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Federal Jury Convicts Lawyer and Coal Corporate Executive with Bribery of a State Legislator, Legislator also slapped conviction

Aaron Fox

SB's Minor Junker Descendant and Hunter of Nazis
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BIRMINGHAM – A federal jury today convicted a Birmingham lawyer and an Alabama coal company executive in a scheme to bribe a state legislator to use his office to oppose Environmental Protection Agency actions in north Birmingham, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Holloman.

The jury returned its verdicts after deliberating about 12 hours following more than three weeks of testimony before U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon. The jury found Balch & Bingham partner JOEL IVERSON GILBERT and Drummond Company Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs DAVID LYNN ROBERSONguilty of bribing former Alabama Rep. Oliver Robinson to advocate their employers' opposition to EPA's prioritization or expansion of the north Birmingham Superfund site. The bribe came in the form of a lucrative consulting contract that paid Robinson $360,000 through his Oliver Robinson Foundation, a non-profit organization, between 2015 and 2016.

Drummond Company was a client of the Birmingham-based Balch & Bingham law firm.

The jury found Gilbert, 46, and Roberson, 67, guilty of bribery, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy

Also, Legislator pleads guilty on bribery charges:
"Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?" Kallon asked.

"I am, your Honor," Robinson replied.

And in changing his plea he accepted the fact that he could face a maximum of 100 years in prison for the seven federal charges, not to mention the possibility of $1.6 million in fines, and hundreds of thousands more in restitution.

... man, this year is a doozy isn't it?
 
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