Williamson County Circuit Clerk responds to required departure

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – The Williamson County Circuit Clerk stepped down from his position after he is accused of taking part in a scheme to falsify bank records.

Justin Maze is accused of taking part in a scheme to falsify bank records with with the former president of SouthernTrust Bank, according to the United States Attorney Eastern District of Missouri.

The president of a bank in southern Illinois admitted a scheme to falsify bank records to facilitate real estate loans when he pleaded guilty to three felony counts.

Steven Cook pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Benton to three felony counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false bank entry.

Cook admitted fraudulently facilitating three different sales of real estate to Lawler and Maze Properties LLC in 2022.

Lawler and Maze is owned by Justin Maze and David Lawler. They entered into a pretrial diversion program in which they acknowledged their involvement in the criminal conduct by aiding and abetting Zanotti and Cook.

Maze was required to resign from his position as Williamson County Circuit Clerk as a condition of pretrial diversion. He also agreed not to seek re-election to any public office. Lawler’s conduct was reported to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Related story:

Southern Illinois bank president pleads guilty to falsifying records