Update: Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, arrested, jailed on federal charges

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford arrested Dec. 1, 2008, on federal charges.

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford was arrested this morning on federal charges and is being held at the federal courthouse, the FBI and other federal officials confirm.

A special grand jury for several months has been investigating county bond deals and Langford's financial dealings. Langford was Jefferson County Commission president 2002-06.

Al LaPierre, a close friend of Langford's who also was part of the federal investigation, will be surrendering today, said his attorney, Tommy Spina.

David McKnight, Montgomery banker Bill Blount's attorney, said Blount is on his way to Birmingham from Montgomery to surrender.

U.S. Attorney Alice Martin will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. to release details.

The Langford, LaPierre and Blount indictments are under seal, so details of the charges are not available.

Langford, LaPierre and Blount are accused in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit of not disclosing $156,000 in payments to Langford. The SEC has accused Blount of paying Langford through LaPierre as part of a plan to secure Jefferson County financial business when Langford was Jefferson County Commission president. (Read the May 2008 story)

The SEC lawsuit against Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford fails to show how friends' personal payments to Langford led to $6.7 million in government business, their lawyers said in a filing seeking dismissal of the suit this summer.

Former Jefferson County Commissioner John Katopodis was indicted in October on fraud charges stemming from his involvement with Computer Help for Kids, a charity established by Langford when Langford was mayor of Fairfield. Katapodis was arraigned on those charges in mid-November. Details of those charges.

This statement was released from the mayor's chief of staff, Deborah Vance-Bowie.:

"As you know, the Mayor was detained this morning by federal authorities. We do not know the details of his detention at this time. City business will go on as usual as we are all here to do a job and we'll continue to do our jobs to ensure we deliver the best services to the taxpayers of Birmingham. This is certainly no surprise to us -- we anticipated something happening soon especially knowing Alice Martin's days in office are numbered with the swearing in of a new president in late January -- just a little over a month from now. We are glad the mayor will finally have his day in court. As members of his team, we stand behind him and look forward to the day when we can return the focus to the important issues before the city."

See documents and past stories from the investigation of Langford.

Comment below. Or, see reader comments on the earlier post about the arrest here.
Categories: Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford arrested, Breaking News
Comments
mikkrikk says...

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:32AM
vironic says...

so will there be an interim Mayor? Who would that be, Smitherman?
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:36AM
mikkrikk says...

no, SmitherWoman, but LL is Mayor til he is convicted or resigns.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:40AM
AKAposter112 says...

I hope he heads to a federal PMITA prison.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:44AM
JR4tide says...

Birmingham has been on a downward skid since Arrington's reign of terror. It's time for change!
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:45AM
dondon123 says...

The goes the Olympics! NOT! Ha Ha Ha Ha
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:49AM
bhamguru says...

In the twisted world of Jefferson County, you've got great achievements such as the Barber Motorsports track/museum, the McWane Science Center, the Bruno's PGA golf classic, Vulcan, and many others that were all done by private individuals/companies.

In contrast, the local governments are closing schools after failed endeavors like Visionland, $3 Billion in fraudulent sewer work, and Billions more borrowed from Wall Street that can't be paid back.

So for our region, private individuals do great things...whereas local governments merely foul things up.

As any sports fan knows, when you've got outstanding individuals but lousy teams, it means that you aren't playing well together.

Ponder the implications of that fact...

and keep in mind what Shelia Smoot did to Eric Major back in 2004.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:49AM
b3plays says...

I cant beleive it has taken this long to catch that worthless piece of garbage
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:51AM
bamagirl216 says...

Maybe Sheila will be next!
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:52AM
WhiskeyHamil says...

The sad thing is that by annexing people that are convinced you have to be a certain color to represent them Arrington made sure the city would never change. Politicians of all colors have been playing the races against each other for their own profit since the Civil War; until the voters get sophisticated enough to see past that there will be no real progress.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:52AM
Bogeydog says...

