Extended info about Tennessee Politicians Indicted on Charges of Bribery

Email from the Eagle Forum | 5/27/05 | Bobby Patray

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yesterday was a heart-sickening day on the Hill. Those who broke the law and are found guilty should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, the ugly part of this is how it will feed the public perception of "all those politician are just crooks." There are many men and women in the General Assembly to serve with integrity and honor. It makes me terribly sad that they will be tarred with the same brush. We pray for all involved.

Below are links to the indictments, information on the Hobbs Act, links to various newspaper reports and biographies of the legislators arrested.

[Blood of Tyrants]

see links in next post

[Blood of Tyrants]

Indictments:
Sen. John Ford
http://www.newschannel5.com/050526_ford.pdf

Former Senator Roscoe Dixon and Barry Myers
http://www.newschannel5.com/050526_dixonmyers.pdf

Senator Kathryn Bowers and Barry Myers
http://www.newschannel5.com/050526_bowersmyers.pdf

Senator Ward Crutchfield and Charles Love
http://www.newschannel5.com/050526_crutchfieldlove.pdf

Representative Chris Newton and Charles Love
http://www.newschannel5.com/050526_newtonlove.pdf

What is the Hobbs Act?
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/131mcrm.htm

The Tennessean:
4 sting arrests deal legislature new blow; 3 others also indicted
By BRAD SCHRADE and BONNA de la CRUZ, Staff Writers
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050527/NEWS0201/505270421

The Commercial Appeal:
John Ford, other lawmakers charged with taking bribes in FBI's Tennessee Waltz
Agents set up a fake company to catch influence peddlers
By Marc Perrusquia, May 27, 2005
http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_3808002,00.html

The Knoxville News Sentinel:
Stunned legislators upset about arrests, vow to finish session
By BY TOM HUMPHREY,May 26, 2005
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/state/article/0,1406,KNS_348_3809649,00.html

The Kingsport Times News:
Arrests divert attention from TennCare, budget issues
Friday, May 27, 2005 , By HANK HAYES
http://www.timesnews.net/article.dna?_StoryID=3506900


John Ford, (D) Memphis
Posted: 5/26/2005 10:48:00 AM
Updated: 5/26/2005 12:10:01 PM
District 29 - Part of Shelby County

Biographical Information
· Born Memphis Tennessee
· Married
· Member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
· Business Consultant and Licensed Funeral Director
· President of John Ford and Associates, Real Estate and Insurance Consultant
· B.S. Tennessee State University, 1964
· M.S. Memphis State University 1978
· Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Public Office
· Senate Member 89th through 104th General Assemblies
· Chairman Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee
· Member , Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee
· Member of Joint AD HOC Committee on Tenncare
· Member of Joint Council on Pensions & Insurance
Community Involvement
· Member of National Black Caucus Of State Legislators
· Lifetime member of NAACP

Kathryn I. Bowers, (D) Memphis
Posted: 5/26/2005 10:45:00 AM
Updated: 5/26/2005 12:09:21 PM
District 33 - Part of Shelby County

Biographical Information
· Divorced; two children
· Catholic; St. Paul
· Contractor business consultant
Public Office
· Senate member of the 104th General Assembly
· House member of the 99th through 104th General Assemblies
Community Involvement
· State Director for Women in Government
· YWCA of Greater Memphis
· Mid-South Chapter Alzheimer's Association

Ward Crutchfield, (D) Chattanooga
Posted: 5/26/2005 10:47:00 AM
Updated: 5/26/2005 12:10:21 PM
District 10 - Parts of Hamilton and Marion Counties

Biographical Information
· Born December 6, 1928, Chattanooga
· Married; two children
· Methodist
· Attorney
· Attended Clara Carpenter School
· Graduated Bright School
· Attended Battle Ground Academy
· Graduated McCallie School
· Attended the University of Chattanooga
· J.D. University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville 1951
· Member of Phil Alpha Delta Fraternity
· Honorable discharge from U.S. Army
· Licensed to practice law 1951-present
· Member of American Legion; Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association; American Trial Lawyers Association; Tennessee Bar Association; Temple Lodge; Scottish Rite; Alhambra Shrine Temple; High Twelve
· Former chairman of Metropolitan Government Charter Commission
Public Office
· Senate member of the 83rd and 84th and 94th through 104th General Assemblies
· House member of the 80th and 82nd General Assemblies
· Democratic leader of the 101st through 103rd General Assemblies
· Democratic Caucus Deputy Speaker
· Secretary of Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee
· Member of Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture
· Member of Senate Education Committee
· Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee 83rd and 84th General Assemblies
· Former Senate Democratic Caucus chairman
Community Involvement
· Former chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party 1970-84
· Attorney for Hamilton County Board of Education
· Former acting attorney for Hamilton County
· Chairman of the Hamilton County Legislative Delegation


J. Chris Newton, (R) Cleveland
Posted: 5/26/2005 10:49:00 AM
Updated: 5/26/2005 12:09:42 PM
District 22 - Meigs, Polk and part of Bradley counties

