SENTENCING HELD FOR BIRMINGHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEE

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Today in U.S. District Court DARRYL WAYNE DUNBAR was sentenced to serve one year and a day in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Blackburn. DUNBAR will also serve 3 years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.

A criminal Information was filed February 14, 2006, against DARRYL WAYNE DUNBAR charging him in Interference with Commerce Under Color of Official Right. DUNBAR pled guilty to the one count Information in March 2006.

“It is time that corrupt public officials understand that accepting a ‘kickback’ equals ‘prosecution,' not an on the job perk,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. “Any cheating during a bid process cheats taxpayers and honest contractors, and won’t be tolerated.”

DUNBAR, 36, of Birmingham, was the Senior Executive Director for Facilities and Maintenance at the Birmingham Board of Education (BOE). In that capacity part of his duties at the BOE included soliciting quotes for contracts of less than $50,000 issued by the BOE to contractors for maintenance and improvements at BOE Facilities. DUNBAR assisted a contractor in February 2005, who did business with the BOE, in getting BOE business in exchange for money. The contractor, at DUNBAR’s instruction, inflated invoices to the BOE to cover the costs of the kickbacks.

DUNBAR, in a written Plea Agreement, has agreed to pay $4,600 in restitution to the Birmingham BOE which represents the amount of inflated invoices paid by the BOE.

Assistant United States Attorney Miles M. Hart is prosecuted this case on behalf of the U.S. Government. The investigation was conducted by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.