Father of Federal Prison Inmate Pleads Guilty

The father of a federal prison inmate, indicted for allegedly trying to conceal some property sought in a forfeiture proceeding, entered a blind plea of guilty Wednesday in Peoria federal court, according to court officials. 72 year old Joseph Zilch of Creve Coeur pleaded guilty to count two of the indictment. He was originally charged with conspiring to obstruct a forfeiture, perjury and making a false statement. Both Zilch and his son, 40 year old Jerrod Zilch, whose serving a federal prison term on a drug conviction, were indicted in February. As part of Jerrod Zilch's sentence in the drug case, authorities say, he was ordered to forfeit a 1961 Corvette. However, the government claims Zilch had the car moved without telling government officials. Joseph Zilch will be sentenced December 17th. Jerrod Zilch is in court Thursday.