FORMER JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER INDICTED FEDERALLY

BIRMINGHAM, AL - An eleven count indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging Gary L. White, 61, of Leeds, with conspiracy and honest services offenses while he served as an elected official for the  Jefferson County Commission.  White served as an elected official with the Jefferson County Commission from 1990 until 2006.  The arrest of White is announced today by U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin, and Special Agent in Charge, Carmen S. Adams, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

            “Corruption during the sewer contract work cost Jefferson County millions.  We continue to trace kickbacks into individuals’ pockets and then to prosecute to the fullest extent,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.  

The indictment alleges that former Commissioner White, from November 2002 until he left office in 2006, assumed and had oversight responsibilities for the operations of the Jefferson County Environmental Services Department (ESD).  In that position he was involved in the construction/rehabilitation project of the sewer system serving the county (“Sewer Contracts”). 

The indictment charges that between early to mid 2003 until early 2005, WHITE conspired with Sohan P. Singh, the President and owner of U. S. Infrastructure, Inc. (USI), an engineering corporation that had numerous “no bid” professional service contracts with Jefferson County.  White would receive kickbacks in cash payments of thousands of dollars while Singh’s company received favorable consideration on current and future contracts with the county.  White received some payments from Singh for “consulting work,” and additional money to help retire his 2002 re-election campaign debt of $23,000.        

The indictment states that there was no loan agreement or expectation that White would repay Singh for any money given to him.  Singh paid White $23,000 on one occasion, and White used that money to repay campaign debts incurred by him during an election..  White also accepted more than $20,000 from Singh over the course of eighteen to twenty four months in amounts that ranged from $1,000 to $4,000 each.

During that same time Singh’s company, USI,  received contracts worth millions of dollars. Singh and his company, USI , were subsequently indicted, found guilty at trial of conspiracy, and in September 2007, Singh was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his illegal conduct.  U.S. Infrastructure, Inc., was placed on probation for 5 years.  Both Singh and his company were ordered to pay approximately $6,700,000 in fines and $426,254 in restitution for corrupt acts involving the Sewer Contracts. 

            Count ten of the indictment also charges that White further conspired with Singh, from June 1999 to November 2005, while White was President of the Jefferson county Commission and assumed oversight responsibilities for the operations of Jefferson county’s General Services Department.  It is charged that during this conspiracy, White and Singh, along with an architect from Giattina Fisher Aycock Architects, Inc. (“GFAA”) conspired to produce free architectural plans for the construction of a garage at White’s residence in Homewood, and for the construction of a cabin/mountain home for White in Mentone, Alabama. White also accepted and was included on numerous hunting trips to South Dakota arranged by Singh’s company.  During this conspiracy, White signed contracts on behalf of Jefferson county with GFAA for millions of dollars. 

            “The actions of Mr. White are unfortunate, in that a public official violated the public’s trust and engaged in self-enrichment. Corruption involving public officials undermines the people’s trust and confidence in government,” stated Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division.

            The penalty for conspiracy is not more than five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or both.  The penalty for accepting kickbacks is not more than ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or both for each count charged.  White appeared in U.S. District Court today for an initial appearance, and, at that time he also accepted a copy of the charging document.  He was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. 

            This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney J. Patton Meadows is prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Government.

            Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.