Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks: Samuel Pettagrue
By Wade KwonIn August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. A 30-part series running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 Oct. 19 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.
Samuel Pettagrue
Positions held: pastor of Sardis Missionary Baptist Church
Wanted for: bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering
Date of conviction: Jan. 21
Sentence: 5 years probation, including 1 year of home detention, $366,000 in restitution. Prosecutors, who had sought 14 years imprisonment, voiced disappointment at the sentence, which took into account his numerous health problems.
Criminally fun fact: Pettagrue worked with state senator E.B. McClain, who passed along $760,000 funds to the community program Heritage to Hope Foundation, run by Pettagrue and intended to tutor high school dropouts.
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Additional reading:
- Bhamwiki: Samuel Pettagrue
- Crime Watch
- Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed
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