Embattled engineer Warnock files for bankruptcy

The former Madison County engineer facing federal bribery and wire fraud charges filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Alabama earlier this month. 

Rudy Warnock, whose federal criminal trial was recently continued for a fourth time to Oct. 2, claimed on his bankruptcy filing to only have a net worth of $434,000 with liabilities of about $1.4 million. He lived in Madison where he worked as the county engineer and Canton city engineer before later moving to a Birmingham, Ala., suburb. 

On his bankruptcy filing, Warnock is claiming unsecured debts that include nearly $430,000 for a Small Business Administration COVID-19 disaster loan, as well as over $200,000 in debt to Renasant Bank noted as lawsuit expenses. 

Warnock also shows a $29,000 loan for “deficiency on airplane” from Eastern Bank and nearly $50,000 in credit card expenses. 

Warnock’s secured debt includes a mortgage of nearly $700,000 on his home he said is valued at over $850,000.

Warnock has been charged with bribery and wire fraud that allegedly occurred during his brief stint at CMU after he was fired by Madison County.

Indictments against Warnock and the others were unsealed in November 2022. 

Warnock was indicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud.

Warnock was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2021, but the indictments were sealed until November 2022. Warnock pleaded not guilty at his initial appearance. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Three others have pleaded guilty — former CMU Commissioner Cleveland Anderson and former Canton aldermen Andrew Grant and Eric Gilkey.