Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks: E.B. McClain
In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.
E.B. McClain
Positions held: State senator, representative
Wanted for: bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering
Date of conviction: Jan. 21
Sentence: 5 years 10 months in prison
Criminally fun fact: The Bessemer native and four-term senator passed $760,000 funds to the community program Heritage to Hope Foundation, intended to tutor high school dropouts. McClain received a 40 percent kickback, or $304,000.
After sentencing, he said, as a joke, “I guess I can learn how to play golf now,” referring to his likely prison, minimum-security federal prison at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. The prosecution sharply rebuked McClain’s quip.
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Additional reading:
- Bhamwiki: E.B. McClain
- Crime Watch
- Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 8:58 pm
Maybe it is low hanging fruit that you’re picking (and I applaud you for it) but it is astonishing how many of your biggest crooks collection have been elected officials.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 10:45 pm
I don’t find it astonishing. If we had a bunch of non-corrupt elected officials… THAT would be astonishing.
Thursday, August 20, 2009, 8:23 am
Well, I didn’t want to do just murderers, because with 100 or so murders a year, I could do 10 a day and not even cover them all.
We as voters must do a better job of getting out to vote, and picking better officials.
Saturday, August 22, 2009, 12:39 pm
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