Nice to know Larry sold out Jefferson County for some nice clothes and audio equipment. Our county commissioners certainly do like their fancy duds.
A 101-count federal indictment unsealed today charges Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, Montgomery investment banker William Blount, Blount Parrish and Co. and longtime Langford friend Al LaPierre with a series of crimes in connection with Jefferson County bond transactions and swap agreements.
The indictment charges the three men and Blount Parrish and Co. with conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns in connection with a long-running bribery scheme.
US Attorney Alice Martin weighed in at a news conference this morning:
“Former Commission President Langford owed a duty of loyalty to Jefferson County in the administration of the county’s financial affairs. He sold out his public office to his friends Blount and LaPierre for about $235,000 in expensive clothes, Rolex watches and cash to pay his growing personal debt. All the while, Blount was paid fees topping $7 million,” said U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. “Through a web of financing agreements, Langford required many institutions to use Blount as a consultant so Blount would make fees and in turn payoff Langford. It was a classic pay to play scheme.”
According to the indictment, in June 2003, Blount, Blount Parrish and LaPierre gave Langford cash and checks totalling $69,000. The money was intended to influence and reward Langford in connection with the bond transactions, the indictment said.
Langford used some of the money from the bribery to buy audio equipment and to buy luxury clothing items at Shai’s in Homewood.
According to the Birmingham News, the Feds are seeking $69,000 in forfeitures from each of the three men. Given JeffCo’s crippling debt, it seems they’re getting off really cheap.
As they like to say in south Louisiana: “Ooh-la-la.”
A Grand Jury doesn’t return a 101 Count Indictment without some very, very compelling evidence. We are all innocent until proven guilty…however, answering 101 charges is an overwhelming challenge for Lankford’s attorney.
Looks like we have our own Senator Ted Stevens.
ROLL TIDE !
[...] Langford really too poor to pay for his own attorney? Couldn’t he sell a couple of those Rolexes or start a legal defense [...]