BRADENTON, Fla. — A federal judge in Alabama Wednesday dismissed the Securities and Exchange Commission’s suit against former Birmingham Mayor and Jefferson County Commission president Larry Langford, ending a case that began more than three years ago.
The SEC filed a motion, accepted by Judge Abdul Kallon, to dismiss its claims for disgorgement, prejudgment interest, a civil penalty against Langford, and to close the case, since the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Langford’s pay-to-play criminal conviction on Aug. 5.
In his criminal case, Langford was ordered to pay $119,985 to the Internal Revenue Service for taxes he failed to pay on bribes, forfeit $241,843, and pay court costs.
Shortly after Langford’s appeal was denied, Kallon granted summary judgment in the SEC case, finding that Langford had violated securities laws when he accepted payments from Montgomery bond dealer Bill Blount.
Kallon permanently enjoined Langford from further violations of securities laws.
The judge earlier had taken similar action against Blount and a mutual friend, lobbyist Al LaPierre, who were named along with Langford in a criminal indictment based upon the SEC’s civil case.
Blount and LaPierre accepted plea bargains while Langford maintained his innocence and went to trial.
Blount is serving four years and four months for conspiracy and bribery. He forfeited $1 million and was prohibited from having any securities-related or advisory business with a government.
LaPierre is serving four years for conspiracy and filing a false tax return. He forfeited $371,932, was ordered to pay $98,433 in back federal taxes, and is prohibited from being a lobbyist or consultant to any government.
Kallon in a July ruling prohibited Blount and LaPierre from violating securities laws.
They were not assessed civil penalties for several reasons, including the fact that monetary sanctions were imposed in their criminal cases, the SEC said in court papers.
Langford is still being pursued for a deposition in the SEC’s pending federal civil suit against former JPMorgan bankers Charles LeCroy and Douglas MacFaddin.
The bankers are accused of making undisclosed payments related to Jefferson County’s now-failed sewer warrants.
A judge in that case lifted a stay on deposing Langford after his criminal conviction was upheld.
Michael Rasmussen, attorney for Langford, filed a motion Sept. 15 asking that the stay on taking Langford’s deposition in the banker’s case remain in place.
“This motion is made on the grounds that Mr. Langford has petitioned the 11th Circuit to reconsider the denial of his appeal, and on the grounds that if the petition is not successful Mr. Langford intends to petition the Supreme Court for review,” Rasmussen said in court documents.
Langford, 65, began serving a 15-year sentence in April 2010.
