ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Former Orange Beach Mayor Steve Russo was handed a conviction and seven-year prison sentence by State Attorney General Troy King Monday. The conviction was for state felony ethics and campaign finance violations.

The sentence will run concurrently with the nine-year sentence he is presently serving at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery for his 2006 conviction of related federal crimes that included mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to defraud the citizens of Orange Beach.

Russo pleaded guilty to three counts of intentionally using his office for illegal personal gain of items such as entertainment, food, clothing, hotel services, cable services and membership fees. 

He also admitted to a fourth count of intentional and illegal use of campaign funds to purchase clothing.

Russo’s conviction is a result of a joint state and federal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

The joint investigation and prosecutions of public corruption in Orange Beach also resulted in federal and state convictions of former City Attorney Laurence Sutley who is also incarcerated in federal prison.

Ken Grimes, City Administrator for the city of Orange Beach said Thursday the city wants to move forward and correct the things of the past.

“Things that are in the past are in the past,” Grimes said. “Right now, the present administration is looking to being more transparent, and is working daily to be more responsive to the needs of the citizens. Orange Beach is a great city and will only get better.”