Alabama Lawmaker, GOP Leader And Healthcare CEO Arrested By FBI

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Alabama lawmaker Jack Williams, who is running for Jefferson County Commission, was arrested Monday along with Alabama GOP Chairman Marty Connors and Trina Healthcare CEO Ford Gilbert for their alleged involvement in a bribery case.

A statement by United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin says "Three individuals--two of whom reside in Alabama and one who resides in California--were arrested on charges stemming from their involvement in a public corruption scheme." The scheme surrounds a 2016 bill that would require insurance companies to cover a procedure offered by Trina Healthcare. The bill failed in that session.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

According to the statement by Franklin, soon after Gilbert and Trina Health opened three clinics in Alabama, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama informed Trina Health that it would not cover the treatments provided by them. "Gilbert then schemed to force Blue Cross to change its position.," the statement says.

"He came up with a plan to push a bill through the Alabama Legislature's 2016 session that would require Blue Cross to cover the treatments," Franklin said in the statement. "Gilbert then made payments to State of Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon in exchange for his efforts on behalf of the bill. Gilbert also hired Defendant Connors to act as a lobbyist on behalf of the bill. Connors knew of Gilbert's payments to Majority Leader Hammon. Hammon and Connors then recruited Defendant Williams, the chairman of the Commerce and Small Business Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives, to hold a public hearing on the bill. Williams also knew of the payments to Hammon and acted in part to help Hammon, who, as everyone in the scheme knew, was experiencing grave financial problems."

The indictment charges all three defendants with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud. Gilbert alone is charged with wire fraud, health care fraud, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. The indictment does not include charges against Hammon because Hammon has already been convicted in federal court of other offenses.

If convicted of the most serious offenses, each defendant in this case faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, significant monetary penalties, asset forfeiture, and restitution.

Photo via Alabama House of Representatives