Former State Lawmaker Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/09/IMG_1336.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1900;s:4:"file";s:20:"2018/09/IMG_1336.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-336x333.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:333;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-771x763.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:763;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-768x760.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:760;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"IMG_1336-1536x1520.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1520;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"IMG_1336-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-314x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:314;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-268x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:268;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_1336-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:1084236;s:14:"optimized_size";i:456290;s:7:"percent";d:57.920000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:6063;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5744;s:7:"percent";d:5.2599999999999998;}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:22035;s:14:"optimized_size";i:21198;s:7:"percent";d:3.7999999999999998;}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:102860;s:14:"optimized_size";i:97824;s:7:"percent";d:4.9000000000000004;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:2805;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2611;s:7:"percent";d:6.9199999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:35344;s:14:"optimized_size";i:33500;s:7:"percent";d:5.2199999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:18555;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17892;s:7:"percent";d:3.5699999999999998;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:19916;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19103;s:7:"percent";d:4.0800000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:15329;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14715;s:7:"percent";d:4.0099999999999998;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:5141;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4846;s:7:"percent";d:5.7400000000000002;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1312284;s:14:"optimized_size";i:673723;s:7:"percent";d:48.659999999999997;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sherrel Wheeler Stewart
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM 90.3 FM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1637524583 
1538067490

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced former Alabama Rep. Oliver Robinson to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a bribery scheme to block the expansion of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cleanup site in North Birmingham and Tarrant.

Robinson pleaded guilty to encouraging residents not to have their soil tested for contaminants in exchange for bribes. He also diverted money from his campaign account and nonprofit account for personal use.

After pleading guilty, he cooperated with federal prosecutors in investigations that led to the conviction of former Balch & Bingham attorney Joel Gilbert and David Roberson, a  Drummond Company executive. They are scheduled for sentencing Oct. 23.

“Robinson betrayed his constituents and neighbors in north Birmingham and Tarrant, selling his elected office to special interests for personal profit,” Jay Town, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District, said in a statement Thursday. “An elected official can scarcely commit a more egregious crime.”

Robinson was in the Legislature 18 years before resigning abruptly in 2016. He can never again serve in an elected office.

A former star on UAB’s first basketball team, Robinson was drafted into the NBA in the first round in 1982. After an injury, Robinson returned to Birmingham as a businessman, then entered politics.

Before Judge Abdul Kallon read his sentence, Robinson stepped up to the podium and apologized to the community, his family and to UAB.

“Every day I look at my wife and children, knowing I have negatively changed their lives,” Robinson said.

The courtroom was full. The crowd included Robinson’s pastor, Rev. Thomas Beavers, former teammates and Dr. Frank Sutton, who teaches a Bible study Robinson attends on Thursdays.

Sutton, who was also the team doctor when Robinson played basketball in college, spoke on Robinson’s behalf. He said Robinson is broken and will do more good for the community in the future.

Daryl Braden, one of Robinson’s former UAB teammates also addressed the court. He said Robinson encouraged him when he made bad decisions and helped him to bounce back.

Prosecutors asked the judge to give Robinson a lighter sentence because he cooperated in the trial that led to other convictions.

“Every prosecutorial instinct I had was to sock it to him, but he is the only elected official I know who has humbly accepted responsibility,” George Martin, assistant U.S. Attorney said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Robinson was ordered to pay $161,151 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. He also will be ordered to forfeit money received from bribes, Kallon said.

Robinson must report to prison on Nov. 27. Kallon is asking that Robinson be placed in a facility as close as possible to his home state.

 

Russia launched an experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, the U.S. says

Ukraine raised alarm suggesting Russia may have used an intercontinental ballistic missile to hit the city of Dnipro, but the U.S. National Security Council does not believe it was an ICBM.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s attorney general nominee

Allegations of sex trafficking and drug use had stirred controversy over Matt Gaetz's nomination as attorney general.

This year’s FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it’s ‘a piece of cake’

The FAFSA form is now open to students hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect a much smoother process compared to the last cycle.

He was stuck in a hospital for 8 months. How states can fail people with disabilities

In Georgia and other states, the federal government oversees the treatment of people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, because the states have been unable to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the subsequent Olmstead ruling.

Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that

The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

More Front Page Coverage