A California business executive pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to bribe an Alabama legislator, and the trial involving two other defendants in the case has been postponed and might not happen.

Prosecutors are considering whether to accept pretrial diversion agreements with former state Rep. Randy Davis of Daphne and lobbyist and former state Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson today granted the requests of Davis and Connors to change the trial date from Jan. 14 to April 15 to give prosecutors time to consider the pretrial diversion request. Thompson’s order says that the government did not oppose the postponement.

In December, prosecutors approved a pretrial diversion agreement with another defendant, former state Rep. Jack Williams of Vestavia Hills. That agreement says that if Williams abides by the terms, including 40 hours of community service, prosecutors will move to drop charges.

G. Ford Gilbert, 71, founder of Trina Health, a company that was linked to diabetes clinics that operated in Alabama, entered the guilty plea today in U.S. District Court in Montgomery.

Gilbert was scheduled to go on trial on Jan. 14, along with Davis and Connors.

Doug Howard, special assistant U.S. attorney, had said earlier today that the government does not expect the Jan. 14 trial to proceed. Howard said prosecutors expect the charges against Connors and Davis to be resolved without a trial. Davis and Connors have pleaded not guilty.

Joe Espy, attorney for Connors, also said today he did not anticipate a trial.

Gilbert had denied wrongdoing before Thursday.

Today, Gilbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. The government agreed to drop six other counts against him, including four counts of bribery. The government agreed to recommend a 12-month sentence consisting of six months imprisonment and six months home detention, according to Gilbert’s plea agreement. Judge Thompson will decide the sentence at a future hearing, Howard said. The maximum sentence is five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The indictment alleged that the bribery scheme was intended to force or coerce health insurance companies to cover the treatments offered at the Trina Health-affiliated clinics.

The indictment said that former House majority leader Micky Hammon of Decatur was involved but he was not charged. Hammon pleaded guilty and served three months in prison last year in another case and was expected to testify in the upcoming trial.

Gilbert’s plea agreement says in February to April of 2016 that Gilbert and Hammon conspired to commit bribery. It said the plan was for Gilbert to give Hammon things of value to influence Hammon to use his influence to promote legislation that would result in insurance coverage for services provided at the Trina Health clinics. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the state’s largest insurer, had decided not to cover the treatments and had requested refunds for some payments. The plea agreement says Gilbert had $2,000 wired to Hammon in April 2016 as part of the scheme.

The legislation did not pass. The clinics closed.

Louis Franklin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, issued this statement about Gilbert’s plea:

“Mr. Gilbert thought that it would take only a small payment to turn the Alabama House of Representatives into a tool for solving his own business problems. Fortunately, Gilbert was not successful in persuading the legislature to pass this tainted bill. Nevertheless, it is my hope that this case sends a strong message to business owners and special interest groups who might seek to obtain legislative assistance through improper means. My office will do whatever it takes to ensure that the citizens of this state are served by the state legislature they deserve—one committed to doing only the people’s work.”

Franklin said the United State Postal Inspection Service and the FBI played crucial roles in the investigation.

Gilbert’s attorneys, Richard Jaffe and Michael Whisonant, issued a statement on behalf of Gilbert:

“Ford Gilbert entered into a plea agreement with the Government today where he agreed to plead guilty to one count of a multicount indictment. It was a hard fought case by all parties, but in the end it was the best decision for our 71 year old client. It was a heart wrenching decision for Ford, but he accepted responsibility and will learn from his mistakes. This agreement will allow Ford to spend many years developing diabetes treatments that he has devoted his life to improving since his daughter contracted the disease when she was a child. He has learned some valuable lessons and looks forward to putting this matter behind him. “

Davis and Connors, the others who were scheduled to go on trial Jan. 14, are not mentioned in Gilbert’s plea agreement.

The indictment said that Davis helped recruit investors for the Alabama clinics affiliated with Trina Health and promoted the bill to require insurance coverage. The company that owned the Alabama clinics employed Connors as a lobbyist.

Williams was charged in the Trina Health case in an earlier indictment issued last April. Williams was not named in a second indictment issued in July and entered the pretrial diversion agreement.

Williams was chairman of the Commerce and Small Business Committee and presided over a public hearing on the bill to require insurance coverage for the Trina Health clinic treatments.

Updated at 12:13 p.m. to say that Jan. 14 trial not expected to take place. Updated several more times, including at 1:09 p.m. to add comment from Marty Connors' attorney Joe Espy. Updated at 2:54 p.m. to add statements from the U.S. attorney’s office and from Ford Gilbert’s attorneys.