California Exec Gets Jail Time for Bribing Alabama Lawmaker

MONTGOMERY, AL – A California businessman is headed to federal prison after admitting to a brazen attempt to buy influence in the Alabama State House. G. Ford Gilbert, 71, of Carmichael, California, received a 12-month sentence on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, for conspiring to bribe a state official, United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. announced. The judge ordered six months incarceration followed by six months of home detention.

The case, a sordid tale of backroom deals and failed attempts to manipulate the healthcare system, centers around Gilbert’s company, which peddled a diabetes treatment rejected by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBS-AL). When legitimate appeals failed, Gilbert turned to a more illicit strategy: bribing a powerful state legislator to force the insurer’s hand.

Court documents reveal that Gilbert targeted Mickey Ray Hammon, then the majority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives. During the 2016 legislative session, Gilbert conspired with Hammon to push through a bill mandating BCBS-AL cover his company’s treatments. Hammon, allegedly leveraging his position, worked to drum up support for the measure – all for a price. Gilbert paid Hammon a flat $2000.00 for his efforts.

Despite the attempted influence, the bill ultimately crashed and burned, failing to advance out of committee. The scheme, however, didn’t remain hidden for long. Federal investigators soon began to unravel the conspiracy, leading to Gilbert’s guilty plea in January of this year. The case serves as a stark reminder that even attempts to circumvent established systems through corruption will be met with federal scrutiny.

The United States Postal Inspection Service spearheaded the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Joshua Wendell, and Stephanie C. Billingslea skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing Gilbert to justice. This conviction sends a clear message: attempts to corrupt the legislative process will not be tolerated.

While Gilbert’s sentence offers a measure of accountability, the case raises questions about the vulnerability of state legislatures to outside influence and the lengths to which companies will go to secure favorable outcomes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on any further developments, holding those in power accountable for their actions.