An Alabama lawmaker and the former chief of the state's Republican Party face federal bribery charges in connection to efforts to force Blue Cross and Blue Shield to cover diabetic treatments at facilities owned by a California health care executive.

State Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills, Marty Connors and healthcare executive G. Ford Gilbert were arrested Monday in connection to what U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. referred to as a "public corruption scheme."

Here's what we know today:

The allegations

Prosecutors contend G. Ford Gilbert, owner of the Carmichael, California company Trina Healthcare, made payments to former House Majority Leader Micky Hammon on behalf of a bill that would force Blue Cross and Blue Shield to cover diabetes treatments at centers such as the ones Gilbert owned.

In 2016, prosecutors said Gilbert hired Connors, who knew Hammon was being paid by Gilbert, to serve as a lobbyist. Connors recruited Williams, chair of the House's Small Business Committee, to hold a public hearing on the bill. Williams also knew of the payments to Hammon, prosecutors allege. The bill died in the committee Williams chaired.

The charges

All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. Gilbert and Connors are also charged with the substantive offense of bribery related to federal programs. Gilbert also faces charges of wire fraud, health care fraud, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

Who's who

Mickey Hammon's role

According to the indictment, Hammon was given an ownership in a Trina clinic in exchange for setting up clinic operations in Birmingham. The clinic opened in Hoover in 2015 but was not prosperous due to the BCBS regulations.

Hammon, R-Decatur, was not charged in Monday's indictment. Last year, he pled guilty to devising a scheme to commit mail fraud by using campaign money to pay his personal expenses. He is currently serving three months in prison in connection to the charges.

Trina Health

Gilbert reportedly tried to introduce similar legislation in the 2017 session but Hammon did not support another bill. All three Trina Health clinics closed in 2017.

Gov. Kay Ivey responds

"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," Gov. Kay Ivey said.

Monday's court appearances

Williams and Connors appeared in court Monday afternoon after morning arrests at their homes. Judge Charles Coody set their bail at $25,000 each.

What's next?

An arraignment for Williams and Connors was set for April 18 at 1:30 p.m. Gilbert will be arraigned in federal court in California on the same day.

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

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