In federal court Tuesday, former Alabama Democratic state Rep. Terry Spicer pled guilty to accepting bribes from a lobbyist and casino developer in return for the use of his influence and position.
Spicer faces up 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release following his prison term. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The 47-year-old from Elba, Ala. represented Alabama’s 91st District, Coffee County, in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1998 to 2010.
According to court documents described by the Justice Department, Spicer accepted bribes from former Montgomery lobbyist Jarrod Massey and casino developer Ronnie Gilley, a client of Massey from 2006 to 2010.
Spicer admitted to receiving cash, campaign services and a vacation in return for driving lobbying business to Massey, and admitted that he accepted campaign funds and concert tickets from Gilley in return for his official help in getting favorable treatment for his business.
Alabama News 13 reported that Spicer raked in more than $100,000 in bribes from the pair including $31,000 in cash, a $9,000 boat, and a $10,000 Colorado ski trip from Massey and $30,000 in campaign contributions and over 300 BamaJam music festival tickets worth $22,500 from Gilley.
Massey and Gilley have also pleaded guilty to bribery.
According to the Mobile Press Register, prior to his guilty plea Spicer was the superintendent of Elba city schools; he has since been reassigned to the role of “director of operations.”
Spicer’s attorney, David Belser said that the former Democratic lawmaker “is scared and upset, but he has accepted responsibility.”