Birmingham mayor convicted of taking bribes

[leanderj]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFcj0qAPUWfSXpxgFvebUzsa7-YgD9BKCR5G2

Birmingham mayor convicted of taking bribes
By JAY REEVES (AP)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A federal jury convicted Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford on Wednesday on all charges of accepting bribes in exchange for funneling $7.1 million in bond business to a prominent investment banker. As a convicted felon, Langford was automatically removed from the office that he won in a landslide in 2007.

The jury deliberated less than two hours before returning its sweeping verdict on all 60 counts after hearing six days of testimony. Prosecutors claimed Langford accepted cash and luxury items worth some $236,000 while serving as president of the Jefferson County Commission. In exchange, they claimed, Langford sent lucrative bond business to investment banker Bill Blount.

Langford, 63, showed no emotion when the verdict was read. He was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing and he agreed to forfeit $241,843. Outside the courtroom, Langford and his wife, Melva, blamed the conviction on race.

"They struck as many blacks off that jury as they could," he said. Three of the 12 jurors were black. "In Alabama, black people will never get a fair trial," Melva Langford said. "There should be a total investigation of the Justice Department."... One of Langford's attorneys, Glennon Threatt, who is black, said he has defended previous corruption cases with white defendants and race was not a factor in Langford's case...

Some of the bond deals made during Langford's term went sour in the credit crunch last year, and Jefferson County is now trying to avoid filing the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history over $3.9 billion in sewer bond debt.