EAST ST. LOUIS - The embattled police chief here - who survived years of controversies - was brought down by stolen video game players he gave to relatives.

Michael Baxton Sr. abruptly resigned Wednesday and pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court of two felonies after being snared in an FBI sting.

He was caught stealing four expensive Xbox 360 game systems in an undercover investigation of corruption in the neighboring community of Alorton, where he was police chief until late last year.

An investigation of "systemic corruption within the Village of Alorton by various public officials" continues, the U.S. attorney's office said. No other charges have been announced.

Officials said that certain Alorton police officers reported to federal authorities that Baxton was giving favorable treatment to some suspects, and mishandling evidence. In response, FBI agents abandoned a bait car equipped with surveillance devices in a parking lot on Oct. 5 and reported it stolen.

Baxton inspected the car, along with another officer, prosecutors said. The chief found five Xbox players in the trunk and told the accompanying officer to place four of them in Baxton's car and keep one for himself.

U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton said Baxton first blamed the other officer for the theft, but admitted the truth after being confronted with evidence of his own role. He said Baxton had set up one game device in his basement for his son and gave the others as gifts to family.

Wigginton called Baxton "corrupt, a thief, and a liar."

Baxton cited "personal reasons" in resigning as chief, Mayor Alvin Parks said. Parks, a longtime Baxton supporter who helped return him to leadership of the city's police, said Thursday he was "disappointed" by the charges but had "no regrets based on the information I knew at the time."

Parks remained defiant, saying that Baxton, who lives in Centreville, "loves the city of East St. Louis" and fought hard to bring down homicides.

It appears Baxton still has support on the East St. Louis police force. He left the federal courthouse here after the guilty plea and jumped into a marked East St. Louis police car, which drove him to his personal vehicle.

Parks said he would like Baxton to play a limited "advisory role" with the police department, if Michael Floore, the new police chief, needs any help. Wigginton called the idea "completely unacceptable." Floore is a longtime detective in the department.

Baxton, 49, has served in the past on the Centreville, Washington Park and Brooklyn departments, and was once chief in Brooklyn.

He was hired as East St. Louis chief in 2007, beginning a rocky period marked by criticism of his hiring of officers with criminal records and handling of homicide investigations. He resigned in February 2009 and worked as a private investigator.

In May, 2011, he was hired to be Alorton police chief to replace Robert L. Cummings, who pleaded guilty of federal tax crimes.

Baxton lost that job in October 2011, when the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board revoked his police license over felony theft and burglary convictions in Madison County in 1982. Baxton sued and the following month a St. Clair County judge reinstated his credentials after finding that the criminal record had been expunged in 1989.

On Nov. 30, he was rehired in East St. Louis

On Jan. 4, St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly wrote to Parks, asking him to limit Baxton's involvement in criminal cases because of credibility problems. The letter was provided by Kelly's office to the Post-Dispatch in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Kelly, who attended Thursday's press conference, said Parks agreed to help.

Thursday's charges only involve Baxton's time as chief in in Alorton, where FBI agents searched the city hall and mayor's house Jan. 5. Baxton's house also was searched.

Authorities said Baxton will not be able to work as a police officer again because of the latest felonies. Baxton pleaded guilty of theft or conversion of government property, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, and making a false statement to a federal officer, punishable by up to five years. Under sentencing guidelines, he likely would face less time. His sentencing will be April 27.