(MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Thursday that a Jefferson County jury found former Birmingham Building Inspector Thomas Edward Stoves, 53, guilty of intentionally using his office or position for personal gain.
The jury heard testimony that Stoves accepted cash in exchange for approving a building inspection of a local adult entertainment club. The head of the Birmingham Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits testified at trial that accepting cash for performing official duties is neither acceptable behavior nor permitted by the City of Birmingham.
Stoves was arrested in August 2020 after a joint investigation between the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His trial commenced on Monday and concluded on Thursday of this week, with the jury returning a guilty verdict.
Stoves faces a possible sentence of between two and 20 years imprisonment. His sentencing hearing is set for July 25 at 9 a.m. before Judge Michael Streety of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.
“Fighting public corruption is a matter of the highest importance because of the violence it can inflict on our system of government—eroding public trust and, in this case, endangering public safety,” said Attorney General Marshall. “It is reprehensible and inexcusable that Thomas Stoves, a city official charged with the duty of ensuring buildings were free from danger, would choose to trade public safety for private gain.”
“Public corruption remains a top priority for the FBI, and I applaud the work done by both the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and my agents to bring Stoves to the justice he deserves,” said FBI Birmingham Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. “There is no acceptable level of corruption and anyone who engages in such can expect the same outcome.”
Attorney General Marshall thanked his Special Prosecutions Division, including Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Clark Morris and Assistant Attorneys General Nathan Mays, Kyle Beckman, and Alana Cammack. Attorney General Marshall also thanked FBI Special Agent Michael Faulkner and all the agents and support staff of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division whose hard work contributed to the successful prosecution of this case.