈥%9:D C67FD2= E@ AC@G:56 6=64EC:4:EJ :D ?6:E96C =682= ?@C :D@=2E65[鈥 E96:C DF:E D2JD] 鈥#2E96C[ s676?52?ED DJDE6>2E:42==J D9FE @77 2446DD E@ 6=64EC:4:EJ 7@C 2A2CE>6?ED E96J 4=2:> E@ 36 369:?5 :? A2DE\5F6 C6?E @C @E96CH:D6 :? 2==6865 G:@=2E:@? @7 E96 =62D6 28C66>6?E E@ 6IE@CE C6?E 2?5 6?7@C46 4@>A=:2?46]鈥漦^Am
kAm%96 4@FA=6 E96? C2? 6IE6?D:@? 4@C5D F?56C E96:C 5@@C E@ A@H6C 2AA=:2?46D[ 3FE r:EJ(:56 6>A=@J66D 4FE E96>] ~?6 ?:89E[ v2C4:2 6?E6C65 E96:C 2A2CE>6?E F?:?G:E65 E@ 鈥淕6C32==J 92C2DD A=2:?E:77D 2?5 5:C64E E96> E@ G242E6 E96 2A2CE>6?E 62C=J[鈥 E96 =2HDF:E D2JD]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ r:EJ(:56 6>A=@J66D 鈥淗6C6 AC@G:5:?8 D=2?56C@FD 2?5^@C =:36=@FD E6?2?E C676C6?46D鈥 23@FE ~鈥檚@??6== 2?5 *2>2>@E@[ :?4=F5:?8 E92E E96J 925 ?@E A2:5 E96:C pF8FDE C6?E[ E96:C =2HDF:E D2JD] %92E >256 :E 5:77:4F=E E@ 7:?5 2 ?6H =2?5=@C5 H:==:?8 E@ E2<6 E96>]k^Am
The ArtLofts building, left, at 1531 Washington Avenue, is seen in a mirror reflection on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in 51黑料.聽The property is owned and managed by companies controlled by Victor Alston and Sid Chakraverty. A new lawsuit accuses their employee, Jose Garcia, of illegally shutting off tenant electricity to force evictions and stealing rent.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
kAmv2C4:2[ C624965 3J A9@?6[ 9F?8 FA H96? 2 C6A@CE6C 2D<65 9:> 23@FE E96 FE:=:EJ D9FE@77D] %@H?D6?5 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@?[ EH@ =2HDF:ED 244FD6 p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ E9C@F89 E96:C 4@>A2?:6D @7 C6?E:?8 @FE 2A2CE>6?ED H:E9@FE 2 DE2E6 C62= 6DE2E6 =:46?D6]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^3FD:?6DD^56G6=@A>6?E^>:DD@FC:\286?4J\D2JD\4@?EC@G6CD:2=\=2?5=@C5\DE=\4:EJH:56\H@C<:?8\H:E9@FE\=:46?D6^2CE:4=60_hbb4f_a\e`b7\``66\h67d\77253272b6`f]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm|:DD@FC: #62= tDE2E6 r@>>:DD:@? :? $6AE6>36C a_ab DF65 r:EJ(:56k^2m 7@C C6?E:?8 AC@A6CE:6D H:E9@FE 2 C62= 6DE2E6 3C@<6C鈥橠 =:46?D6 2?5 2D<65 E96 4@FCED 7@C 2? :?;F?4E:@? E@ DE@A r:EJ(:56 7C@> 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ C6?E @FE E96 2A2CE>6?ED]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 DE2E6 92D ?@E E2<6? 