Former Birmingham City Councilor and Jefferson County Commissioner John Katopodis was convicted today on federal fraud charges relating to his involvement with a local charity, Computer Help for Kids.
After the verdict was read, Katopodis was immediately cuffed and taken into custody by federal marshals.
Katopodis, who founded the charity in 2000 with help from former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy and Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, was arrested in Boston in October 2008 and charged with 97 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and honest services fraud. He misappropriated nearly $250,000 from the charity to fund everything from his own personal checking account, to gambling excursions, to plane tickets for himself and friends.
After the verdict was read, Katopodis was immediately cuffed and taken into custody by federal marshals.
Katopodis, who founded the charity in 2000 with help from former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy and Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, was arrested in Boston in October 2008 and charged with 97 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and honest services fraud. He misappropriated nearly $250,000 from the charity to fund everything from his own personal checking account, to gambling excursions, to plane tickets for himself and friends.
Read more on the case in the Weekly archives
