Any person, other than a beneficiary under this chapter, who for a consideration takes or accepts from an employee an assignment of his claim or award or judgment for, or agreement to pay, compensation, or who accepts or takes same as security for a loan or a debt, or who takes a power of attorney to collect the same, retaining any interest in the amount to be collected, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, may be imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than 12 months and must also be fined not more than $500.00.
Ala. Code § 25-5-231 (1975)