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United States Attorney David L. Huber
Western District of Kentucky
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: SANDY FOCKEN PHONE: (502) 582-5911 FAX: (502) 582-5097 |
Manchester City Councilman Pleaded Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy
LONDON, Ky. — Manchester City Councilman, Darnell Hipsher, 47, pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy before United States District Court Judge Danny C. Reeves in London, Ky. Hipsher’s plea comes two days after the former Manchester Mayor, Daugh White, pleaded guilty.
Hipsher was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of this year, along with White and former Assistant Chief of Police Richard Todd Roberts, 36, alleging the city of Manchester was the enterprise in which the three were using to advance a pattern of racketeering.
Hipsher admitted that in the Fall of 2005, he and White attempted to gain votes by paving private driveways paid for by public funds. Hipsher, the head of the blacktopping committee, and White directed Elmo Greer and Sons, Inc., a contractor hired by the City, to pave a total of 32, and patch four, private driveways. Based upon the records of Elmo Greer and Sons, approximately $30,000 in pavement was used on private driveways.
Hipsher, who is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. White, who is also scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and supervised release for up to three years.
Roberts is scheduled to stand trial on August 22, 2007 and if convicted on all counts, faces up to life in prison, a $4 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. Any sentence after conviction will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen C. Smith.