Tennessee lawmakers having a bad day.

[Bruce H]

Hill Corruption: Federal Agents Arrest Four Legislators
Posted: 5/26/2005 9:28:00 AM
Updated: 5/26/2005 11:34:31 AM



Thursday morning, federal officials arrested four Tennessee legislators in Nashville.


Related Information

Federal Indictments (PDF Format):
USA v. John Ford
USA v. Roscoe Dixon and Barry Myers
USA v. Kathrn Bowers and Barry Myers
USA v. Ward Crutchfield and Charles Love
USA v. Chris Newton and Charles Love

House Bill 37 (Bill on which that the indictments were based)

Bios:
Sen. Ford
Sen. Bowers
Sen. Crutchfield
Rep. Newton
(Links will open in a new window)


Agents arrested Sen. Ward Crutchfield, (D) Chattanooga; Sen. John Ford, (D) Memphis; Sen. Kathryn Bowers, (D) Memphis; Rep. Chris Newton, (R) Cleveland.

Agents also arrested former Memphis senator Roscoe Dixon, who now works for the Shelby County mayor’s office; Barry Myers, from Memphis; and Charles Love, from Chattanooga.

The arrests were made based on indictments by a federal grand jury in Memphis.

According to the indictments, the suspects were accused of violating the Hobbs Act, which is a type of extortion, and of taking bribes to use their offices to help a company do business in Tennessee.

According to the FBI, the lawmakers accepted bribed from an undercover electronics company to sponsor legislation that would have helped the company make money.

Ford was accused of accepting $55,000; Crutchfield was accused of taking $12,000; Bowers was accused of taking $11,500; Newton was accused of accepting $4,500, and Dixon was accused of taking $9,500.

Ford was also accused of threatening a witness in connection with the investigation.

The investigation, dubbed Tennessee Waltz, took two years, FBI officials said. The investigation was conducted by the Memphis and Knoxville FBI offices. Nashville and Chattanooga agents were also involved.

Some searches were conducted in the Capitol Building in Nashville.

One legislator, Frank Buck, (D) Dowelltown, said he was surprised to see fellow lawmakers being led out in handcuffs.

NewsChannel 5 will have more on this developing news as it becomes available.


Ford must have decided he was invincible.

 

[foghornl]

Haven't lived down that way for many years, but still have a few relatives near Memphis. Best opinion of Ford is "arrogant @zz", and goes downhill from there.

 

[BryanP]

I work very close to the Capitol Building - less than 100 yards. It's been a zoo out here with news crews & such. Of course the sting operation is called "Operation Tennessee Waltz."

For those interested you can read about it and download PDF's of the individual indictments here:

http://www.newschannel5.com/content/news/11561.asp

 

[perception]

Out with the bad, in with more bad probably. I'm never sad to see a crook in a position of power go.

 

[AZRickD]

The first thing to come to my mind was if this changes the balance in favor of or against the state income tax which has been pushed recently.

Mostly Demos on the indictment list. Anyone know if these were leftl-leaning legislators?

Rick

 

[Standing Wolf]

Ford was accused of accepting $55,000; Crutchfield was accused of taking $12,000; Bowers was accused of taking $11,500; Newton was accused of accepting $4,500, and Dixon was accused of taking $9,500.

Chump change!

 

[SIGarmed]

So when is the FBI headed to Sacramento?

 

[lunaslide]

Right after they head to King County, WA. That would be when hell freezes over.

 

[The Rabbi]

Getting Ford off the street was a great accomplishment. The guy was just :banghead:
Corrupt doesnt begin to describe it. Supposedly he was taped telling someone that if anyone ratted him out he'd have that person killed. And he meant it. Dumb.
Maybe now we'll get better CCW legislation and no state income tax.

 

[Golden Saber]

And, as of this afternoon, Senator Ford has resigned.

By the way, if any of you fellow Tennesseans see pictures of him in cuffs and shackles, please PM me.

GS

 

[Cowboy Preacher]

It is about time. Most of Tennessee's politcos in the western part of the state(past Wasington county) are vey left wing all I can say is keep rounding them up. The ones in NE TN on the other hand tend to very conservative and honest men. They should just break off that tip of the state and join VA.

 

[io333]

cowboy, there's an error in your sig line 5