FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 3, 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 STRANGE ANNOUNCES STATE CONVICTION
OF FORMER SENATOR MCLAIN FOR THEFT OF GRANT MONEY
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction
yesterday of former state Senator E.B. McClain on state charges related to the theft of grant
funds that were inappropriately diverted to him. McClain pleaded guilty in Jefferson County
Circuit Court to one count of third-degree theft. He received a sentence of 12 months and was
granted probation for one year. His sentence will be served concurrently with a federal sentence
of five years and 10 months for 47 counts of money laundering, mail fraud, bribery and
conspiracy. McClain, 71, is of Midfield.
Previously convicted on related charges was Samuel Pettagrue, 68, of Leeds. Pettagrue
pleaded guilty on April 20 in Jefferson County Circuit Court to one count of third-degree theft
involving the inappropriate diversion of grant funds to McClain. Pettagrue received a sentence
of 12 months and was granted probation for one year. His sentence will be served concurrently
with a federal sentence of five years probation imposed for his 2009 conviction of 47 counts of
money laundering, mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy.
The circumstances leading to the convictions of McClain and Pettagrue were stated in a
warrant as follows: In April 2002, McClain as a state Senator directed a $65,000 grant from the
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to an organization called the
Community Resource Center in Jefferson County, of which Pettagrue was executive director.
McClain notified Pettagrue that the grant money was coming and directed Pettagrue to divert
$45,000 back to McClain. Pettagrue wrote a check for $45,000 to McClain, which McClain
deposited into his checking account. Both men were aware that McClain was not entitled to the
money and had done no work for it.
“The public corruption surrounding this case was an outrageous abuse of the people’s
trust, and an example of the great need for this office to have a good and effective working
relationship with other law enforcement and prosecutors. I am pleased that the state charges in
this matter have been resolved, and proud of the continuing good work of the Attorney
General’s Investigations Division and Public Corruption and White Collar Crime Division.”
A joint investigation by the State and by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern
District of Alabama resulted in federal convictions against both men. The State investigation
and prosecution was handled by the Attorney General’s Investigations Division and by
Assistant Attorney General Bill Lisenby Jr. of the Attorney General’s Public Corruption and
White Collar Crime Division. St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor was appointed
to supervise the investigation and prosecution on behalf of the State of Alabama.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
