FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
December 1, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG LUTHER STRANGE ANNOUNCES FELONY ETHICS CONVICTION
OF FORMER ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSIONER JOE FAULK
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction today of former
Elmore County Commissioner Joe Faulk for a felony ethics law violation. Faulk pleaded guilty this
afternoon in Elmore County Circuit Court to intentionally using his office for personal gain. A date for
sentencing is not set.
Faulk was arrested October 25 following a complaint and an arrest warrant. According to a plea
agreement, he agreed to resign from his office, to plead guilty to the felony ethics violation, and to
cooperate with the State in its ongoing criminal investigation into related matters. No further
information is available regarding the matter of any additional investigation.
“The facts are clear that this defendant abused his public trust by using his position as an Elmore
County Commissioner for his own financial gain,” said Attorney General Strange. “As a public
servant, he betrayed his obligation to honor the best interests of citizens and not to use his office for
personal enrichment.”
The plea agreement stipulates the circumstances of Faulk’s crime as follows: While serving as an
Elmore County Commissioner in 2011, Faulk entered into a contract with Coast2Coast, a company that
distributes pharmacy discount cards and which is a subsidiary of Financial Marketing Concepts Inc. of
Florida. Faulk was to assist in acquiring marketing contracts with county commissions across
Alabama, in return for a commission each time a customer used the card to fill a prescription. Faulk
subsequently promoted the program to other county commissions without disclosing his personal
financial interest, and facilitated the company’s dealings with county commissions.
In particular, one month after he entered into the contract, as an Elmore County Commissioner,
Faulk participated in the Commission’s consideration and voted to enter a county contract with
Coast2Coast, without disclosing his prospective financial interest to his fellow commissioners.
Faulk received commissions from his Coast2Coast contract totaling $63,651 between October 2011
and July 2016. The contract has since been terminated. He resigned from the Commission on Nov. 14.
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing this case to a successful
conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorney General Kyle Beckman and Special Agents of his
Special Prosecutions Division.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
