Architect denies bribing 2-year college officials

ANNISTON (AP) — Anniston architect Julian Jenkins has denied claims by federal prosecutors that he bribed two-year college system officials in return for contracts with the system.

A court filing by prosecutors alleged Jenkins gave $85,000 in "goods and services" to then-Chancellor Roy Johnson and his family and $1,800 in similar benefits to an unnamed two-year college president in return for $2.6 million in contracts.

"We've been working for the two-year college system for 25 years, long before Roy Johnson came into a position of power, and we've never bribed anybody during all that time," Jenkins told The Anniston Star.

in a story Thursday.

He said he has had so much work from the system he doesn't have to use bribes.

Current two-year college Chancellor Bradley Byrne said Jenkins still has four or five contracts with the system, which he said his office is now reviewing.

Byrne said he is also trying to find the name of the college president who prosecutors say received $1,800 in bribes from Jenkins.

"Certainly there's an allegation of a pretty serious issue, and we're going to follow up on it," Byrne said.

The court filing by prosecutors Tuesday does not charge Jenkins with any crime but is a forfeiture complaint seeking to seize his Anniston office and bank accounts connected to it, claiming he has defrauded the state and is a target of an ongoing investigation.

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Information from: The Anniston Star, www.annistonstar.com/

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