On Friday, Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that a criminal information was filed against Rickey L. Steele, 49, of Cedar Bluff.
The information charges that Steele lied to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on March 11, 2005, by telling them that he had not taken part in the removal of firearms that were being stored in the evidence room of the Cedar Bluff Police Department.
Steele subsequently changed his story and admitted his participation in the removal of fire-arms.
Sources close to former Cedar Bluff Mayor, Robert M. “Bob” Davis, 62, who died of apparent natural causes in June, said he was being investigated by federal authorities for improperly disposing of some firearms that the police department had confiscated.. Davis resigned in May.
Prior to his resignation, Davis said he had made some mistakes a few years ago that had come back to haunt him and that he would probably have to resign.
According to Martin, “It is a crime for a person being questioned by federal law enforcement agents to intentionally lie about a matter material to the investigation. The prosecution of Mr. Steele, who was employed as the Town Manager for Cedar Bluff, is part of our ongoing efforts to address corruption in local governments of Cherokee County.”
The maximum punishment for making a false statement to a federal agent in violation of 18, United States Code, 1001 is up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday before United States Magistrate Judge Paul W. Greene.
This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Pat Meadows is prosecuting the case
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