Company boss and lawyers in FBI net over large scale corruption
Adetokunbo Fakeye
London, Oct. 2, 2017(AltAfrika) – A federal grand jury in United States has indicted two Birmingham lawyers and an Alabama coal company executive on charges of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
According to an FBI report, the indicted persons paid a state legislator to take official action favourable to their interests in connection with EPA actions in north Birmingham.
U.S. Attorney, Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the case, Johnnie Sharp Jr., and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced the indictment.
The report stated that, the six-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court, charges that, Gilbert, et al indictment and STEVEN GEORGE McKINNEY, both partners in the Birmingham law firm Balch & Bingham, and DAVID LYNN ROBERSON, vice-president of government and regulatory affairs for Drummond Company, conspired to provide former state Rep., Oliver L. Robinson Jr. with a valuable and confidential consulting contract in exchange for his taking official action favourable to Balch & Bingham and its client, Drummond, regarding an environmental cleanup site in north Birmingham.
“It matters not on which side of the bribe one falls in public corruption. Those who pay and those who receive will be prosecuted to the fullest,” Town said.
“The work done by this trial team and investigators with the FBI and IRS has been as diligent as it has been exceptional.
“Public corruption tears at the fabric of democracy and undermines the public’s trust in government,” Sharp said.
“Those who choose to engage in corrupt practices can expect the FBI and our partners will be working to bring you to justice.
“The allegations against these defendants show personal gain and agendas were placed above the overall health of the citizens who lived and worked in this community,” Dorsey said, and added, “Bribery of political officials is against the law and IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to assist with the ongoing effort to expose everyone involved in this conspiracy”.
