MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama lawmaker has agreed to plead responsible to conspiracy and obstruction of justice costs and resign from the state House of Representatives, prosecutors introduced Tuesday.

Rep. Fred Plump Jr., a Democrat from Fairfield, will plead responsible to the costs accusing him of misusing state funds and resign his place, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and federal investigators introduced in a information launch.

Prosecutors mentioned earlier than he was elected, Plump’s youth sports nonprofit acquired $400,000 in state grants from a legislator over 5 years and Plump in flip paid $200,000 of these funds as kickbacks to the legislator’s assistant, who was additionally Plump’s mistress, in keeping with the knowledge filed in federal courtroom paperwork laying out the accusations.

Plump would submit false studies in regards to the nonprofit’s use of the cash, in some instances writing on checks that the cash was for the youth dance workforce or cheerleading bills, however the assistant would deposit the funds in her private checking account, in keeping with the courtroom doc. The assistant was not named.

The cash was given between fiscal yr 2018 and financial yr 2022. Plump was elected to the state House in 2022.

Prosecutors mentioned Plump later tried to impede the investigation in March by texting the assistant “red alert” and assembly to warn her in regards to the investigation.

According to the plea settlement, additionally filed Tuesday, Plump agreed to plead responsible to the costs, pay restitution of at the very least $200,000 and resign from workplace instantly upon getting into his responsible plea. A decide will set a date for Plump to enter his plea.

Each cost carries a most penalty of 20 years in jail and a $250,000 tremendous.

Plump’s legal professional didn't instantly return an electronic mail Tuesday in search of remark.

The cash got here from the Jefferson County Community Service Fund, which receives a portion of county gross sales and use taxes for Jefferson County lawmakers to distribute to initiatives and entities of their districts. During every fiscal yr from 2018 to 2022, every state consultant was allotted roughly $100,000 and every state senator was allotted roughly $240,000 to distribute.

Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com