Langford, LaPierre, Blount face 101-count federal indictment
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U.S. Attorney Alice Martin's statement on Birmingham...
U.S. Attorney Alice Martin's statement on Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford's federal indictment
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Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford
Published: December 1, 2008
Updated: March 24, 2009
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford was arrested Monday and the 101-count indictment against him has been unsealed.
This morning, U.S. Attorney Alice Martin announced that Langford, along with friend Al LaPierre and businessman Bill Blount, face charges of conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns.
Langford was taken into custody at his job at Birmingham Budweiser Distributing. LaPierre turned himself in. Blount was expected to do the same.
Martin said Langford, as president of the Jefferson County Commission, steered $7.1 million in business to Bill Blount’s investment banking firm Blount Parrish. Martin said that in exchange, Blount ensured Langford’s “crushing debt” to the tune of $235,000.
During the news conference Martin said Langford received bribes from Blount—through friend Al LaPierre—to buy clothes and jewelry from expensive New York boutiques and high-end stores in Birmingham as well.
Martin said that between 2003 and 2006, Blount paid for about $235,000 in clothing, jewelry and charge account bills for Langford.
The U.S. Attorney also said that Blount gave Langford a $11,000 Rolex watch.
Another accusation is that Bill Blount engineered a personal loan from Colonial Bank for Langford, who defaulted on the loan. Then, Martin said, Blount set up a loan for LaPierre at the same same bank to pay off Langford’s original loan.
Martin said it was all in return for steering Jefferson County bond business to Blount’s Montgomery firm, including the multi-billion dollar sewer bond business.
She said, “He (Langford) sold his public office to a friend.“
Reginald McDanial with the Internal Revenue Service said, it was a “textbook, tax fraud scheme.“ He went on to say, “all money is taxable, even money from illegal activity is taxable.“
On Monday morning, Deborah Vance with the mayor’s office released a statement which said in part:
“This is certainly no surprise to us—we anticipated something happening soon especially knowing Alice Martin’s days in office are numbered with the swearing in of a new president in late January—just a little over a month from now.“
Langford was set to make a first appearance Monday morning at 10 a.m.
Check back with nbc13.com and watch NBC 13 HD for the latest on this developing story.
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Reader Reactions
Now maybe this time out of all of the people and all of the counts some will actually do the time. Birmingham has always been crooked and it will continue to be that way until they can bring someone in that knows what they are doing. Arrington ran it in the ground so after him no one really had anything to hold on to. Now you know why people move from here and go elsewhere. It is a *ell hole and only getting worse not better. So to all of you that help make Birmingham what it is today good job. To those that will change it and make it a better place to be and live in good luck with that.
White collar crime is one of the hardest types of cases to crack. Congratulations to Alice Martin and all of the investigators and agents who had a part in this arrest. Langford is, and has always been, the antithesis of what it means to be a public servant. If I had one wish, it would be that all the children in Birmingham City Schools could take an intensive civics class every year and learn about government, leadership, and public service are SUPPOSED to be about. From his time on the County Commission to his Mayoral drive for a entertainment complex - all while Birmingham’s infrastructure is crumbling - Langford has proven to be a selfish, egotistical, power-hungry man. Deborah Vance is blinded by his bull and needs to come up for a more clear view, before she implicates herself.
Wow. Shocker. A crooked mayor in Birmingham. Having lived there most of my life, I never expected anything less. Thank GOD I got out of there when I could.
Rock on, Langford. You’re living the legacy passed down from generations of other absolute TOOLS that we were stupid enough to usher into this pimp life. Nice sweater vest, by the way. Really connecting with the people for once. Think it’ll play well in prison. OH, WAIT. You won’t ever do any real time because your millions will go towards the best shills money can buy.
Nice going, B’ham. Have fun in your 20th century bubble.
Dont know about Collins, but rest assure The boys down at Agency dont miss anything. Thier tacticts are thus and many never excape thier grasp.
My question has already been posted,“ how can they stay in office after such findings?“
Someone told me “It appears that Betty Fine Collins, William Bell and Sheila Smoot will be indicted as well!“
Is that scurrilous rumor or is there something to it?
Alice Martin isnt going anywhere.
Sooo Long this type action has been needed! Wake up Birmingham, there are more of just type upper behind close doors things happening! I hope the FBI makes a clean sweep of all such activities. These men along with others(dont think these few are the only ones)need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Run this type of “Holier than thou I had a Dream “ kind out of OUR TOWN! And if you dont post this then your part of it too!
John Reed
One True American!
Does anyone have Patrick Cooper’s phone number??
An indictment and arrest thank God and our Constitution, is not guilt and conviction.
However should someone indicted for so many counts of personal dishonesty be allowed to serve until his trial?
We need an Interim Mayor we can trust and respect until the trial resolves his guilt.
Birmingham had a chance to elect someone decent to a public office for a change (Patrick Cooper), but nooooo.
For some reason, the citizens of this city feel the need to vote for the sleaziest possible candidate running for office.
Groan all you want to about the condition of our city - the blame rests squarely on you if you voted for Langford, and just about any of the City Council members.
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