First Alert 4 Investigates uncovers another company tied to St. Louis building inspector and engaged in repairing private properties

ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) -- First Alert 4 continues to dig for answers after city officials confirmed they have launched an investigation into whether one of their own employees was profiting from pandemic relief funds.

First Alert 4 Investigates has uncovered even more information that could cast darker clouds over this program, which uses taxpayer funds.

Last night at 10 p.m., we first reported on a program funded by federal pandemic relief money to repair private properties—without the consent of their owners.

It appears a St. Louis city building inspector had ties to one company being paid to do the work. Now, we’ve discovered possible ties to yet another company.

That inspector is Adebanjo Popoola, a St. Louis city building inspector and one of only two overseeing this program, which uses federal pandemic funds to stabilize private properties. The city has been hiring contractors to complete the work.

One contractor is Premier Finish Contractors.

We pulled the company’s business license, which lists the owner as Tanya Garrett.

However, when we called the phone number listed, it was answered by a woman who said she doesn’t know Tanya Garrett—but does know “Banjo” (a nickname for Popoola). She said she didn’t know why her number was on the license.

The business address listed is an office suite in Ellisville. The landlord there told us he believes Garrett is married to Adebanjo Popoola. Public records also show that Popoola and Garrett co-own a home in Wildwood. No one answered the door when we visited, and we left a message on Garrett’s phone.

“I didn’t ask for ARPA funds. I didn’t put any bids out for ARPA. My name is on no paperwork requesting money from the city at all,” said former Alderman Brandon Bosley.

Bosley was shocked to learn about the possible connection. Premier Finish Contractors was hired to work on his property, with a bid totaling more than $130,000.

“It gets a little bit disturbing,” Bosley said. “If you do have an inspector who has a company, and his company is the one doing the inspecting and the work, it’s a bit interesting.”

Bosley is currently facing federal charges, which he cannot speak to, but he said he believes the city is targeting properties in ways that might not represent the best use of funds.

“I do know that if the general public knew they were putting millions of dollars into private properties, there would be a significant amount of people who wouldn’t agree with that decision. I think citizens would rather see those dollars used differently,” he said.

A number of other companies were also paid through this program. Due to the high cost of repairs, private property owners are now facing liens on their properties for the work.

This is a developing story.

Copyright 2024 KMOV. All rights reserved.