Rep. John Rogers pleads guilty in fraud case, resigns from Alabama House
Sentencing is scheduled for July 26, 2024
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Alabama State Representative John Rogers changed his plea to guilty Wednesday afternoon in the Hugo L. Black US Courthouse in a fraud case involving the Jefferson County Community Service Fund.
According to US Attorney Prim Escalona, Rogers agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice in connection to a scheme to defraud the Jefferson County Community Service Fund.
As part of the guilty plea agreement filed Monday, March 11, Rogers has also agreed to resign from the Alabama House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives received Rep. John Rogers’ resignation letter, effective Wednesday, March 13 last Friday, March 15.
Rogers’ Resignation Letter
John Rogers' Resignation Letter by wbrcnews on Scribd
Rogers will be sentenced on July 26, 2024.
In February 2024, Rogers’ former assistant and companion, Varrie Johnson Kindall, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Rogers and Rep. Fred Plump Jr. to defraud the fund.
An indictment in the case claimed about $400,000 in tax dollars from the Jefferson County Community Service Fund was given to the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League, run by State Rep. Fred Plump, and the indictment says Plump kicked back almost $200,000 to Rogers and his personal assistant, Varrie Johnson Kindall.
Prosecutors also claimed Rogers and Johnson tried to bribe a witness in the case not to talk by offering grant money, and tried to persuade the witness to lie to federal investigators.
The indictment also claims Rogers and Johnson cooked up a scheme where Johnson would take full responsibility for the crimes and lie about whether Rogers knew anything about the kickbacks, in exchange for Rogers promising to take care of personal issues for Johnson if she went to prison. Prosecutors say Johnson lied to them during a meeting at the U.S. Attorney’s office in May 2023.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to obstruct justice is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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