TALLADEGA, Ala. – Loaning money to Danny Butler did not alwayscenter on regulatory orders, court fights and alleged forgeries as it has over the last few months. In hisprime, Danny Butler said he showered the fruits of his success onexecutives and lawyers at Alabama One Credit Union and West AlabamaBank and Trust in the form of wholesale priced-vehicles, free tripsto beachfront properties and seats in one of the exclusive skyboxesat the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.

According to court records, Butler, who is serving a sentencefor defrauding the Small Business Administration and kiting checksbetween West Alabama Bank and Trust and the $602 million,Tuscaloosa-based credit union, said he made sure executives at bothinstitutions, along with their families and friends, had access tothe good things in life, particularly cars at wholesale prices.

Over 30 years, Butler built a very successful businesswholesaling cars that, he said in an interview with CUTimes, eventually led to his doing business with all ofTuscaloosa's automobile retailers. He said automobile retailerstook used cars in trade for new ones, sold them to Butler for anagreed-upon price, and Butler then found buyers for them.