UPDATE: Former Jeffco Commissioner accused of spending charity money in casinos

Image Credit: Jon Paepcke

Former Jefferson County Commissioner John Katopodis has been indicted on federal fraud charges.

By Jon Paepcke | Investigative reporter
Published: October 31, 2008
Updated: October 31, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—- Former Jefferson County Commissioner and Birmingham City Councilor John Katopodis is accused of pocketing $250,000 from the Computers for Kids charity he ran from 2000 through 2007.

A 98 county federal indictment unsealed Friday charges Katopodis with Wire and Mail Fraud.

The indictment accuses Katapodis of spending the money in New Orleans casinos, paying personal credit card bills, and to pay for personal trips with friends, including one to the Bahamas.

Computer for Kids was a non-profit designed to provide refurbished computers to children in need in the Jefferson County community.

From 2002 through 2007 Jefferson County Commission paid Computer for Kids $815,000.

Katopodis served on the Birmingham City Council in the 1970’s and the Jefferson County Commission in the 1980’s.