Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Larry Langford was arrested on federal charges this morning, the Birmingham News reported, citing unidentified federal officials.

Langford, the former president of the Jefferson County, Alabama, Commission from 2002 to 2006, was named in a civil complaint in April by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He was accused of accepting $156,000 in undisclosed payments from the head of a regional bond underwriting company. The firm, Blount Parrish & Co., collected more than $6.7 million in fees from municipal bond offerings and interest-rate swaps.

A grand jury has been investigating the county’s bond deals for several months, the Birmingham News said. William Blount, chairman of underwriter Blount Parrish & Co., arranged for loans and cash payments to Langford, through lobbyist Albert LaPierre. LaPierre will surrender to federal officials today, the newspaper said.

“We are glad the mayor will finally have his day in court,” said Deborah Vance-Bowie, Langford’s chief of staff. “As members of his team, we stand behind him and look forward to the day when we can return the focus to the important issues before the city.”

U.S. Attorney Alice Martin has scheduled a news conference today at 10 a.m. central time. Karen Naramore, a Martin spokeswoman, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

To contact the reporters on this story: Martin Z. Braun in New York at mbraun6@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 1, 2008 10:37 EST