The former finance director for the City of Homewood has been sentenced to prison for embezzling nearly $950,000. United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced the sentencing.
Robert Winston Burgett, aged 64, from Hueytown, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco to 37 months in prison. Burgett had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud in October 2024.
Burgett's embezzlement occurred between at least May 2023 and March 2024, during which he used his position as Homewood's finance director to transfer nearly $950,000 from city accounts. He transferred city funds to a commercial bank account under his control, and then to his personal account. To hide his actions, Burgett altered city bank statements and made false entries in city accounting records. He used the embezzled funds for personal expenses.
The FBI and Homewood Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward.