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.