Posted on 10/28/2009 2:55:20 PM PDT by UAConservative
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA--Larry Langford, Birmingham's mayor and a former Jefferson County commissioner, has been found guilty in his federal bribery trial.
Langford was found guilty of taking about $236,000 in cash and gifts from Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre.
Both pleaded guilty in the case and testified they made cash payments to Langford while he was the president of the Jefferson County Commission to ensure business for Blount's investment bank, Blount Parrish & Co.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.al.com ...
He has good taste in clothes though:
Count 10 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted a $1,110 cashmere cardigan purchased at Turnbull & Asser.
Count 11 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $3,290 in clothes purchased at Ermenegildo Zegna
Count 12 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,133 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 13 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,707.56 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 14 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted a $2,796 in clothes purchased at Salvatore Ferragamo
Count 15 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted a $1,854.96 in clothes purchased at Century 21
Count 16 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $3,450 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 17 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $4,050 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 18 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $4,250 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 19 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $895 in clothes purchased at Salvatore Ferragamo
Count 20 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted a $12,015 watch purchased at Tourneau
Count 21 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,662.60 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 22 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $11,750.40 in jewelry purchased at Bromberg’s
Count 23 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,239.97 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 24 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,800 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 25 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $3,547 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 26 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,000 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 27 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $5,000 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 28 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,500 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 29 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $2,300 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 30 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,800 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 31 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,876 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 32 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,000 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 33 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,047.96 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 34 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,500 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 35 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $1,000 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
Count 36 Bribery Langford corruptly accepted $7,536 in clothes purchased at Remon’s
It’s sad to see how Jefferson County/Birmingham has gone down the toilet over the last two decades. I was born and raised there, as was my entire extended family. Such corruption has caused such ruin.
My elderly grandparents had to leave their home of 35 years due to the skyrocketing crime rate in their neighborhood. They recently drove past their old house just for memories’ sake and were so upset by their decaying old neighborhood, they’ll never go back.
Democrats have absolutely corrupted City governmetn in Birmingham.
There was also a corrupt republican city counsel woman who was a witness for the State.
...And nowhere in the article did I see the political party of the convict. Someone other than the convict but not the con. I think I could give a good guess base on the obvious, but I’ll hold my tongue until someone closer to the story has the correct info.
Thanks, missed you by 5 seconds.
I remember seeing Birmingham back in the 1950’s. Then it was a nice clean city (both physically and politically); now, it’s gone to hell.
I understand that lots of people have left or are packing up to leave and moving to “over the mountain” to places such as Mountain Brook.
Per the trial, I expect the snollygoster Langford to appeal on racial bias (Jury Composition: 10 white, 4 black); however, the did ask for the change of venue to Tuscaloosa.
Over the last two decades LaLa left a path of financial destruction in his wake.
As mayor of Fairfield AL he managed to con local city and Jefferson County into contributing toward the building and support of Visionland (a cheap knockoff of Six Flags). Built for $100 million, just three or four years later (after he had left office) it was bankrupt and sold to a private company for $5 million.
As president of the Jefferson County Commission he conned the commission into converting billions of dollars of fixed rate sewer bonds into variable rate bonds. After he was elected mayor of Birmingham and left the Jefferson County Commission the variable rates started going up leading to the de-facto bankruptcy of Jefferson County. This saga is still going on with JeffCo now two years into dithering about how to handle it.
As mayor of Birmingham he proposed Birmingham make a bid for the 2020 Olympics (ROTFLMAO!). He also “broke ground” for a domed stadium which is unlikely to ever become a reality. Luckily for Birmingham he was convicted less than a year after that ground breaking, so perhaps this boondoggle will collapse before too much money is stolen.
LaLa’s career has followed a pattern of big ideas and major financial commitments followed in every case by his moving on to another political office before the chickens come home to roost.
I believe you are referring to Mary Buckelew, formerly of the County Commission. Convicted of accepting a trip to the day spa, matching shoes and bag. She awaits sentencing.
She did not testify at LL’s trial, but has cooperated with Federal prosecutors.
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