Former State Representative sentenced to one year in prison

On Friday, former state Representative Fred "Coach" Plump (D-Fairfield) was sentenced by federal Judge Scott Coogler to one year in prison for his role in a kickback scheme that transferred $200,000 intended for underprivileged children.

Plump received $400,000 in taxpayer dollars over a four-year period from then State John Rogers (D-Birmingham) intended for the Piper Davis Youth Baseball league Plump has long operated. Instead of spending the money on the children, Coach Plump gave half of it as kickbacks to Rogers' longtime legislative assistant and then girlfriend Varrie Johnson.

Plump maintains that the kickbacks were necessary to get the funds from Rogers and that he, Plump, did not benefit materially from the kickback scheme.

Plump was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

The obstruction of justice charge was for alerting Ms. Johnson by text message and face to face after the FBI spoke with Plump even though he was told not to.

"I am truly sorry, and I take full responsibility for my wrongdoing," Plump told the court. "My choice of action has ruined my reputation as an outstanding person, and I cannot hold anybody to blame but myself."

Johnson received three years for her role in the kickback scheme and for stealing her dead mother's identity to illegally collect her dead mom's pension benefits.

Rogers was living with Johnson in Chelsea when all of this was exposed by the FBI.

Rogers will be sentenced on Monday. Federal prosecutors are asking for 14 months in prison.

Both Rogers and Plump resigned their seats in the Alabama House of Representatives after pleading guilty to their roles in the corruption scandal. They and Rep. David Cole (R-Madison) have all given up their seats in the Alabama House of Representatives after pleading guilty to crimes. Cole was registered to vote at a polling place (and a state house district) where he did not live. Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Haneyville) was recently charged with forgery and possession of a forged instrument.

(Original reporting by WVTM Channel 13 television news and the Associated Press contributed to this report).