William Athanas

William C. Athanas is an attorney and former Assistant U. S. Attorney in the public corruption unit for the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.

Athanas is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and the Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. He practiced with the firm of Donoghue Barrett & Singal in Boston before joining the United States Department of Justice.

Athanas came to Birmingham in 2005 to assist in an investigation of banking fraud. He was transferred to the local office soon afterwards and gained a reputation as a tireless worker and an imposing courtroom presence.

He was instrumental in securing convictions and stiff sentences for former legislators E. B. McClain and Sue Schmitz in 2009.

Athanas was heavily involved in the prosecution of former Jefferson County Commission president Larry Langford on federal bribery and conspiracy charges. He resigned shortly after Langford's co-defendant Al LaPierre changed his plea to guilty and not long after the head of the office, Alice Martin, resigned and was replaced by Joyce Vance. His place on the prosecution team was assumed by Lloyd Peeples.

After leaving the U. S. Attorney's office, Athanas joined the Nashville law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis and was assigned to the firm's Birmingham office, headed by Larry Childs.

References

• Gordon, Robert K. (August 20, 2009) "Member of Larry Langford prosection team has resigned." Birmingham News
• Jarvis, Crystal (October 12, 2009) "Former U.S. attorney joins Waller Lansden's Birmingham office." Birmingham Business Journal