Phillip Hamilton, who once represented Newport News as a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery and extortion for his role in allegedly securing money for Old Dominion University in exchange for a job at a teachers’ center associated with the school.

Accoring to the indictment, Hamilton met with officials in 2006 to discuss creating the center, indicating to them that he would initiate a budget amendment to do so and counseling a school official identified only as “Official 1” not to discuss the initiative with other legislators.

Federal prosecutors allege that Hamilton then repeatedly solicited a job at the center, and a second unnamed official assured Hamilton that if ODU obtained funding to create the center, Hamilton would be given a job.

During the 2007 session, a budget amendment introduced by Hamilton for the center passed the General Assembly.

Around the time the General Assembly adjourned that year, the second official e-mailed Hamilton, asking, “Are congratulations in order? Are you our new director?” and Hamilton replied that Old Dominion received $500,000 in the budget for the center, according to the indictment.

The next month, a job posting was announced, and Hamilton was awarded the job without submitting an application, according to the indictment.

Hamilton’s attorney, Andrew Sacks, issued a statement denying the accusations of bribery and extortion, The Washington Post reported. If convicted, Hamilton would face up to 20 years in prison on the extortion charge and 10 years on the bribery charge, and would have to forfeit the $80,000 he was paid.