Analysis | Donations tied to business network surround Cullman power structure

An analysis of campaign finance records reveals that businesses linked to a single business network directed approximately $90,000 in contributions toward two political campaigns associated with Cullman County law enforcement leadership over a seven-month period.

The funds flowed into the political committees of Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, who is seeking a seat on the Alabama Public Service Commission, and Lt. Chad Whaley, the individual Gentry has designated as his successor in the race for Cullman County sheriff.

The findings, based on a review by APR, identify a concentrated pattern of political giving centered on these two campaigns, though the review does not establish wrongdoing by any individual or business involved.

The Contribution Pattern

According to corporate records, registration filings, and shared ownership data, five LLCs or storefront entities connected to businessman Amin Dewani accounted for six separate contributions to the campaigns.

The timing and scale of the donations followed a specific sequence:

• In July 2025, three separate contributions of $10,000 each were made, with each payment arriving seven days apart.
• In January 2026, two additional contributions of $25,000 each were made. One payment benefited Gentry’s Alabama Public Service Commission campaign, and the second benefited Whaley’s sheriff campaign exactly one week later.

The APR review found that no comparable pattern of contributions from entities linked to Dewani was made to other Alabama candidates during the same timeframe.

The Dewani Business Network

Amin Dewani, a businessman based in the Hoover area, is the central figure in the network. His name appears across dozens of Alabama corporate records, with business interests primarily concentrated in fuel stations and convenience stores.

The analysis notes that the contributions occurred during a period when reports emerged alleging that gambling machines were being operated inside a gas station in Hanceville that is connected to the same business network.

Political and Legal Context

The concentration of funding is notable due to the influence of the sheriff’s office in Alabama. Sheriffs in the state function as law enforcement leaders and public officials while serving as central figures within county political structures.

The recipients of the funds are currently positioned to maintain a specific law-enforcement structure in Cullman County, with Gentry moving toward a state-level regulatory role on the Public Service Commission and Whaley running to take over the local sheriff’s office.