MOBILE, ALA.—In a stunning reversal of fortune, James Antuan Blackman, the former Chief of Staff to Prichard’s mayor, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for embezzling over $200,000 from the city. The 33-year-old Mobile native was handed down the sentence by Chief United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose on Monday.
Blackman pleaded guilty last February to charges of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and money laundering. His misdeeds spanned from November 2016 to January 2018, during which time he served as an agent for the City of Prichard—a local government that received substantial federal funding each year.
During his tenure, Blackman enriched himself by diverting city funds to his personal accounts. He falsified invoices and deposited checks intended for the city into his own bank account. His greed reached beyond mere financial theft as he also transferred ownership of city property to himself, including real estate on Outlaw Road, Herndon Avenue, and Stoval Street.
Adding insult to injury, Blackman laundered money by transferring $39,200.36 through a Regions Bank account under his control to a title company, which facilitated the acquisition of more city property for his personal gain.
The investigation into Blackman’s crimes was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with support from the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office Investigations Team. Assistant United States Attorneys George Martin and Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case with tenacity.
In addition to his prison term, Blackman is required to pay a $200 mandatory special assessment and $200,000 in restitution to the City of Prichard. His supervised release following his prison sentence will last three years. The sentence serves as a stern reminder that even those in positions of public trust are subject to the law’s reach.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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