A federal jury has found former Birmingham Health Care CEO Jonathan Dunning guilty on 98 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.
According to AL.com, jurors began deliberating last Tuesday afternoon, and finally reached a verdict Friday. Dunning was acquitted on another 14 counts.
Prosecutors argued Dunning took millions of dollars in grant money meant for treating the poor and homeless at Birmingham Health Care and Central Alabama Comprehensive Health and diverted it into his own businesses. They say Dunning continued to profit from the two agencies, even after he stepped down as CEO, by setting up companies to contract with the clinics for services and for lease agreements with the clinic's buildings.
Dunning's defense was that there is nothing wrong with BHC contracting out services or renting buildings, even with a former employee.
Dunning and his attorneys declined to comment on the jury’s verdict. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
June is Brain Awareness Month and the Alabama-Florida Panhandle chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is hosting what’s called the Longest Day.
Supporters of the campaign will spend the day doing things like planting flowers, going bowling, and holding silent auctions to raise money to help Alzheimer’s patients.
Aimee Johnson is the chapter spokeswoman. She says the event is meant to bring families together who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease to do activities they enjoy doing…
“The longest day is an event that’s very symbolic, so the summer solstice this year is on June 20, and people who are living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, every day is the longest day, and so we have people that are raising money throughout that day and they’re doing it in honor of their loved ones.”
Volunteers are set up for the event to help with the activities. There are currently ten volunteer teams in the Birmingham area. Anyone interested in forming a volunteer team or would like more information on the event can call the chapter’s helpline.
Alabamians have until mid-July to apply for alligator hunting tags.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has opened registration for its eleventh annual alligator hunt.
Chris Nix is a biologist with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He says there will be a total of two hundred sixty tags permitted this year.
“We’ve got four separate areas throughout the state, and each person can register for each zone one time. And there are a set number of tags designated for each zone. You have to be either a resident of Alabama or a lifetime license holder of Alabama.”
Applicants can apply for all four zones in which the tags are distributed. The drawing takes place on July 12, and applicants can check their selection status on the department’s website.