The former finance director for the City of Homewood has been charged with, and agreed to plead guilty to, the embezzlement of nearly $1 million from the city’s coffers.
Robert Winston Burgett, who was arrested on state charges earlier this year, is charged with three federal counts of wire fraud, according to a Friday announcement from Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.
The 64-year-old Hueytown man worked for the City of Homewood as its finance director until his retirement in March.
According to federal documents, Burgett used his position to embezzle about $950,000 between May 2023 and March 2024.
Burgett concealed his conduct by first moving the city’s funds into a commercial bank account he controlled before transferring the funds into his personal account.
He also altered city bank account statements and made false journal entries in city accounting records.
Burgett ultimately used the embezzled funds for personal purposes.
“Mr. Burgett has from day one accepted responsibility for his actions and has expressed extreme remorse and contrition for his actions,’’ said his attorney, Tommy Spina. “He blames no one but himself.”
“He gave up his right to have his case presented to a grand jury and signed a written plea agreement without wasting judicial resources to move the process forward expeditiously,’’ Spina said. “Today’s public filing was simply the formalization of his admission of guilt.”
Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky released a statment thanking investigators and their swift work. He said the city will continue to cooperate with them fully.
A court date has not yet been set.
The FBI and the Homewood Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward is prosecuting the case.
Burgett was initially arrest by Homewood police on April 9 on a charge of aggravated theft by deception. That charge is still pending.