Attorney to plead guilty to drug charges

EAST ST. LOUIS -- A former Madison County lawyer accused of supplying drugs to young women and transporting a boy to California for sexual purposes has agreed to plead guilty to federal drug charges.

According to a proposed plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court on Monday, L. Thomas Lakin will plead guilty next month to possession with intent to deliver cocaine, distributing cocaine to a person under 21, and keeping premises where drugs were used.

In exchange for the guilty plea, charges that Lakin took a minor boy from Illinois to California for sexual purposes will be dropped.

The agreement calls for Lakin to be fined $20,000 and to turn over $325,000 in lieu of forfeiting his residence, and to pay $180,000 to an Illinois charity as restitution.

While Lakin faces a potential 20 years in prison, the plea agreement calls for a six year prison term.