Walter Rayford Tucker III (born May 28,1957) is an American lawyer,politician and minister who served as mayor of Compton and a one-term U.S. Representative from California from 1993 to 1995.
Tucker was a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney from 1984 to 1986,when he began in private practice as a criminal defense attorney. After Tucker's father died while still in office as mayor of Compton,the younger Tucker won a special election to replace him,becoming the youngest mayor in the city's history at age 33. He served from 1991 to 1992,during the civil unrest in Los Angeles County spawned by the Rodney King verdict.[2]
In 1995 Tucker was convicted on seven counts of extortion and two counts of tax evasion.[3] The charges stemmed from his acceptance of $30,000 in bribes during his tenure as Mayor of Compton in 1991,prior to his election to Congress. Tucker maintained his innocence throughout the trial,claiming he had been set up by government prosecutors targeting Black officeholders,although his conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal.[4][5]
Tucker resigned from Congress after his conviction in 1995.[4]
Ministry
Tucker began his active ministry while at the Federal Prison Camp in Lompoc,California. After his release he was hired as the Helps Ministry manager for Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles,and he then joined with Charles Colson's Prison Fellowship Ministry as Los Angeles area director. He moved with his family to Chicago,where for nine years he was a pastor of the From the Heart Church Ministries of Chicago. He is now the pastor of the Truth and Love Christian Church in Carson,California.[2]
Personal
Tucker is married to Robin Smith and they have two children –Walter R. Tucker IV and Autumn Monet Tucker. He has two sisters –Keta and Camillie,and a brother –Kenneth.[2]
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