Balch Lawyer, Drummond Executive Found Guilty

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A jury has returned a guilty verdict in the federal bribery case against Balch & Bingham attorney Joel Gilbert and Drummond VP David Roberson after a trial that lasted four weeks.

Gilbert and Roberson were found guilty of bribing state legislator Oliver Robinson, who entered a plea agreement before the trial started and admitted to accepting bribes from the accused to influence the Environmental Protection Agency's expansion of a Superfund site, and also to oppose prioritizing the site's expensive cleanup.

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A report by Alabama Media Group said Gilbert and Roberson were convictedon all six criminal charges: conspiracy, bribery, three counts of honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. The report also says Robinson took the stand during the trial, saying he was first approached by Roberson in 2014 and asked if he would be interested in working with Balch and Drummond on the EPA matter. Robinson met with Gilbert, and a contract between his organization-- The Oliver Robinson Foundation-- and Balch was signed in early 2015.

U.S. Attorney Jay Town issued a statement after the verdict saying, "This was a case about greed at the expense of too many."

Town added, "The findings of guilt for these three individuals, by trial or plea, should forewarn anyone who would be corruptly motivated to act in similar unlawful interest," Town stated. "Voters deserve public officials who seek to represent them honestly and fairly. When elected officials, corporate executives or their lawyers violate our federal laws, they should expect to suffer the fate of these three guilty defendants. We appreciate the dedication of the federal agencies that worked tirelessly on this case."

Drummond Co. immediately issued a statement after the verdict, saying, "We are disappointed by the jury's decision to convict our employee, David Roberson. While we respect the judicial process, we consider David to be a man of integrity who would not knowingly engage in wrongdoing."

Sentencing will reportedly occur in approximately three months.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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