FORMER JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHRIS MCNAIR
PLEADS GUILTY TO BRIBERY

HUNTSVILLE, AL - This afternoon JEWELL C. "CHRIS" MCNAIR, 81, of Birmingham, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, admitting his role in accepting $140,000 in bribes from U. S. Infrastructure (USI), before the Hon. C. Lynwood Smith in U. S. District Court. MCNAIR had been set to begin a trial on these charges next week in Huntsville. MCNAIR had previously been convicted in April of 2006, of bribery and conspiracy involving other contractors on the county sewer system. USI was previously convicted in December 2006 along with Sohan Singh and Ed Key of bribing MCNAIR in order to gain favor on no-bid engineering contracts.

"Today’s guilty plea resolves the last trial in our Jefferson County sewer system bribery investigation. The bribes between contractors and county employees have resulted in 6 trials in which all defendants charged, including 7 county employees and 14 contractors and engineers, have been convicted," said U. S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. "For their greed these defendants now face federal prison, and over $100 million dollars in fines and restitution."

The guilty plea today involved charges in the indictment that between February 1999 and February 2002, MCNAIR, while serving as the Jefferson County Commissioner in charge of the Jefferson County Environmental Services Department (JCESD) , corruptly took bribes totalling approximately $140,000 from agents of U.S. Infrastructure (USI). USI was an engineering firm that received over $50 million worth of "no-bid" engineering contracts for work on the Jefferson County sewer system. In an attempt to conceal the conspiracy, MCNAIR invoiced USI approximately $140,000 for consulting and printing work that was never performed. McNAIR admitted to taking the bribes, with the intent that he would generally benefit USI in its business dealings with Jefferson County and the JCESD.

"It is always disheartening to see a public official abuse their office for personal gain. I’m pleased that Mr. McNair has finally admitted his role in this bribery conspiracy in open court, and that next week’s trial is no longer necessary," adds U.S. Attorney Martin.

MCNAIR could receive a maximum of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 250,000 on this one charge. Judge Smith sent the sentencing hearing for June 20th in Birmingham.

"When an official chooses to sell his integrity as we see here today, the FBI stands ready to work with our partners and restore the confidence in government to which Americans are entitled," states Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Birmingham Field Division.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. United States Department of Justice Trial Attorney William D. Dillon is prosecuting the case.