Biographical Information
· Born November 9, 1970
· Single
· Human Resources Manager
· B.S. in Political Science from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC)
· National Rifle Association
· Tri-State Trail and Tree Dog Association
· American Legislative Exchange Council
· Who's Who in American Politics
· Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities
· Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society)
· University of Tennessee Student Alumni Council
· UTC Student Government Association vice president
· Vice president of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
· UTC Admissions Committee
· Appalachian Sportsmen's Club
· Tennessee State Employees Association
Public Office
· House member of the 99th through 104th General Assemblies
· Chairman of the House Republican Caucus Communications Committee
· Member, House Finance, Ways and Means Committee
· Member, House Judiciary Committee
· Chair, House Constitutional Protections Subcommittee
· Member, House Criminal Practice & Procedure Subcommittee
· Member, Joint Select Oversight Committee on Education
· Member, Joint Tennessee Education Lottery Corportation Committee
· Member, Joint Lottery Oversight Committee
· Member, Joint Pensions and Insurance Committee
· Treasurer of 3rd Congressional District of Republican Party
Community Involvement
· Turtletown Ruritan Club
· Zone Governor Ruritan National
· Ducktown Lodge #241
· Polk County Republican Party, Past chairman
· Polk County Scottish Rite
· Shriner
· Polk County Farm Bureau
· Kiwanis Club of Cleveland



Roscoe Dixon, Former Senator
Posted: 5/26/2005 12:06:00 PM
Updated: 5/26/2005 12:21:40 PM
Former Senator, (D) District 33 - Part of Shelby County

Biographical Information
· Born Sept. 20, 1949 Gilmore, Arkansas
· Married
· Member of St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church
· Graduate of Hamilton High School
· B.S. University of Memphis
· Studied at University of Guanajuato, Mexico
· Served in U.S. Army
· Captain in Tennessee Army National Guard
· Past chair of Memphis Health Center
· Board Member for Operation P.U.S.H., Memphis
· Past chair and board member of Whitehaven Southwest Mental Health Center
Public Offices Held
· Secretary of Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee
· Member of Senate Education Committee
· Member of Government Operations Committee
· Member of Select Committee On Children and Youth
· Served on study committee on women's health issues and veterans affairs
· Served on Commission on National and Community Services
· Chairman, Black Health Care Commission
· National Chairman, National Black Caucus of State Legislators Health Committee
· House member of 93rd through 98th General Assemblies
· Senate member of 99th through 101st General Assemblies

[Fledermaus]

Yesterday was a heart-sickening day on the Hill.

Sorry Bobby Patray you idiot...it was THE GREATEST DAY IN A LONG TIME FOR TENNESSEE! Worthless crooks are going have to pay the price.

[Fledermaus]

"Pray for all involved"? You bet. I pray they die old in a federal prison.

[FreedomPoster]

It looked pretty good from here in GA.

Speculation yesterday was that the mayor of Memphis would also be arrested/indicted. I take it that hasn't happened?

[Fledermaus]

No. Lots of rumors were flying. You never know though.

[backhoe]

Here is what I could find on this subject:

  Lawmakers arrested In Federal Bribery Probe - (FBI sting; "your Gov't at work!")

 Official Indictment here. ( PDF format )

The accused:

    MORE STENCH IN TENNESSEE    Seven, Including Four State Lawmakers Arrested in Bribery Scheme    Legislators’ Court Arraignment and end of Session (Explosive allegation re John Ford)    There was an earlier thread on this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1410890/posts    Bill Hobb's blog for the latest and not widely reported happenings on this and all TN legislative news    It is interesting that the current investigations centered on Bad-Boy TN Sen Ford's "non-disclosure" of campaign funds. Click here for background. This sounds similar to Hillary's Hollywood Party problems.    This could shed a little light on what is happening.

Ongoing Investigation

17 posted on 05/27/2005 6:33:52 AM EDT by backhoe (-30-)

[Colonel Kangaroo]

A start, but there's still plenty of piglets left feeding off the taxpayers.

[Fledermaus]

ROFL, that's the truth.

[Luke]

Any day we can catch crooks is a good day!

[Wormwood]

However, the ugly part of this is how it will feed the public perception of "all those politician are just crooks."

Ahem...all those politicans are just crooks.

I can't think of a single politician who I would trust with my credit card on a three-day weekend.

They are *all* venal crooks and thieves. Even the ones I vote for.

Especially the ones I vote for.

[TexasTransplant]

Crooked Politicians should have to go see Joe in Arizona, eat the Bologna sandwich and live in a tent in the Desert on a chain gang.

Either that or they can run a gauntlet and if they survive a regular Prison stay could be won.

[Coldwater Creek]

We have plenty more of the same ilk as John Ford in Memphis, including a convicted felon on the city council.

Not only are the politions here crooked they are backed up by the black clergy.

Yesterday was a great start in the State of Tennessee to clean up.

[Nov3]

Yesterday was a great start in the State of Tennessee to clean up.

Having watched the Fords for many years I can say that if the trial is held here in Memphis - he walks.

[TASMANIANRED]

If they don't want to be painted with the same brush they need to be clammoring for prosecution.

[Coldwater Creek]

As I have said before this is a Federal trial and the jury pool will be drawn from a wide area. We can only hope.

[TexasTransplant]

>>> clammoring for prosecution<<<

I don't want clammoring! Iwant them to lead the charge, but since they are just as corrupt it would be a suicide mission.

[TASMANIANRED]

If they are as corrupt they need to suffer the same fate.

[TexasTransplant]

Sounds like you need a broom a flashlight and a can of Raid.

It is nearly as bad hear, even locally, folks will run for office get elected get one city project passed, take their kickback and then just quit and move away.

Not to mention the "Runners" (the Texas Chicken Demcraps that decided to flee instead of compete in the arena of ideas etc etc) I am not 100% sure but I believe the were on the Taxpayers dime while on their little Vacation.

[Nov3]

I hope you are right.