Randy Davis' federal trial on bribery charges postponed

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Former Alabama House Rep. Randy Davis of Daphne might see his upcoming federal trial on bribery charges either postponed or eliminated completely following a pleading from a co-defendent.

On Jan. 4, California business executive and Trina Health founder G. Ford Gilbert, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, for which the government agreed to drop six other counts against him. The government also agreed to recommend a sentence of six months of imprisonment and six months home detention.

The case began in April of 2018 when a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Gilbert, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Trina Health, LLC (Trina Health)—a California-based company that operates diabetes treatment clinics all over the United States and in some foreign countries.

According to earlier court filings:

“The original indictment alleged that in 2014 and 2015, Trina Health opened three clinics in Alabama. Soon thereafter, the state’s largest health insurer informed Trina Health that it would not cover the treatments provided by Trina Health. Gilbert then schemed to force the insurer to change its position.

“Gilbert came up with a plan to push a bill through the Alabama Legislature’s 2016 session that would require the insurer to cover the treatments. Gilbert then made payments and gave things of value to a legislator, former House of Representatives Majority Leader Micky Ray Hammon, in exchange for Hammon working behind the scenes to push the bill. Gilbert also hired co-defendant Martin Connors to act as a lobbyist on behalf of the bill. Connors knew of Gilbert’s payments to the legislator.

“The new charges contained in the superseding indictment alleges that Davis also stood to gain from Trina Health’s successes. According to the indictment, during 2014 and 2015, Davis tried to recruit investors to Trina Health and, as a result of doing so, he received finder’s fees. After Trina Health encountered difficulties with the health insurance companies, Davis attempted to lobby the insurance company to change its position. When that failed, Davis took steps to advance the bill. For example, Davis helped to recruit a sponsor, arranged for the public hearing to be video recorded, and then spoke in favor of the bill at a public hearing.

“Based on these events, the superseding indictment charges Davis, Gilbert, and Connors with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs. Additionally, the superseding

indictment alleges that Gilbert committed various acts of bribery related to federal programs. Gilbert and Davis are also charged with interstate travel and communications in aid of racketeering. The last count in the superseding indictment charges Connors with making a false statement to a federal agent.”

Following Gilbert’s guilty plea, however, prosecutors said it is expected that the charges against Davis would likely be resolved without a trial.

Davis’ original trial date was set for Jan. 14 but was delayed to April 15 by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson to give prosecutors more time to consider the pretrial diversion requests from Davis and Connors.