WASHINGTON—A county commissioner in
Sumter County, Goergia was indicted today for his alleged role in soliciting
illicit payments in exchange for his official efforts to secure government
contracts for a private contractor, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer
of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Middle
District of Georgia Michael J. Moore announced.
Al J. Hurley, 54, is charged in a
three-count indictment filed in the Middle District of Georgia with attempted
extortion, bribery, and false statements. According to the indictment, Hurley
was an elected member of the five-member Sumter County Board of Commissioners
in Sumter County. As the primary governing body for the county, the Board of
Commissioners presided over a variety of official matters, including the
bidding process for and award of various county contracts.
The indictment alleges that from
September to December 2011, Hurley, in his capacity as a county commissioner,
solicited and agreed to accept cash payments, including $5,000 on October 23,
2011 and $15,000 on December 19, 2011, from a private contractor, in exchange
for Hurley’s use of official action and influence to facilitate the award of
county contracting work to the contractor. In addition, according to the
indictment, on December 19, 2011, Hurley lied to special agents of the FBI when
he falsely claimed that he never solicited money from the contractor.
If convicted of attempted extortion,
Hurley faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On the bribery charge,
Hurley faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The false statement charge
carries a maximum five year prison sentence and an additional $250,000 fine.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial
Attorney Eric G. Olshan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford L. Seals of the Middle District of Georgia.
This case was investigated by the FBI.
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