Mayor Charged With White Collar Crimes

Posted on: December 2, 2008 at 11:15 a.m.

Federal authorities arrested the mayor of Birmingham, AL in a corruption probe surrounding the sewer bond debt that could lead to the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. The white collar crimes committed include 60 counts including bribery, money laundering, conspiracy and filing false tax returns. Mayor Langford was charged along with investment banker William Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre for a total of 101 counts. The government said it was also seeking $7.6 million in forfeiture from the three men.

In this white collar crime investigation, Blount's company profited from collecting fees recommended by Langford in the sewer bond transactions. Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama's Jefferson County, which is fighting to stave off bankruptcy over what is now a $3.2 billion sewer debt.

Allegedly, the mayor's white collar crime involved him selling out his public office to his friends Blount and LaPierre for about $235,000 in expensive clothes, watches and cash to pay his growing personal debt. All the while, Blount was paid fees topping $7 million.

White collar crimes are criminal offenses that are usually committed by white collar professionals, such as managers, directors, supervisors, executives, politicians, and other individuals in respected, high-profile positions.

Los Angeles white collar crime defense attorneys have seen various charges arise in the last few years, between mortgage frauds, political kickbacks and other white collar crimes committed in LA County. Los Angeles white collar crime attorneys understand that the odds are stacked against them, because people often have little sympathy for a public official or corporate executive who allegedly hurts the public financially.

Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP is a criminal defense law firm that has been helping clients throughout Southern California contest their criminal charges and obtain superior results for years. Our skilled white collar crimes attorneys have over 50 years of collective court room experience and we are fully prepared to undertake our clients

Tagged as: theft, white collar crime fraud theft laws

Comments:

Asher Luzzatto 139 on June 8, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. wrote:

It is scary to see the uprsurge of white collar crimes especially in light of the Blagojevich crimes and the delicate public confidence in government. Positions of power in this country are too easily abused by special interests and grass roots influence and politicians are becoming increasingly reliant on money to make important decisions and draft important legislation. These crimes should be pursued most vehemently of any other because public confidence and political honesty are the foundation for democracy. If too many cases arise like Blagojevich, Madoff, and the case at hand involving Blount, we will degenerate into a system of lawless governing and public dissidence. Public funds, especially right now are essential for the hard working Americans living day-to-day and without the social benefits positions of power enjoy. Stealing is stealing, but stealing from a constituency is thousands if not millions accounts of theft.

Whitney Hein-Unruh (Com Std 17 on December 2, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. wrote:

White collar crime is a crime that really exemplifies the divide between the rich and the poor within the legal system. Because white collar crime is committed mainly by business professionals and people in managerial positions, those accused of suc a crime are most likely able to afford high-powered attorneys. At first glance, it would seem that the conviction rate of white collar crime would be lower than most other crimes due to the fact that high-powered attorneys will be arguing for the defense. However, I found it interesting that this article states that, 'Los Angeles white collar crime attorneys understand that the odds are stacked against them, because people often have little sympathy for a public official or corporate executive who allegedly hurts the public financially.' It seems that there is more of a balance in the judicial system than I expected. Despite obtaining the best legal representation that money can buy, white collar criminals, especially those whose cases are notorious or widely known, run into a problem that other people accused of non-violent crime do not - lack of sympathy from the jury. As a result, it seems that the people who would have the greatest leniency in terms of white collar crime would be the middle class, as they are not dealing with so much money as to completely alienate the jury but are still able to afford better defense attorneys than those provided by the state.

Lauren Ransdell Com 174 on December 2, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. wrote:

I think the reason the public has little sympathy for people who commit white collar crimes is interesting. I believe it stems from the idea that these are people that we expect to be on their best behavior. These professionals are highly educated in most cases, and educated people aren't naturally associated with having a criminal mind. They are the members of the community that average citizens count on to lead the community, a failure with them makes the entire community look bad. In the case of a Mayor commiting crimes such as these, the public has the right to be outraged because he is an elected offcial. They are likely to be upset because they elected him, and because their tax dollars are being used to pay for his escapades.

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