2?J 24E:@? :? E96 =:E:82E:@? D:?46 7:=:?8 E96 =2HDF:E[ 2?5 :E鈥橠 F?4=62C H96E96C :E :D 6G6? DE:== AFCDF:?8 E96 >2EE6C] |:DD@FC: #62= tDE2E6 r@>>:DD:@? tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C qC:EE2?J %@>3=:?D@? 2?5 E96 5:G:D:@?鈥橠 6?7@C46>6?E >2?286C[ {:D2 qCFD9[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C C646?E =2HDF:E 7:=65 3J r2E96CJ? q@=:4< 2==686D 2 C@56?E :?76DE2E:@? :? r:EJ(:56鈥橠 w2>A56? w2== @? |4!96CD@? pG6?F6[ H96C6 D96 A2:5 ?62C=J S`[c__ 2 >@?E9 7@C C6?E] $96 2=D@ D2:5 E96 6=6G2E@CD H6C6 C@FE:?6=J 3C@<6?]k^Am
kAm%9C66 @E96C E6?2?ED C646?E=J D6EE=65 =2HDF:ED 282:?DE E96 3C@E96CD鈥 4@>A2?:6D] p =2HDF:E 7:=65 3J p>5:6= r=6>6?E =2DE J62C 4=2:>65 E96C6 H2D 2 C@249 :?76DE2E:@? :? r:EJ(:56鈥橠 |2CJ=2?5 {@7ED 2E cbc_ |2CJ=2?5 pG6] %96 42D6 D6EE=65 :? yF=J]k^Am
kAmx? 2?@E96C 42D6[ @?6 @7 r:EJ(:56鈥橠 4@>A2?:6D[ r6?EC2= !| {{r[ DF65 |2CE6K |2J@ 7@C A2DE 5F6 C6?E :? E96 pCE{@7ED] |2J@ 28C665 E@ 2 562= :? 4@FCE E92E 82G6 9:> F?E:= $6AE6>36C E@ A2J r:EJ(:56 Se[___ :? A2DE 5F6 C6?E 2?5 766D] qFE @? pF8] `d[ E96 =2?5=@C5D 4FE @77 9:D 6=64EC:4:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 4@F?E6CDF:E |2J@ 7:=65]k^Am
kAmp>6C6? E@=5 |2J@ E96J 925 ?@E 5624E:G2E65 9:D 6=64EC:4:EJ] (96? |2J@ 4@?7C@?E65 v2C4:2 23@FE E96 D9FE@77[ v2C4:2 E@=5 9:> E96 =2?5=@C5 H@F=5 @?=J D6?5 2 E649?:4:2? 27E6C 96 925 A2:5 9:D A2DE\5F6 C6?E[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96 D6EE=6>6?E :? 9:D C6?E 42D6 82G6 |2J@ F?E:= $6AE6>36C] r6?EC2= !| D6EE=65 E96 42D6 =2DE H66<]k^Am
kAmp?5 2?@E96C =2HDF:E 7C@> s6>2C<FD %FC?6C 4=2:>65 r:EJ(:56 6>A=@J66 zJ=6 #9:?6 E@=5 9:> 96 925 E@ AFC492D6 2 C6?E6C鈥橠 :?DFC2?46 A@=:4J 7C@> r6?EFCJ\}2E:@?2= x?DFC2?46 r@>A2?J H96? 96 >@G65 :?E@ E96 %2?;:6CD 2A2CE>6?ED 2E ddaa s6=>2C q@F=6G2C5]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2 DE@C> 42FD65 H2E6C 52>286 :? 9:D 2A2CE>6?E[ %FC?6C 7:=65 2 4=2:> 3FE H2D 56?:65] %96 =2HDF:E 2==686D E92E #9:?6 H2D 24EF2==J 2? 286?E 7@C r6?EFCJ :? 255:E:@? E@ r:EJ(:56]k^Am
kAm鈥&?<?@H? E@ A=2:?E:77[ E96C6 H2D 2 AC6\6I:DE:?8 28C66>6?E 36EH66? E96 r:EJ(:56 5676?52?ED %2?;:6CD[ r:EJ(:56[ 2?5 5676?52?E r6?EFCJ E@ 7@C46 2?5^@C DE66C 4=:6?ED E@ r6?EFCJ[鈥 %FC?6C鈥橠 =2HDF:E D2JD] 鈥渪? EFC?[ r6?EFCJ H@F=5 D6== 2? :?DFC2?46 A@=:4J E@ F?DFDA64E:?8 E6?2?ED :? E96 %2?;:6CD 2A2CE>6?ED E92E AC@G:565 4@G6C286 @?=J E@ E96 r:EJ(:56 5676?52?ED 3FE =:EE=6 @C ?@ 4@G6C286 E@ E6?2?ED[ =:<6 A=2:?E:77 %FC?6C]鈥漦^Am
