Judge Denies Blount Bid

Alabama federal Judge Scott Coogler last week denied a request from Montgomery bond dealer Bill Blount that Coogler reconsider his order denying Blount more time to report to prison so he could continue working on a $1 million forfeiture as part of his plea bargain.

Blount and Alabama lobbyist Al LaPierre are expected to report to prison today. The two men were named in a 101-count indictment along with former Jefferson County Commission president Larry Langford in a pay-to-play scheme centering on the county’s $3.2 billion of sewer bond deals and swaps.

Blount and LaPierre had dozens of charges dropped because they entered plea agreements before trial.

Blount was sentenced to four years and four months in prison for one count each of conspiracy and bribery. LaPierre was sentenced to four years on one count each of conspiracy and filing a false tax return. He was ordered to forfeit $371,932 and pay $98,433 in back federal taxes.

Langford elected to stand trial and a jury convicted him on 60 federal charges, including bribery, money laundering, conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and filing a false tax return. He began serving his 15-year sentence April 7 but is ­appealing.

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