Former partner sentenced to five years in prison for scheme to bribe Alabama lawmaker
A former partner at Balch & Bingham has been sentenced to five years in prison for a scheme to bribe an Alabama state legislator to oppose expansion of a site designated for an environmental cleanup.
U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon sentenced lawyer Joel Gilbert, 46, on Tuesday, report AL.com, WBRC and a press release. He also was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
A co-defendant, coal company executive David Roberson, 67, was sentenced Tuesday to 2½ years in prison and ordered to pay $25,000, according to another press release. Roberson was vice president of government and regulatory affairs at the Drummond Co. and was a Balch & Bingham client.
Gilbert was part of Balch & Bingham’s environmental and natural resources practice. Prosecutors had alleged he and Roberson funneled $360,000 to the state lawmaker through a consulting contract with his private foundation.
At the sentencing hearing, Roberson said he trusted Gilbert and he never thought he was bribing the lawmaker, according to coverage by AL.com. Gilbert said he knows he could have done some things differently, but he did not have any criminal intent.
Gilbert and Roberson were convicted in July of bribery, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The lawmaker, former Alabama State Rep. Oliver Robinson, was previously sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and tax evasion.
Stan Blanton, managing partner Balch & Bingham, had issued a statement after Gilbert’s conviction that noted the firm was not a party to the case. Blanton said lawyers and staff at the firm “are deeply disappointed in any conduct that does not adhere to our commitment to the rule of law and to the communities in which we are fortunate to live and work.”
