ANNISTON ARCHITECT INDICTED IN ALABAMA POST-SECONDARY
INVESTIGATION FOR CONSPIRACY AND BRIBERY

BIRMINGHAM, AL - JULIAN JENKINS, 76, of Anniston, Alabama has been charged with conspiracies, bribery, and obstruction of justice in a twenty-one count indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court announced United States Attorney Alice H. Martin, Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Richard Minor, Acting Attorney General for Alabama.

JENKINS, a principal architect with the firm Jenkins Monroe Jenkins Architecture (JMJA) of Anniston,  is charged with conspiring with Dr. Roy Johnson, Jr., former Chancellor of Alabama’s Department of Postsecondary Education, to provide free architectural plans and fabricated fireplaces for Johnson’s personal home in Opelika, during 2003 and 2004.  The architectural plans and fireplaces were valued at approximately $56,000.00 and were given by JENKINS to Johnson to influence and reward Johnson for ensuring future and existing “no bid” State contracts would be directed to JENKIN’S architectural firm.  Between 2002 and 2006, a major portion of the architectural services JENKINS and JMJA performed were “no bid” contracts with colleges and institutions which were part of the Department of Postsecondary Education.  These contracts totaled in excess of $5,750,000.

“Lucrative contracts with the State of Alabama and the Department of Postsecondary Education are no longer for sale in Alabama,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. “Our investigation continues as we examine other contracts with professional service providers and contractors.”

JENKINS is also charged, in a separate conspiracy, with conspiring with Dr. Johnson to give Johnson’s son a $3,000/month make-work job having little to no value.  The purpose of  which was to gain favor with Dr. Johnson on current and future contracts for state business.

“Our ongoing investigation continues to reveal attitudes of greed, arrogance and entitlement on the part of individuals involved in the Postsecondary scandals,” stated Richard Minor, Acting Alabama Attorney General.  “Contractors who gain business through bribery risk losing more than their business.”

The indictment alleges that JENKINS and Dr. Johnson met in August 2005 and discussed the job. Subsequently JENKINS obtained additional financing of about $1,000,000 during the development of the Lawson State Community College dormitory project through the efforts and approval of Dr. Johnson. Then, beginning in September 2005 - June 2006 Dr. Johnson’s son was paid $3,000 per month

By mid-2006, JENKINS and Dr. Johnson spoke about the pending Federal grand jury investigation into Johnson’s activities.  JENKINS then created, at Johnson’s request, fabricated invoices for the architectural services and fireplaces given to Johnson.   The invoices were fabricated almost two years after the residence was completed to make it appear JENKINS was actually charging Johnson for the work, when he wasn’t, and to obstruct and influence the grand jury investigation.

The maximum sentence for Count 1 and 8, conspiracy,  is imprisonment for a term of 5 years and a fine of $250,000 for each count; for Counts 2 - 7 and 9-18,  bribery, is imprisonment for a term of 10 years and a fine of $250,000 for each count; and for Counts 19 and 20, obstruction of justice,  imprisonment for a term of 20 years and a fine of $250,000 for each count. Count 21 seeks forfeiture of $5,750,000 which represents the amount of contracts granted to Jenkins’ firm by the State of Alabama during the conspiracies.
           
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Attorney General’s office.  Assistant United States Attorney Pat Meadows is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that the 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.