The name Bill A. Jakob was first published in The Republican on May 14. His stint as a fake federal agent had come to an abrupt end leaving the town of Gerald to sort through the debris left in the wake of his explosive.

Jakob’s lawyer, Joel Schwartz has kept a close rein on his client, but Schwartz himself has meted out fascinating glimpses of the man behind the “Sgt. Bill” facade.

The story of the escapade has drawn international attention, but not every story to hit print has been completely accurate. The Republican has learned things about Jakob’s background that help to form a picture of the real man behind the fake badge.

A front page story in the July 1 issue of The New York Times written by Monica Davey reveals some unknown facts about Jakob. According to Davey, he has been “an unemployed trucking company owner, a former security guard, a former wedding minister and a former small-town cop.”

He was in fact a small-town cop. A captain on the Brooklyn, Ill., police department confirmed to The Republican that Jakob was hired by that city eight or nine years ago, but was not a full-fledged cop.

“In Illinois, to become a cop, you are required to take 40 hours of firearm training. That will allow you to work in law enforcement for 18 months while you get your schooling,” the captain reports. This same source noted that his department had already been contacted by the FBI and the Department of Defense.

Davey’s Times story  also noted that Jakob had worked for the Caseyville Police Department for two months in 2000.

During an interview with Fox News, Schwartz, speaking as Jakob’s legal counsel, emphatically declared that Jakob had received payments “in cash” from

Gerald Police Department funds. City Clerk Sarah Wheeler says Jakob was never paid directly from city accounts, and she found no irregularities in bills presented by the police department during Jakob’s involvement.

However an invoice  from Leon Uniform Company has been received by the City for a total of $995.90. During Jakob’s false tenure with the police, he took them on a shopping spree assuring them that a check from his federal agency to cover the purchases would arrive long before the bill did. Wheeler notes that the bill includes some normal uniform expenses for a newly hired patrolman, but the bulk of the invoice was for things such as:  three sets of leg irons (at a total cost of $161.85), six sets of handcuffs ($149.70), a strion a/c charge system ($113.95), an airweight aluminum baton ($92.95) and a range bag ($99.95).

Schwartz also insists that Jakob began participating in Gerald police activities at the urging of then- Police Chief Ryan McCrary. Schwartz told The Times, “It was an innocent evolution.” That was a theme he also touted on Fox News Channel.

“I’m not saying it was legal or lawful. But look, they were very effective while he was present. I don’t think Gerald is having the drug problem they were having. I’ve heard from some residents who were thrilled  that he was there.”

No residents have expressed that sentiment to the Republican. Some wonder how a lawyer from St. Louis could make an educated comment on the drug problem in Gerald. And by what standard has the drug problem improved? They wonder.

Otto Jakob, from another small town in Illinois, admits that he knows very little about his “legal” brother. Otto’s father adopted Bill who was the grandson of his third wife. “He had some problems within the family,” Otto says. He asserts that those problems were serious enough to keep Bill from ever being a law enforcement officer anywhere.

Major Mike Copeland with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that the joint investigation by his department, the Missouri Highway Patrol and the FBI has been concluded. “The reports have been turned over to the U.S. Attorney of Eastern District of Missouri.

Jan Diltz, a public affairs officer for that office, noted that no comments would be forthcoming until charges had been filed.

Jakob remains a free man and was required to post no bond.

The Republican learned Tuesday that Jakob and his lawyer will travel to New York City to appear Wednesday on CBS’s The Early Show, ABC’s Good Morning America and FOX’s Inside Edition. His travel and hotel expenses  will be paid by the television shows.