BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
(AP) - An investment banker accused of paying
bribes to Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has agreed to plead
guilty and cooperate with prosecutors.
Federal court documents filed Tuesday show William Blount admits
giving Langford thousands of dollars in exchange for Langford using
his influence to send Jefferson County's bond financing business to
Blount. Langford was on the Jefferson County Commission at the
time.
Blount initially pleaded not guilty. But a federal judge
scheduled a hearing for Tuesday afternoon for Blount to plea guilty
to bribery and conspiracy.
A former lobbyist and Democratic Party director, Al LaPierre,
previously pleaded guilty in the scheme. Blount is a former
chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party.
Langford is set for trial on federal bribery charges on Aug. 31.
He says he is innocent.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)