Joel Hendon

Former Alabama State Representative Pleads Guilty To Bribery


Posted: Wednesday, November 16, 2011

by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html

An FBI press release dated November 15, 2011 announces that the former 91st congressional district, Coffee County representative, Terry Spicer, 47, from Elba, Alabama has pleaded guilty to one felony charge of federal program bribery. Spencer held the house seat from 1998 until 2010.

According to court documents, from 2006 to 2010, Spicer accepted bribes from Jarrod Massey, a former lobbyist in Montgomery, Ala., and his client, Ronnie Gilley. In particular, Spicer admitted he received cash, campaign services and a ski vacation from Massey in exchange for Spicer using his official position to obtain lobbying business for Massey. Spicer also admitted he accepted campaign contributions and entertainment concert tickets from Alabama businessman Ronnie Gilley in return for Spicer’s official assistance in favor of Gilley’s business projects and interests. Both Massey and Gilley have pleaded guilty to paying and offering bribes to Spicer and other legislators. (FBI press release November 15, 2011)

During his hearing and questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rae Woods, Spicer admitted that he accepted payments of $1,000 to $1,500 pr month prior to 2006 from lobbyist Jarrod Massey for Spicer’s political influence in steering contracts to Massey’s lobbying firm. And again, from June of 2008 and January of 2010, he received monthly payments of $2,000 to $3,000 for the same favors.

In December, 2008, Spicer approached Massey for $9,000 to be used for a down payment on a ski boat.

During the winter months of December 2,008 and January 2,009 Massey funded a ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado for Spicer valued at about $10,000.

In June of 2007, Spicer solicited $20,000 in campaign contributions from developer Ronnie Gilley in exchange for political assistance to Gilley for Gilley’s various entertainment projects. In July of 2007, Spicer was instrumental in the legislature’s passage of a commercial development district on the BamaJam property in Coffee County, allowing the sale of alcohol in that portion of a dry county. (Lance Griffin-The Dothan Eagle, November 15, 2011)

Spicer also received other favors and campaign contributions from Gilley during 2008-2010.

Spicer now faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and has agreed to forfeit $40,000 to the government at time of sentencing.

He was released on $25,000 bond. Pleading guilty to a felony charge forfeits his right to vote, to carry a firearm, to serve on a jury or to hold a public office.

Spicer is the fourth person to plead guilty of illegal activities uncovered by the 2010 FBI investigation of bribery and vote buying during 2010. Those pleading guilty earlier are the two who bribed Spencer, Ronnie Gilley and Jarrod Massey and another lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy.
Author Biography: Joel Hendon was born near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He has an extensive website of conservative religious and political articles.http://hebronics.org/index.html

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