John Rogers, one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the Alabama House of Representatives, is now facing federal prison time after allegedly breaching his plea agreement.
Court records reveal that Rogers, who had previously pleaded guilty to misusing Jefferson County tax dollars during his last term, violated the terms of his agreement.
Rogers’ term ended following his guilty plea to participating in a federal kickback scheme involving the Jefferson County Community Action Fund.
The fund, established with increased taxes in 2017, aimed to support local students by financing new school construction.
However, Rogers, along with fellow state lawmakers Fred Plump and Varrie Johnson Kindall, diverted these funds for personal gain.
According to court documents, Rogers and his associates directed a portion of the grant money to Plump’s youth baseball league, Piper Davis.
Plump would then kick back nearly half of the grant proceeds to Rogers and Kindall, with Kindall cashing the money in the form of checks.
Rogers initially agreed to a plea deal that included a 14-month sentence with house arrest. However, recent court records suggest that he breached this agreement. Prosecutors are now pushing for Rogers to serve his sentence in federal prison.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors stated:
“Rather than ensuring the fund’s money was used to help inner-city kids learn to play baseball, as he promised would be done, Rogers stole $200,000 to support himself and his lover. Rogers helped destroy Piper Davis and deprived other worthy charities to satiate his greed.”
The plea agreement required Rogers to accept full responsibility for his role in the kickback scheme.
However, court records indicate that Rogers convinced Kindall to take the fall, promising to pay her mortgage and care for her children while she was imprisoned.
Despite signing the agreement, Rogers’ defense attorney later filed an objection, claiming Rogers had no memory of making such promises.
“Defendant does [sic] have any memory of making this promise. However, the defendant does acknowledge that said information is contained in the factual basis of his plea agreement and that he signed the factual basis and admitted in open court that the factual basis was substantially correct,” the defense attorney stated.
Prosecutors argued that this objection breaches the plea agreement and insisted that Rogers should serve his 14-month sentence in prison instead of at home.
Rogers’ next sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 30, and the federal government has requested that he pay nearly $400,000 in restitution and forfeiture fees.
