FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
April 23, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
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AG ANNOUNCES ARRESTS OF FORMER STATE SENATOR & STAFFER
FOR ETHICS LAW AND FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES ACT VIOLATIONS
(MONTGOMERY) -Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrests today of
former State Sen. Lowell Ray Barron and Barron’s former campaign staffer, Rhonda Jill Johnson,
for Ethics Law and Fair Campaign Practices Act violations. Johnson, 47, was arrested by the
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and agents of the Attorney General’s Office. Barron, 71,
surrendered this afternoon at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
Attorney General Strange’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence to a DeKalb
County grand jury, resulting in the indictment* of Barron and Johnson on April 19.
The indictment charges Barron and Johnson with six total counts of Ethics law violations
and violations of the Fair Campaign Practices Act. Specifically:
Count 1 charges Lowell Barron and Jill Johnson with violating State Ethics
law by converting a $2,000 check written on the Barron for Senate campaign
account to Jill Johnson, to personal use;
Count 2 charges Barron and Johnson with violating State Ethics law by
converting a $50,000 check written on the Barron for Senate campaign account to
Jill Johnson, to personal use;
Count 3 charges Barron and Johnson with violating the Fair Campaign
Practices Act for improper use of excess campaign contributions for a $2,000
check written on the Barron for Senate campaign account, to Jill Johnson for non-
campaign purposes;
Count 4 charges Barron and Johnson with violating the Fair Campaign
Practices Act for improper use of excess campaign contributions for a $50,000
check written on the Barron for Senate campaign account, to Jill Johnson for non-
campaign purposes;
Count 5 charges Barron and Johnson with violating the Fair Campaign
Practices Act for improperly transferring campaign property, a 2007 Toyota
Camry, to Jill Johnson for non-campaign purposes; and
Count 6 charges Barron and Johnson with violating the Fair Campaign
Practices Act for improper use of excess campaign contributions for a $6,000
check written on the Barron for Senate campaign account, to Jill Johnson for non-
campaign purposes.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 2
No further information about the investigation or about Barron’s or Johnson’s alleged
crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
If convicted, both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $30,000
for each of the six counts in the indictment.
The Attorney General commended Special Prosecutions Division Chief Matt Hart,
Assistant Attorneys General Bill Lisenby Jr. and Pete Smyczek, and agents of the Attorney
General’s Special Prosecutions Division.
*Note: An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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