State Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills, Marty Connors, the former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, and a California health care executive were arrested today on federal bribery charges.

"Three individuals -- two of whom reside in Alabama and one who resides in California -- were arrested on charges stemming from their involvement in a public corruption scheme," United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., announced today in a press release.

The charges stem from an effort to by G. Ford Gilbert, the Carmichael, California owner of Trina Healthcare, to push a bill through the Alabama Legislature that would force Blue Cross and Blue Shield to cover diabetes treatments at centers such as the ones he owned.

Williams and Connors appeared in court this afternoon in Montgomery after their arrests this morning at their homes. Both men appeared in court in handcuffs shackled to their waists.

Neither had a lawyer present as they told the judge they understood the charges against them.

Judge Charles Coody set their bail at $25,000 each and indicated they would be released later today. An arraignment was set for April 18 at 1:30 p.m.

Gilbert "made payments to State of Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon in exchange for his efforts on behalf of the bill," Franklin said today in a press release. Hammon has since pleaded guilty on unrelated charges, and went to prison in Arizona in recent weeks.

According to prosecutors, Gilbert in 2016 hired Connors, who knew Hammon was being paid by Gilbert. Hammon and Connors recruited Williams, who chaired the Small Business Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives, to hold a public hearing on the bill. Williams also knew of the payments to Hammon - who was in financial crisis.

Alabama Republican Party Chair Marty Connors responds to a question, Friday, Aug. 6, 2004, during the Presidential Election 2004: Implications for the African American Community forum at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala. (AP Photo/ Haraz Ghanbari)

The effort was concentrated on 2016's HB415, which died in the committee Williams chaired.

The bill would would have prohibited any insurance plan that covers intravenous insulin infusion from requiring patients to use a hospital instead of a medical clinic or office, like Trina. It would have made it illegal for insurors to demand a higher deductable or copay for treatment at such centers.

Federal and state investigators have been asking questions about Trina for months, particularly after Hammon pleaded guilty for mail fraud for using campaign contributions for personal gain. He was sentenced to three months in prison on those charges. He is being held at federal prison at Terre Haute, Ind., records show.

Investigators have also asked about connections to other lawmakers.

Williams, a former Jefferson County Tax Collector, has said he would not seek re-election to the Legislature, and would instead run for Jefferson County Commissioner.

Connors, a longtime GOP lobbyist and former party chief, is well known in the Birmingham area for his support of St. Patrick's Day activities, including the parade.

Attempts to reach lawyers representing the three were unsuccessful.

The three are charged with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud, Franklin's statement said.

The indictment says Hammon was given an ownership in a Trina clinic in exchange for soliciting investment funds from others, finding a location in Birmingham and setting up a space. It was not profitable, though, because BCBS did not intend to pay for the treatment, which it found suspect.

In September 2015, though, a Trina clinic in Hoover opened, and then-Gov. Robert Bentley showed up, at Hammon's request, to cut the ribbon.

The clinic did not prosper, and Gilbert set out to challenge BCBS and change the law. Connors was hired, and he knew Hammon's involvement, the indictment says. The bill was drafted, Gilbert dined with Williams and Williams agreed to make sure the bill was assigned to his committee, and promised to call a public hearing to pressure BCBS.

Williams knew Hammon had a financial interest, which makes him party to the crime, according to the government.

When a member of the committee asked Williams why former Speaker Mike Hubbard assigned the bill to the Commerce and Small Business Committee instead of the Health Committee or Insurance Committee, Williams said he (Williams) was trying to "help out" Hammon.

The indictment says Gilbert and Connors committed the substantive offense of bribery related to federal programs. Gilbert alone is charged with wire fraud, health care fraud, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. The indictment does not include charges against Hammon because Hammon has already been convicted in federal court of other offenses."

If convicted, each defendant in this case faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, plus fines and restitution.

Gilbert will be arraigned in federal court in California on April 18.

Gov. Kay Ivey weighed in on the indictments following a speech today in Huntsville.

"There's just no place for corruption in our great state. And so the Justice Department, the FBI, they've just got to go ahead and ferret out what needs to be explored because we cannot tolerate corruption," Ivey said.

"I just pointed out (during her speech in Huntsville) that the people of Alabama, the morale was very low because they had been misled by their leader and lost faith in the government. So I've tried my best to restore faith and trust in the government and operate an open, transparent administration."

Updated 4:30 p.m. April 2 with information from the indictment.

Indictment by John Archibald on Scribd

AL.com reporters Ivana Hrynkiw, Paul Gattis and Mike Cason contributed to this report.

HB415-int by John Archibald on Scribd