U.S. Marshalls took State Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) into custody on Monday morning after a federal judge revoked his bond, according to reports.
Government officials accused Rogers of contacting witnesses, violating his bond conditions.
According to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona last week, Rogers was ordered not to contact victims or witnesses. Escalona accused Rogers of attempting to contact an unidentified individual known as Individual #1, whom Rogers has been accused of attempting to bribe into providing false and misleading information to federal law enforcement while under investigation.
Rogers was indicted on one count of obstructing justice and one count of obstruction by bribery in September following a fraud investigation involving a public works fund in Jefferson County. Both former State Rep. Fred Plump, Jr. (D-Fairfield) and Rogers’ assistant, Varrie Johnson Kindall, received federal charges due to the investigation.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have accused Rogers of redirecting hundreds of thousands of dollars designated for a youth baseball league run by Plump to Kindall. They also claim Rogers attempted to convince an unidentified individual to lie to investigators with the FBI.
Rogers pleaded not guilty to corruption charges earlier this month and told a media outlet he rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors. However, Rogers’ attorney, John C. Robbins, told 1819 News he was “not aware” if federal prosecutors offered Rogers a plea deal.
Rogers’ defense argued Rogers did not make the calls and, after the hearing, told the press Rogers mistakenly called the witness, who has the same name as someone else he was trying to call.
Rogers’ defense will return to the courtroom on Thursday for another hearing, in which they said they hope to clear this up.
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