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Two of the three conspirators, including a former state representative, were sentenced to federal prison on Friday for their roles in a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fund meant to aid community groups in the Birmingham area.
Former state Rep. Fred Plump received a sentence of 12 months and a day from U.S. District Court Judge Scott Coogler. Plump will also serve three years of supervised release and is required to repay more than $196,000.
Varrie Johnson Kindall, who participated in the scheme with Plump, received a three-year prison sentence from Coogler. That penalty included time for a separate crime – stealing retirement payments from her deceased parents – that was folded into the sentencing portion.
Kindall and Plump, along with former longtime state Rep. John Rogers, have admitted to stealing money from a legislative fund set up to allow lawmakers to direct money to various worthy causes in their districts. All three entered guilty pleas.
Rogers is set to be sentenced for his role in the crimes on Tuesday. Prosecutors have recommended that Rogers, who had served more than 40 years in the Legislature when he was forced to resign earlier this year, serve a prison sentence of 14 months.
Prosecutors allege, and the trio pleaded guilty to, a scheme in which Rogers directed about $400,000 in community service funds to a youth baseball league which Plump controlled, prior to being elected a state representative. Plump then funneled the money back to Kindall, who deposited the money in accounts to which she and Rogers had access.
