Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks
A celebration of Birmingham’s most notorious crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Published August 2009.
Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.
- Day 1: Gary White
Jefferson County commissioner convicted of bribery and conspiracy - Day 2: Gregory Clarke
pastor convicted of filing false tax returns - Day 3: Mary Buckelew
Jefferson County Commission president convicted of obstruction of justice - Day 4: Marvin Warner
banker and Birmingham Stallions owner convicted of fraud and securities violations
- Day 5: Rube Burrow
farmer turned train robber and murderer - Day 6: Chris McNair
Jefferson County commissioner convicted of bribery and conspiracy - Day 7: Don MacDermott
Birmingham city council member convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography
- Day 8: Mary Kay Beard
bank robber turned Angel Tree ministry founder - Day 9: Simon Speights
burglar turned Lipscomb mayor
- Day 10: Dedrick Griham
robber and kidnapper
- Day 11: J.B. Stoner
attorney and segregationist convicted of bombing Bethel Baptist Church
- Day 12: Richard Scrushy
HealthSouth founder convicted of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud
- Day 13: Danny Ray Miles
federal witness convicted of murder, kidnapping and robbery
- Day 14: Virginia Hill
waitress, “bag woman” for the Mafia, alleged prostitute and blackmailer
- Day 15: James Bevel
minister and adviser to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., convicted of incest
- Day 16: Al LaPierre
lobbyist convicted of conspiracy and filing a false tax return
- Day 17: Richard Hawes
railroad engineer convicted of murdering his wife and two daughters
- Day 18: Bill Blount
investment banker convicted of bribery and conspiracy
- Day 19: E.B. McClain
state senator convicted of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering
- Day 20: Troy Ingram
miner and mechanic who helped build the bomb that killed four girls at 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963
- Day 21: John Katopodis
city councilor and county commissioner convicted of mail and wire fraud - Day 22: Samuel Pettagrue
pastor convicted of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering
- Day 23: Matthew Cloyd, Russell DeBusk and Benjamin Moseley
college students convicted of arson, burglary and conspiracy - Day 24: Don Siegelman
governor convicted of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice
- Day 25: Jeff Germany
Jefferson County commissioner convicted of misapplying county funds and conspiracy - Day 26: Jeff and Jessica McCord
couple convicted of double murder
- Day 27: Jack Montgomery
judge convicted of racketeering and extortion
- Day 28: 16th Street Baptist Church bombers
Thomas Blanton Jr., Herman Frank Cash, Robert Chambliss and Bobby Frank Cherry: three convicted of murder, one never indicted - Day 29: Lakendall Sims
convicted rapist who escaped from the Bessemer Courthouse while arrested for murder
- Day 30: The HealthSouth 16
company officials convicted of fraud, conspiracy and other crimes
- Day 31: Birmingham mayor Larry Langford goes on federal trial, charged with bribery and conspiracy [Note: Trial moved to Tuscaloosa and delayed until Oct. 19.]
Shout outs! Thanks to these folks for linking to Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks:
- Birmingham Weekly: 31 crooks in 31 days?
- Doc’s Political Parlor: Birmingham’s Rogues and Rapscallions
- Flashpoint: Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks
- The Prayze Report: Birmingham Crooks Celebrated
- The Progressive Electorate: Quick Hits
- Steve and Leah on WERC (105.5 FM)
- The Terminal: How crooked is Birmingham?
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