By Byron Shehee
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—Former Department of Education employee Deann Stone, and her husband, Dave Stone received a 2-year prison sentence after being found guilty of ethics violations stemming from a 2010 investigation.
The jury found Mrs. Stone guilty of directing in excess of $10 million in federal funds to the company with which her husband was employed. In total, the couple was convicted of five ethics charges.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Johnny Hardwick said there was a conflict of interest and Mrs. Stone should have removed herself from any process that could have been conflicting in nature. Mr. Stone was an employee of an entity who was representing applicants before Mrs. Stone’s department of federal programs within the Department of Education. Mr. Stone received a $25,000 bonus from his company, which cooperated with the investigation and was not implicated during the trial.
During the course of the trial, Mrs. Stone said she had minimal involvement with the actions in question and that her subordinates made mistakes in handling their duties.
Defense attorney Tommy Goggans said an appeal to the decision will be filed.
