A federal jury has convicted a prominent Alabama lawyer and a coal company executive on charges involving the bribery of a state legislator the Justice Department announced Monday.
After deliberating for less than 12 hours, jurors found that Joel Gilbert, a partner with Balch & Bingham law firm, and Drummond Co. Vice President David Roberson, were both guilty of charges of bribery, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The verdict comes following more than three weeks of testimony in the Alabama courtroom.
Prosecutors say the pair bribed former Alabama state Rep. Oliver Robinson to oppose the Environmental Protection Agency's expansion of a Superfund site in north Birmingham and prioritizing the site's expensive clean up. The bribe came in the form of a lucrative consulting contract that paid Robinson $365,000 through his Oliver Robinson Foundation, a non-profit he runs, between 2015 and 2016.
Robinson pleaded guilty last year to bribery and tax evasion and is still awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town said that the case was not about the EPA, or even pollution, but rather corruption.
“This case was not about the EPA. This case was not about pollution. This was a case about greed at the expense of too many,” Town said. “The findings of guilt for these three individuals, by trial or plea, should forewarn anyone who would be corruptly motivated to act in similar unlawful interest. Voters deserve public officials who seek to represent them honestly and fairly. When elected officials, corporate executives or their lawyers violate our federal laws, they should expect to suffer the fate of these three guilty defendants. We appreciate the dedication of the federal agencies that worked tirelessly on this case.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said rooting out corruption in public officials is a top priority for the FBI.
“Public corruption continues to be the top criminal priority for the FBI and those who violate the public's trust must be held accountable,” Sharp said. “As long as corruption and greed exists, the FBI will work to bring them to the bar of justice.”
Drummond Co. issued a statement following the verdict Friday.
"We are disappointed by the jury's decision to convict our employee, David Roberson. While we respect the judicial process, we consider David to be a man of integrity who would not knowingly engage in wrongdoing," it said.
"When an environmentalist group raised allegations regarding our operations in the Birmingham area, Drummond responded by hiring one of Alabama's most well-respected environmental law firms. As testimony in the trial showed, we were assured the firm's community outreach efforts on our behalf were legal and proper."
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