Former State Legislator Charged with Bribery

Former State Legislator from Alabama, Terry Spicer, pleaded guilty at the Alabama District Court to a single count of criminal information. He is being charged with bribery under federal law for accepting cash and other gifts of value from Jarrod Massey and Ronnie Gilley, a lobbyist and businessman respectively. He accepted the bribes in return for using his position of authority and influence. The announcement was made by the Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. He was joined by Lewis M. Chapman, Special Agent in Charge from the FBI’s Mobile Field Office.

Terry Spice, aged 46, from Elba, Alabama, was a member of the House of Representatives (Alabama) from 2006 to 2010. According to the evidence, Spicer accepted bribes during his time as a State Legislator. He admitted to receiving campaign services and a ski vacation from Massey in addition to cash, to use his position to obtain lobbying business for Massey. Spicer also confessed to accepting contributions towards his campaigns and tickets to various concerts from Gilley, an Alabama businessman. In return, Spicer officially assisted Gilley by favoring his projects and interests. Both Gilley and Massey have pled guilty to offering and paying bribes to Spicer, among others.

What is Bribery According to U.S Law?

Title 18, Part I, Chapter 11, Section 201 of the United States code states that a public official or person who is elected to a public office, directly or indirectly, and who corruptly seeks, demands, accepts, receives and agrees to accept something of value in return for:

• Influencing the actions that are performed in the name of an official act.
• Being influenced to commit (or aid in committing) fraud or making an opportunity for fraud to be committed.
• Being induced to omit or neglect an act that is in violation of one’s official role or duty.

If he fulfills all of the above requirements, he is considered guilty of bribery.

The maximum penalty for this offense, that Spicer will face, is 10 years of jail time, a fine of $250,000 and three years probation under supervision after his time in prison. He has to pay $40,000.

To learn more about San Francisco White Collar Criminal Defense, contact us for a free consultation with Mr. Morales.