Thank GOD for UAB. UAB is the backbone of the Ham's economy and if it weren't for UAB, then the Ham would be like Dearborn, MI- dying on the vine.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:54AM
WhiskeyHamil says...

Bogey you hit the nail on the head; if it weren't for UAB Bham would be nothing but a ghost town.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 9:58AM
TreeMissile says...

So does this mean no dome? :)
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:03AM
johnlr5285 says...

This guy is the biggest crook i have ever come across in my life. I was leaving a FYE in the wildwood crossings area and as he was getting into his white suburban with his bodyguards he knocked the hell out of my driver side door and just peeled off. He is a idiot and so are the people that voted for this crook. I hope he gets the maximum sentence and gets a nice boy friend on the inside. This is a great day indeed
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:03AM
WKVD says...

Yet another thing Birmingham has in common with Detroit......
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:05AM
bamagirl0116 says...

Christmas is here early. I have been waiting for this day. Who will take over now? I feel like I did the day Scrushy was arrested of course that day was alot sweeter, because I used to work for him.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:06AM
PB1977 says...

Does this mean we won't get the Olympics? Arrrrg! I was really hoping to see kayaking in the Cahaba, Fair Park Arena as the Host Site and someone shooting the flame to light it during the opening ceremonies.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:07AM
js35120 says...

Yes!!!!
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:08AM
mark590 says...

101 count indictment??? Holy COW
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:10AM
bamawoman says...

jrc4au I dont think that was nice no matter what the color. She looked like she came from a good family. Also there doesnt have to be a daddy in the picture to be in a good home. I think she deserves the money for her ideas. She should be the mayor she is better than any of them.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:13AM
orogeny says...

McNair, Germany, White, Buckalew, and now Langford, LaPierre, Blount...if they'll only make Collins the grand finale, it will truly be a happy holiday!

I was looking forward to playing polo at the fairgrounds, though.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:15AM
hawk457 says...

Hope she doesn't forget about the State Junior Colleges and Technical Centers before she leaves.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:15AM
eaugust100 says...

I am so, so glad that I live in Shelby County and don't have a dog in this hunt.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:16AM
dannyinbham9 says...

UAB is the only thing keeping our city alive.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:22AM
DunkinSpesh says...

Googin goggin geegin govnar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lfHoVRB74c
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:23AM
EaglesFuture says...

Stick him in with Scrushy. They deserve each other.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:33AM
peglegged says...

It's about time... Mayor LALA needed to be out anyway, i'm just glad it was immediate and that we don't have to wait around for our city to crumble to the ground first.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:35AM
bamatexan4 says...

I saw this crap coming in the 60's when I lived there.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:49AM
jerry1201 says...

In the twisted world of Jefferson County, you've got great achievements such as the Barber Motorsports track/museum, the McWane Science Center, the Bruno's PGA golf classic, Vulcan, and many others that were all done by private individuals/companies.

In contrast, the local governments are closing schools after failed endeavors like Visionland, $3 Billion in fraudulent sewer work, and Billions more borrowed from Wall Street that can't be paid back.

So for our region, private individuals do great things...whereas local governments merely foul things up.

As any sports fan knows, when you've got outstanding individuals but lousy teams, it means that you aren't playing well together.

Ponder the implications of that fact...

and keep in mind what Shelia Smoot did to Eric Major back in 2004.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:52AM
retired52 says...

Going to have to open a new wing on the civil rights institute just for the county commissioners and la-la. LA-La will get his cell added with a closet. LA-LA can donate those expensive suits for a tax deduction. May be the architectect can charge millions to form the walls in the shape of the sewer tunnels.

At least now his physical address is downtown.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:55AM
retired52 says...

will the jail be adding executive suites?
Posted on 12/01/08 at 10:57AM
schard says...

eaugust100, everyone in the metro area is affected by what happens in Birmingham... Shelby County isn't immune. There is a reason why I-65 is a parking lot every weekday morning from the Shelby County Airport exit north.
Posted on 12/01/08 at 11:12AM
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