Operation Tennessee Waltz

An unnamed subject (right) making a deal with an FBI undercover agent during 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]

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]}

1. John Ford (D) State Senator from Memphis in the 29th District, took an $800,000 bribe, and was sentenced to 66 months in prison. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}
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. ^{[9] [10]}
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. ^{[11] [12]}
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. ^{[13] [14]}
5. Ward Crutchfield (D) State Senator from District 10, pled guilty to bribery, and was sentenced to six months of home confinement, two years probation, and fined. ^{[15] [16]}

Local politicians who were arrested include: ^[4]

1. William Cotton, Hamilton County Commissioner, extortion, sentenced to 3 years. ^{[17] [18]}
2. Charles Love, Hamilton County School Board member, the bagman, extortion, 12 months. ^{[18] [19]}
3. Michael Hooks, Sr., Shelby County Commissioner, pled guilty to taking $24K in bribes and was sentenced to 26 months in prison. ^[20]
4. Michael Hooks, Jr., Memphis School Board member, conspired to take $3K for bogus consulting work. He resigned and was sentenced to 30 days in prison. ^{[21] [22]}
5. Calvin Williams (R), Shelby County Administrator, convicted of extortion and bribery, sentenced to 33 months. ^{[23] [24]}

See also

• Operation Rocky Top

References

1. "Tennessee Waltz: The Dance is Over". Washington, D.C.: Federal Bureau of Investigation. May 2, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
2. Branston, John (May 27, 2005). "U.S. Indicts 4 Tennessee Lawmakers in Corruption Case". The New York Times . Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
3. Perrusquia, Marc (May 25, 2018). "Operation Tennessee Waltz: The defendants then and now". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
4. Branston, John (April 17, 2008). "The Last Waltz". Memphis Flyer. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
5. Thompson, April (August 20, 2012). "John Ford Released From Federal Prison". wreg.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
6. "Corruption Trial for Former Tennessee State Senator John Ford Set to Begin Monday". Fox News. April 8, 2007. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
7. "Former Tenn. state Sen. Ford found guilty of bribery". timesnews.net. April 27, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
8. "John Ford sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison". actionnews5.com. August 28, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
9. Branston, John (June 9, 2006). "Roscoe Dixon Guilty on All Counts!". Memphis Flyer . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
10. Fretland, Katie (March 8, 2018). "Tennessee Waltz: Ex-senator Roscoe Dixon barred from right to vote, appeals case denied". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
11. "TN Waltz defendant Chris Newton out of jail and living in halfway house". actionnews5.com. January 26, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
12. "Newton sentenced in Tennessee Waltz case". actionnews5.com. February 22, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
13. Baird, Woody (July 16, 2007). "Tenn. Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Bribery". The Washington Post . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
14. "Former TN Senator Kathryn Bowers has died". actionnews5.com. May 14, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
15. "Ward Crutchfield Gets Probation, 6 Months Home Confinement". chattanoogan.com. January 17, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
16. Sher, Andy (April 3, 2016). "Ward Crutchfield, Chattanooga politician and power broker, has died". Chattanooga Times Free Press . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
17. Withers, Rachel (January 14, 2009). "William Cotton Talks About Prison Sentence". local3news.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
18. "County Commissioner William Cotton Arrested For Extortion In Operation Tennessee Waltz". chattanoogan.com. September 30, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
19. "Charles Love Out Of Federal Prison". chattanoogan.com. July 28, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
20. "Michael Hooks, Sr., says he's "glad it's over with"". actionnews5.com. December 6, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
21. "Michael Hooks Jr. indicted in Tennessee Waltz". actionnews5.com. June 20, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
22. "Michael Hooks, Jr. sentenced in federal court". actionnews5.com. April 9, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
23. "UPDATE: Prosecution rests in Calvin Williams trial". actionnews5.com. January 10, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
24. "How the Tennessee Waltz Played Out". The Commercial Appeal. January 11, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2022.