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Former Alabama Legislator Pleads Guilty to Bribery Conspiracy, Fraud and Tax Evasion
BIRMINGHAM A former Alabama legislator pleaded guilty today in federal court to
accepting bribes from a Birmingham lawyer and an Alabama coal company executive in
exchange for advocating their employers opposition to EPA actions in North Birmingham. U.S.
Attorney Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. and Internal Revenue
Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced the
plea.
Former state representative OLIVER L. ROBINSON JR., 57, of Birmingham, entered his
guilty pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon to conspiracy, bribery and honest
services wire fraud. The U.S. Attorneys Office charged Robinson in June for accepting a valuable
contract between the Birmingham law firm Balch & Bingham and the Oliver Robinson
Foundation to influence and reward Robinson for using his position as a member of the
Alabama House of Representatives, vice-chairman of the Jefferson County Legislative
Delegation, and as an elected representative of citizens of Birmingham to pressure and advise
public officials to oppose the Environmental Protection Agencys prioritization and expansion of
a North Birmingham EPA Superfund site.
Robinson represented Alabamas House District 58 from 1998 until he resigned Nov. 30,
2016. As part of his plea, he agrees never again to seek elected office and to pay restitution and
forfeiture in amounts to be determined. He is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 7 and remains free
on bond.
This lamentable pursuit of self-interest masquerading as beneficial for the little guy is more
than a violation of our laws. This was a violation of the public trust and among the worst
breaches of our social contract, Town said. All those engaged in public corruption must be
brought to justice, and it matters not their benefactor or station.
The FBIs stance on public corruption is that of zero tolerance and therefore it is one of
our highest priorities, Sharp said. Public corruption is among the most serious of criminal
violations and a betrayal of the publics sacred trust. If allowed to spread unchecked, it can
threaten the foundation of our government. The FBI continues to aggressively pursue those
who participate in this type of crime.
"The enforcement of tax administration is compromised with every attempt to undermine
the tax system," Dorsey said. "Engaging in public corruption does not qualify as a tax exemption.
The totalities of Mr. Olivers actions are egregious, devastating, and disappointing to the
community in which he promised to serve."
Outside of the bribery charges, Robinson also pleaded guilty today to two counts of wire
fraud for spending $17,783 of campaign contributions on personal items unrelated to his
legislative campaigns. He pleaded guilty to a third wire fraud count for soliciting money from
corporations, representing he would use it to publish a magazine or to defray costs for an
annual Partnering for Progress Business Conference or the annual Alabama Black Achievers
Awards Gala, which the Oliver Robinson Foundation sponsored. Robinson spent at least
$250,000 of those contributions on personal items unrelated to the magazine or the annual
events. Robinson also pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion for the 2015 calendar year.
According to Robinsons plea, the bribery conspiracy occurred as follows:
EPA designated an area of North Birmingham, including the neighborhoods of Harriman
Park, Fairmont and Collegeville, as a Superfund site after finding elevated levels of arsenic, lead
and benzo(a)pyrene during soil sampling.
In September 2013, EPA notified five companies, including ABC Coke, a division of
Drummond Company, that they could potentially be responsible for the pollution. A company
determined to be responsible for pollution within the site, known as the 35 Avenue Superfund
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site. A partner at Balch & Bingham, identified in the charges as Attorney #1, coordinated the
response to EPAs actions on behalf of ABC Coke and Drummond Company. A Drummond
Company executive, identified as Drummond Employee #1, was involved with the attorney in
responding to EPA. They formed the Alliance for Jobs and the Economy as a tax-exempt
corporation in 2015 to raise money to help fund their opposition to the EPA actions, according
to the charges.
The strategy employed by the attorney and the Drummond executive focused on
protecting ABC Coke and Drummond from the tremendous potential costs associated with
being held responsible for pollution within the affected areas. They sought to accomplish this
goal by working to prevent EPA from listing the 35 Avenue site on the National Priorities List
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