Department of Justice Press Release

Former County Commissioner Jeff Germany Sentenced to 43 months in Federal Prison

Birmingham, AL - Today in U.S. District Court former Jefferson County Commissioner, Jeff Germany, was sentenced to forty-three months in federal prison, and ordered to pay $126,830 in restitution. Germany is set to report to prison on December 11, 2006.

In June 2006, Germany was found guilty on four counts of Federal Program Fraud and one count of Conspiracy Commit Federal Program Fraud. The verdict was reached by the federal jury after about 6.5 hours in deliberation, and a week long trial that was held before U.S. District Judge Robert Propst.

"Germany betrayed the trust of the people who elected him by trading the power and influence of his office for money and personal gain", said U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. "Our Public Corruption Task Force will continue to aggressively pursue public corruption crimes, and I encourage the public to report misconduct to our office for investigation".

Germany, 58, of Birmingham, was charged by an indictment filed July 28, 2005, which was superseded by an indictment filed September 28, 2005. Specifically, the five count indictment charged that Germany for a period of time in October and November 2000, misapplied or caused to be misapplied, through entities known as the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity and Med Health Management, property and funds valued at $19,000 for the use and benefits of Germany's wife.

The evidence in this case further revealed that Germany, during October and November 0f 2000, did misapply or caused to be misapplied through entities known as the Jefferson County Committee of Economic Opportunity and the East Thomas Baseball Association. Continuing in November 2000, Germany misapplied funds and property in the approximate amount of $14,990 through the East Thomas Baseball Association.

The indictment also charged and the jury found that Germany conspired to misapply these funds. Germany was an elected official during which time the funds were misapplied and benefitted by those funds.

"This conviction is further evidence of our resolve to punish those who trade the public trust for personal gain", states Alabama General Troy King. "We continue to pursue and hold accountable those who have betrayed those they serve".