Shiloh Community activist claims major company tried to bribe him with “hush money”

COFFEE COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) — A new chapter is unfolding in Shiloh — the Coffee County neighborhood where black homeowners say a highway project is causing widespread flooding.

Timothy Williams, the owner of Destiny Cleaning Services and Shiloh community advocate, and his attorney, Jonathan Austin, filed a complaint against Ben. E. Keith, after they claim the company terminated his contract when he refused to take hush money regarding a fight with the state to help his flooding community.

“It was pretty bad how they did it to silence me, kill all my contracts it was a bad situation I have employees and they held up payroll,” Williams said.

Williams claims his business contract came to an end after three years when he refused a random payment of over $200,000 from the company that was deposited into his account — the money has since been returned.

“Almost 300 thousand dollars is a lot to be sent anywhere and when he contacted to the company to find out how the money got there it took them a week to come up with an excuse,” Austin said.

During his time contracting with the company, Williams has been instrumental in advocating for his historically black community Shiloh who has been living through a flooding nightmare for six years which has gained national attention. .

Williams and the community have criticized the state of Alabama blaming the highway expansion for flooding issues. However, the company is contracted with the state of Alabama.

The lawsuit claims the local office told Williams not to worry about it at first and then later determined it was a mistake, but Austin and his client Williams believe the company and perhaps the state tried to silence him for speaking out.

“We have all types of evidence and information that points to it was more than a mistake it was intentional and we will be able to bring our case before a jury,” Austin said.

Austin and Williams are seeking monetary damages of seven figures in this case as they claim the company interfered with the contract, conspired against him, and retaliated since he did not take the money.

“You kicked the man who’s losing everything with the flooding and the highway and now his company you’re a billion-dollar company that receives federal funding they didn’t care,” Williams added.

“Not only does Mr. Williams need to be compensated for the loss of his business, his income, and other businesses but also their conduct, and that’s punitive damages of over one million dollars,” Austin added.

We reached out to the company in New Brockton as well as their headquarters but have not given us a comment at the time of this report.

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