FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
November 2, 2011
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Suzanne Webb (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES SENTENCING FOR CAMPAIGN LAW CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the sentencing
today of a former state school board candidate for campaign finance disclosure
violations. Troy W. Smithwick Jr., 68, of Sylacauga, was convicted in Talladega County
Circuit Court on September 20 of two counts of violating the Alabama Fair Campaign
Practices Act. He was sentenced today to a suspended sentence of four months on each
count in the county jail to run concurrently, and given 12 months probation. He also
received a $500 fine on each count, plus other court costs and assessments.
The Attorney General’s Office presented evidence to a jury in Talladega County
resulting in the convictions for which he was sentenced today. In the first count,
Smithwick was convicted of failing to file an annual report, as required by Code of
Alabama Section 17-5-8(b). The evidence showed that Smithwick, who was an
unsuccessful candidate for state school board in the 2008 Republican primary,
knowingly did not file an annual report of contributions and expenditures by January
31, 2009, as required by state law. For the second count, Smithwick was convicted of
improperly reporting a campaign contribution, in violation of Code of Alabama Section
17-5-8(c)(2). The evidence showed that Smithwick received a campaign contribution
from “The Real Democrat PAC” (“TRD PAC”) for $100,000 in May of 2008, but that he
knowingly reported that the contribution came instead from the “Tennessee Valley
Citizens for Economic Development PAC.”
“Campaign finance disclosure laws are an essential part of an open and honest
government,” said Attorney General Strange. “When these laws are disregarded and
broken, the integrity of our government is threatened. The Office of Attorney General
is committed to investigating and prosecuting such violations and to protecting our
citizen’s trust in the integrity of their public representatives.”
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing this case to a
successful conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Bill Lisenby and
Pete Smyczek and Paralegal Lori Arnold of the Attorney General’s Public Corruption
and White Collar Crime Division, and Assistant Attorneys General Ben Baxley, Thomas
Govan, and Brenda Smith for their work on the case, as well as special agents of the
Attorney General’s Investigations Division.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
