83-year-old former Alabama lawmaker sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for bribery scheme

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (AP) — The longest-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives was sentenced Tuesday to 13 months in federal prison on charges of federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice, despite an earlier nonbinding plea agreement that gave the 83-year-old a more lenient sentence that he had to serve at home.

John Rogers was also charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and with conspiracy to obstruct justice, as part of a bribery scheme that diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fund intended to finance community projects in Jefferson County.

“What’s important is we sent a message to future lawmakers,” said George Martin, the federal prosecutor, outside the Birmingham courthouse after the decision. “You’re going to get caught, you’re going to jail. So just don’t do it.”

Rogers is a Democrat from Birmingham and was first elected to the Alabama Legislature in 1982.

Between 2018 and 2022, federal prosecutors said Rogers sent $400,000 to a youth sports organization run by then-Rep. Fred Plump. Federal prosecutors said Plump then gave about $200,000 of that money back to Rogers and his former legislative aide Varrie Johnson Kindall. The bribes occurred before Plump took office.

Plump and Kindall were both sentenced to 12 months in prison last week for the kickback scheme. Kindall was also sentenced to a further two years in prison for separate charges relating to stolen pension funds.

Rogers initially agreed to a nonbinding plea deal in March. Federal prosecutors agreed to recommend a 14-month prison sentence to be served at home in exchange for Rogers’ resignation from the Alabama House of Representatives and $197,950 in restitution.

But prosecutors withdrew the offer after Rogers’ attorney filed a document saying Rogers could not remember any conversations related to the obstruction charge, undermining the former lawmaker’s guilty plea, prosecutors argued. On Tuesday, prosecutors recommended 14 months in federal prison.

Ultimately, the judge said the disagreement over the original plea agreement played no role in his decision to sentence the 83-year-old to 13 months in prison.

“You did great things, but you also did this, which is bad,” U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler said in court, addressing the former lawmaker. He added that Rogers was “more culpable” than the other people involved in the scheme because he used the money for himself, while Plump only helped with the kickback but did not benefit from it himself.

Rogers’ attorneys disagreed with the judge’s decision, reiterating their concerns about Rogers’ health, which includes prostate cancer, diabetes and a prescription for dialysis.

Attorneys said Rogers “has resigned from office and accepted the shame and humiliation that come with his resignation under these circumstances. He has not only failed his constituents and the people of Alabama, but also the office he has held for more than 40 years.”

Rogers himself gave an emotional and apologetic testimonial to the judge prior to the verdict.

“I’m sorry for the whole escapade, I take full responsibility for it. I’m sorry,” Rogers said through tears. “It hurts me so much.”

Rogers’ attorney said he did not know whether the sentence would be appealed.

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