MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former state Transportation Director Jimmy Butts and two lobbyists have pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme that involved funneling money to support the car racing career of Butts' son.
Butts, 57, pleaded guilty Monday to bribery and faces 15 to 21 months in prison. In return for plea, charges will be dropped against the son, Craig Butts.
Montgomery lobbyists John Teague and Johnny Moore, accused of being conduits for the illegal money, pleaded guilty to charges involving false income tax returns and will be sentenced to six months in federal prison.
Moore, 54, also must pay taxes, penalties and interest on an estimated $500,000 in unreported income for 1996-98, prosecutor Steve Feaga said.
In their plea agreements, Jimmy Butts admitted soliciting $50,000 from the VisionLand amusement park in Birmingham to sponsor his son's stock car at Daytona Beach, Fla., in return for his favorable consideration of a $6 million access ramp near the park. Butts must pay $25,000 in restitution to the park, which didn't get the ramp.