Green's predecessor and fellow Democrat Sherman A. Bernard, whom he unseated in the 1987 nonpartisan blanket primary, pleaded guilty to extorting bribes disguised as campaign contributions and served forty-one months during the middle 1990s in a federal prison in Alabama.
[4] However, Green was subsequently heavily implicated in the Champion insurance scandal and received a far greater sentence than had Bernard for similar offenses but involving much less money.
Champion wrote high-risk automobile policies for premium coverage at a lower price than was offered by its competition.
[2] Unwilling to admit wrongdoing and to accept a plea bargain,[2] Green was convicted of the charges against him and had to resign his office before the end of his term.
He was first suspended without pay,[7] and Governor Buddy Roemer appointed an acting commissioner pending the regular November election.