The sentencing hearing scheduled next week for former Jefferson County Judge Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV has been postponed. Federal District Judge Brian Miller said the hearing that was set for Jan. 30 was being canceled and will be reset at a later date. No reason for the cancellation was given at this time.
In this case, Wilkins acknowledged that between 2010 and 2014 he accepted a series of bribes from lobbyists and nonprofit organizations and in return voted for specific legislation and steered about $245,000 to those lobbyists and organizations. The money was funneled to Wilkins through St. James United Methodist Church, where he served as senior pastor before stepping down in 2017.
The charge of conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States carries a maximum penalty of no more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, and not more than three years supervised release probation.
