Posted on 10/13/2006 10:27:37 AM PDT by SmithL
MEMPHIS — A former state senator convicted of bribery says he took payoffs on an installment plan and should face a lighter prison sentence than prosecutors suggest.
At issue is whether former Sen. Roscoe Dixon, D-Memphis, took a single bribe or several.
Dixon, 57, was scheduled for sentencing Friday on his conviction in the FBI investigation code named Tennessee Waltz. He is the first of five current or former state lawmakers to go to trial on Tennessee Waltz charges.
The five bribery and extortion charges on which Dixon was convicted in June carry a statutory maximum of 90 years in prison, but federal guidelines will call for a much lighter sentence for a first-time offender.
The guidelines, based on a mathematical formula, could be increased or decreased depending on how many bribes Dixon got and the total amount of the payoffs.
Prosecutors contend Dixon and a co-defendant took multiple bribes totaling $15,500. Dixon contends there was one bribe totaling $9,500.
Although he got money "periodically," it was for a "single purpose," Dixon said in a filing with the court. "This conduct is similar to installment payments," he said.
The Tennessee Waltz scandal rocked the state Legislature when indictments were made public last year and led to a special session on ethics reforms.
The investigation focused on an FBI front company, E-Cycle Management, which sought government help in setting up business in Tennessee. The investigation has led to charges against 11 defendants, including several local officials in Memphis and Chattanooga.
Dixon was convicted of pushing for a proposed change in state law to give E-Cycle a business advantage. That, he said, was a "single purpose," no matter how many payoffs he got.
He also contends that one $6,000 payment the government wants included in the sentencing calculation was made before the time covered by his indictment.
Four Tennessee Waltz defendants have pleaded guilty, while Dixon and a former Hamilton County official were convicted at trial. The rest are awaiting trial.
Dixon testified in court that overzealous federal agents and two former friends tricked him into taking FBI money.
One of those friends, Barry Myers, is awaiting sentencing on a guilty plea to being a payoff bagman for Dixon and former Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis.
Dixon's trial jury saw video clips of him taking cash from Myers and FBI informant Tim Willis.
Former Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, pleaded guilty to taking E-Cycle bribes and is serving a one-year prison sentence. William Cotton, a former Hamilton County commissioner, was convicted at trial and sentenced to three years.
Bowers, D-Memphis; Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, and former Sen. John Ford, D-Memphis, are scheduled for trial next year.
Too funny. Paying bribes on the installment plan.
Oh, I see. That's different. Well then, sentence him to 30 years -- but not all at once. Do it in three 10-year "installments". Back to back.
Was the FBI payoff found in his freezer, or in a casket at the Ford funeral home?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.