REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Alabama state Rep. Jack Williams and Marty Connors, the former chair of the Alabama Republican Party, have been arrested by the FBI “in connection with a public corruption scheme,” the Department of Justice announced Monday. The two men, along with Trina Health CEO G. Ford Gilbert, were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud. According to federal prosecutors, Gilbert owns Trina Health, which “operates diabetes treatment centers” and has three locations in Alabama. He's accused of attempting to push a bill through the state legislature that would require Blue Cross to cover treatments at Trina. "Gilbert then made payments to State of Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon in exchange for his efforts on behalf of the bill," prosecutors allege. Connors was reportedly paid as a lobbyist to act on behalf of the bill, while Williams was "recruited" to hold a hearing on it, according to prosecutors. Connors and Williams allegedly knew about the payments to Hammon. Hammon was not indicted because he "has already been convicted in federal court of other offenses."