kAm#9:?6 9F?8 FA H96? C624965 3J 2 C6A@CE6C] %96 =2HDF:E D6EE=65 :? $6AE6>36C]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2C494:EJ=2HJ6CD]4@>^H9@\H6\2C6^;@6\;24@3D@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmy@6 y24@3D@?k^2m[ 2? 2EE@C?6J 7@C p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ鈥橠 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 6>A=@J66D :? E96 E6?2?E =2HDF:ED[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kAmx? 2 DE2E6>6?E[ y@9?D@?[ E96 }6H r@G6?2?E 2EE@C?6J[ D2:5 E96 ?F>36C @7 =2C86 =2?5=@C5D 鈥6?828:?8 :? G2C:@FD A2EE6C?D @7 E6?2?E 23FD6鈥 92D :?4C62D65 @G6C E96 =2DE 7:G6 J62CD]k^Am
kAm鈥(6 42? 7:=6 =2HDF:ED 2== 52J[ 3FE E96 D:EF2E:@? H:== @?=J :>AC@G6 H96? H6 D66 D@>6 >@C6 288C6DD:G6 6?7@C46>6?E 3J =@42= 2?5 DE2E6 @77:4:2=D @7 E6?2?ED鈥 C:89ED[鈥 96 HC@E6]k^Am
k9am!=625 E96 u:7E9k^9am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ >6492?:4D =:6?D 92G6 366? A:=:?8 FA 282:?DE p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ鈥橠 4@?DECF4E:@? 2C>[ q:8 $FC] pE =62DE S`]c >:==:@? :? =:6?D 92G6 366? 7:=65 282:?DE E96 |4z6?K:6 2 ad`\F?:E 2A2CE>6?E 3F:=5:?8 C646?E=J 4@?DECF4E65 2E s6=>2C q@F=6G2C5 2?5 x?E6CDE2E6 `f_ :? &?:G6CD:EJ r:EJ] p?@E96C S`]h >:==:@? 92G6 366? 7:=65 :? y24<D@? r@F?EJ 282:?DE {FI {:G:?8鈥橠 C646?E AC@;64ED :? z2?D2D r:EJ]k^Am
kAmxC2 q6C<@H:EK[ p=DE@? 2?5 r92<C2G6CEJ鈥橠 =@?8E:>6 2EE@C?6J[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ BF6DE:@?D 23@FE H96E96C q:8 $FC DE:== 925 E96 42A24:EJ E@ A2J :ED 4@?EC24E@CD]k^Am
kAmp?5 :? 2 =@?8\CF??:?8 =682= 5:DAFE6 H:E9 =@7E @H?6CD 2E E96 t=J (2=<6C =@7E 3F:=5:?8 5@H?E@H?[ H96C6 p=DE@?[ r92<C2G6CEJ 2?5 r2@ 4@?EC@= E96 4@?5@ 3@2C5[ 2 $E] {@F:D ;F586 =2DE H66< @C56C65 r92<C2G6CEJ E@ D:E 7@C 2 56A@D:E:@?] r92<C2G6CEJ 925 2D<65 7@C 2 AC@E64E:G6 @C56C E@ =:>:E A=2:?E:77D鈥 2EE@C?6JD 7C@> 2D<:?8 23@FE 2?JE9:?8 E92E 4@F=5 :>A24E E96 7656C2= 4C:>:?2= 492C86D 282:?DE 9:>]k^Am
kAmyF586 y@D6A9 (9JE6 CF=65 E92E :7 r92<C2G6CEJ H2D H@CC:65 23@FE :>A=:42E:?8 9:>D6=7 :? E96 4C:>:?2= 42D6[ 96 4@F=5 :?G@<6 E96 u:7E9 p>6?5>6?E]k^Am
View life in 51黑料 through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.
Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter
Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.