FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRYANT MELTON SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS

BIRMINGHAM, AL - BRYANT MELTON, 68, of Tuscaloosa, and former Alabama House Representative was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre, to 15 months in federal prison for theft from programs receiving Federal funds, and laundering of monetary instruments.  MELTON was charged in a two-count Criminal Information filed June 30, 2006, in U. S. District Court in Birmingham and plead guilty on August 23, 2006.

Additionally, MELTON was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $85,000.00, two years Supervised Release, and 100 hours of community service.  The conditions of MELTON’s supervised release are that he participate in gambling counseling, and not frequent any gambling locations. MELTON must report to the United States Marshal’s Service on October 7, 2008.

“Melton has discovered through this sentencing that, as a former public official,  betrayal of the public’s trust will not  be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Alice H. Martin.  “Justice has been served for the public.” 

According to the Information and the Plea Agreement, MELTON, as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives for the 70th District (Tuscaloosa), was an agent of the State of Alabama.  In early Fall of 2000, MELTON was employed as the Director of Human Resources at Shelton State Community College (SSCC), a community college overseen by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education.  The Alabama Fire College/SSCC is legislatively mandated to provide training for thousands of paid and volunteer fire fighters, industrial fire protection personnel, rescue squad members, and emergency medical personnel throughout the state of Alabama. 

The Alabama Fire College Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established for the purpose of providing scholarships and general support to accomplish the purpose of  the Alabama Fire College.

“We are glad to see that Bryant Melton is being held accountable for his actions,” stated Acting Alabama Attorney General Richard Minor.  “Bryant Melton disgraced his office and broke a trust  vested in him by the people of the State of Alabama.”   

“The sentencing today underscores the FBI’s commitment to combating public corruption at all levels,” stated Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In the factual basis of the Plea Agreement, MELTON admitted that he told a former president of a community college overseen by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, that he was incurring considerable expense funding his daughter’s medical education.  MELTON said the former president told MELTON that, if he would direct State funds to the Fire College Foundation, then the Foundation would provide funds to MELTON for his daughter’s education. 

MELTON has admitted that he used his position as a legislator to obtain money by fraud from the State of Alabama and his scheme to use his daughter’s “scholarship” money to conceal and disguise the source and ownership of the proceeds.  He has admitted that he received all funds for his personal benefit and that neither his daughter nor any member of his family was aware of the scheme. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Hart and Tamarra Matthews Johnson, and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Gibbs.  The investigation is being conducted by the North Alabama Public Corruption Task Force through investigators with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.