Operation Tennessee Waltz

Operation Tennessee Waltz was a sting operation set up by federal and state law enforcement agents, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The operation led to the arrest of seven Tennessee state lawmakers and two men identified as "bagmen" in the indictment on the morning of May 26, 2005, on bribery charges. The FBI and TBI followed these arrests with an additional arrest of two county commissioners, one from Hamilton County, and the other a member of the prominent Hooks family of Memphis. Investigators also arrested a former county administrator.

Execution

The FBI set up E-Cycle, a bogus company based in Atlanta and claiming to recycle electronics by sending the electronics to third world countries.[1]

In the May 26 edition of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, an article appeared about Charles Love, reporting that he owed almost $300,000 in back taxes and that the Internal Revenue Service had placed liens against his home. The article also mentioned E-Cycle in passing, as if it were a real company, possibly at the request of the FBI or TBI, to help confirm E-Cycle's seeming legitimacy.

The FBI sting operation ran from 2003 to 2007 in which eleven state and local officials were arrested for in relation to an FBI sting operation, using a fake company claiming to recycle electronics called E-Cycle Management. The company was used to offer bribes for favorable legislation.[2][3][4][5]

  1. John Ford (Tennessee politician) (D) State Senator from Memphis in the 29th District, took an $800,000 bribe, and was sentenced to 66 months in prison.[6][7][8][9]
  2. Roscoe Dixon (D) State Senator from Memphis in the 33rd District, was found guilty of taking a $9,500 bribe, and was sentenced to 63 months in jail.[10][11]
  3. J. Chris Newton (R) State Representative from Bradley County which is in the 22nd District, was found guilty of taking a $1,500 bribe and conspiracy. He was sentenced to one year and one day in jail, two years probation and community service.[12][13]
  4. Kathryn I. Bowers (D) State Senator, replaced Roscoe Dixon in the 33rd District, when he left office on charges of bribery. Bowers was also found guilty of taking a $5,750 bribe, and was sentenced to 16 months in jail.[14][15]
  5. Ward Crutchfield (D) State Senator from District 10, pled guilty to bribery, and was sentenced to six months home confinement, two years probation, and fined.[16][17]

Local politicians who were arrested include:[18]

  1. William Cotton ( ) Hamilton County Commissioner, extortion, sentenced to 3 years.[19]
  2. Charles Love ( ) Hamilton County School Board, the bagman, extortion, 12 months.[20][21]
  3. Michael Hooks, Sr. ( ) Shelby County Commissioner, pled guilty to taking $24K in bribes and was sentenced to 26 months in prison.[22][23]
  4. Michael Hooks, Jr. ( ) Memphis School Board, conspired to take $3K for bogus consulting work. He resigned, and was sentenced to 30 days in prison.[24][25]
  5. Calvin Williams (R) Shelby County Administrator, convicted of extortion and bribery, sentenced to 33 months.[26][27]

See also

References
  1. "Tennessee Waltz: The Dance is Over". Washington, D.C.: Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  2. U.S. Indicts 4 Tennessee Lawmakers in Corruption Case | John Branston | New York Times | May 27, 2005 |
  3. https://www.nashvillepost.com/t/tag/operation-tennessee-waltz
  4. https://www.commercialappeal.com | May 25, 2018 | Operation Tennessee Waltz: The defendants then and now | Marc Perrusquia | USA Today Network |
  5. https://www.memphisflyer.com | The Last Waltz | Six years in the making, the Tennessee Waltz played out its string last week. | JOHN BRANSTON |
  6. https://wreg.com | August 20, 2012 | John Ford Released From Federal Prison | April Thompson |
  7. https://www.foxnews.com | January 13, 2015 | Corruption Trial for Former Tennessee State Senator John Ford Set to Begin Monday | Associated Press |
  8. "Former Tenn. State Sen. Ford found guilty of bribery".
  9. The Associated Press (August 28, 2007). "John Ford sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison". wmcactionnews5.com.
  10. https://www.memphisflyer.com | June 9, 2006 | Roscoe Dixon Guilty on All Counts! | John Branston |
  11. https://www.commercialappeal.com | March 8, 2018 | Tennessee Waltz: Ex-senator Roscoe Dixon barred from right to vote, appeals case denied | Katie Fretland | USA Today Network |
  12. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | January 26, 2007 | TN Waltz defendant Chris Newton out of jail and living in halfway house | The Associated Press |
  13. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | February 22, 2006 | Newton sentenced in Tennessee Waltz case |
  14. http://www.washingtonpost.com | Monday, July 16, 2007 | Tenn. Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Bribery | WOODY BAIRD | The Associated Press |
  15. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | May 14, 2015 | Former TN Senator Kathryn Bowers has died | WMCActionNews5.com Staff |
  16. https://www.chattanoogan.com | Thursday, January 17, 2008 | Ward Crutchfield Gets Probation, 6 Months Home Confinement | Former State Senator Must Pay $3,000 Fine |
  17. https://www.timesfreepress.com | April 3rd, 2016 | Ward Crutchfield, Chattanooga politician and power broker, has died | Andy Sher |
  18. https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/the-last-waltz/Content?oid=1143754
  19. http://www.wrcbtv.com | January 28th 2009 | William Cotton Talks About Prison Sentence | A disgraced former Hamilton County commissioner is breaking his silence. William Cotton spent his first day as a "free man" in two and a half years. | Rachel Withers |
  20. https://www.chattanoogan.com | Friday, September 30, 2005 | County Commissioner William Cotton Arrested For Extortion In Operation Tennessee Waltz | Taken In Handcuffs To Federal Building |
  21. https://www.chattanoogan.com | Monday, July 28, 2008 | Charles Love Out Of Federal Prison |
  22. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | December 6, 2006 | Michael Hooks, Sr., says he's "glad it's over with" | Jason Miles |
  23. https://www.memphisflyer.com | Hooks Sr. Accepts Sentence, 'Did Wrong' | JOHN BRANSTON |
  24. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | June 20, 2006 | Michael Hooks Jr. indicted in Tennessee Waltz | The Associated Press |
  25. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | April 9, 2008 | Michael Hooks, Jr. sentenced in federal court |
  26. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com | January 10, 2007 | UPDATE: Prosecution rests in Calvin Williams trial | Andrew Douglas |
  27. https://www.pressreader.com | January 11, 2008 | How The Tennessee Waltz Played Out |
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