BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — State Sen. E.B. McClain was indicted Thursday on bribery, conspiracy and other federal charges accusing him of pocketing more than $300,000 in government money routed through a nonprofit organization.
McClain, 68, already faces state theft charges in the case that stemmed from an investigation into corruption and cronyism in Alabama’s two-year college system.
U.S. Attorney Alice Martin said the Midfield Democrat used “pass-through pork” and the two-year college system to direct $751,245 in grants to the Heritage to Hope Foundation, Inc., an organization headed by the Rev. Samuel Pettagrue.
Pettagrue, 65, of Leeds, was also named in the 50-count indictment that includes charges of mail fraud and money laundering. Pettagrue is accused of passing along $305,000 to McClain as payment for helping secure government funds for the foundation.
The prosecutor said the bribes were fraudulently labeled as “consulting fees” or “wages” and that McClain did little or no consulting work for the foundation.
“My reaction is not guilty,” said McClain, who was in Montgomery for a special legislative session.
The senator said he expected the federal indictment and planned to turn himself in “rather than be handcuffed and hauled away.”
