Ex-legislator receives one-year prison sentence for involvement in kickback scheme

In Birmingham, Alabama, a former state representative, Fred Plump, was sentenced to a year in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler for his involvement in a kickback scheme with state grant funds. Plump, a Democrat from Fairfield, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges and resigned from his position in the Alabama House of Representatives as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. The charges stem from actions before Plump took office, where he paid kickbacks from state grant funds allocated to his youth sports group by then-Rep. John Rogers. Plump diverted about half of the $400,000 funds intended for his Piper Davis Youth Baseball League to Rogers’ legislative assistant.

Plump’s defense lawyer, Richard Jaffe, mentioned that his client did not personally profit from the scheme but acknowledged the illegality of the money going to his co-defendants. Jaffe also stated that Plump is eager to reunite with his family and continue supporting disadvantaged youth through sports. Additionally, the former lawmaker was ordered to pay restitution of nearly $200,000, and Rogers, the other implicated lawmaker, is set to be sentenced on Tuesday in federal court. Rogers, a veteran member of the Alabama Legislature, pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud conspiracy as well as obstruction of justice conspiracy and resigned from his position under a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Questions have emerged regarding the potential sentence for Rogers, with prosecutors initially suggesting home confinement, but later raising concerns about his compliance with the plea agreement. Rogers’ defense lawyer has contested these claims and requested a hearing on the matter. Amid this case, multiple Alabama lawmakers have stepped down in recent years after pleading guilty to criminal charges. For instance, former state Rep. David Cole, a Republican from Huntsville, pleaded guilty to voter fraud for improperly renting a space to run for office in a district where he did not reside.