Outgoing Daphne-Republican State Rep. Randy Davis was indicted by a feral grand jury on Wednesday on charges of bribery and conspiracy.
According to federal court documents, Davis has been accused of pressuring Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama to “cover infusion treatments at Trina Health clinics even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said there was no evidence the outpatient insulin therapy treatment improved outcomes,” the Associated Press reported.
Allegedly, Davis worked with former Alabama House Majority Leader and Decatur-Republican Micky Hammon to recruit investors to the Trina Health clinics, after which he would receive a finders’ fee. He has also been accused of working with Hammon to push a bill through the Alabama State Legislature’s 2016 session aimed at forcing insurance coverage of the treatments at the clinics.
“After Trina Health encountered difficulties with the health insurance companies, Davis attempted to lobby the insurance company to change its position,” reads a Department of Justice press release. “When that failed, Davis took steps to advance the bill. For example, Davis helped to recruit a sponsor, arranged for the public hearing to be video recorded, and then spoke in favor of the bill at a public hearing.”
Vestavia Hills-Republican, longtime State Rep. Jack Williams, former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Martin Connors, along with a California-based health care executive G. Ford Gilbert were arrested in April for the alleged plan.
“Based on these events, the superseding indictment charges Davis, Gilbert, and Connors with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs. Additionally, the superseding indictment alleges that Gilbert committed various acts of bribery related to federal programs. Gilbert and Davis are also charged with interstate travel and communications in aid of racketeering. The last count in the superseding indictment charges Connors with making a false statement to a federal agent,” the press release continues.
The defendants face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
Hammon was sentenced to three months in prison in February on charges relating to mail fraud while Williams, Connors and Gilbert await their trial on September 4.
