Edmund Ford 
Rickey Peete
Posted on 12/01/2006 4:00:02 AM PST by mcg2000
With a hidden video camera rolling, Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford allegedly pocketed a $1,900 payoff from a government informant in October, then promised results.
"I'll drum up seven (votes) or make somebody walk out."
That was among allegations levied Thursday against council members Ford and Rickey Peete, who were arrested by FBI agents on federal bribery charges accusing them of accepting thousands of dollars from an informant in exchange for their votes.
In the second major local public corruption investigation in two years, authorities say secret audio and video recordings show the pair received cash payments -- $12,000 for Peete and $6,900 for Ford -- for their support of a real estate development and billboard approved by the council on Oct. 3.
The federal investigation, dubbed "Main Street Sweeper," comes amid the prosecution of politicians statewide in the FBI's Operation Tennessee Waltz.
To date, 15 public officials or aides have been charged in the investigations.
"In the book of public corruption ... this is another sad chapter," said My Harrison, FBI Special Agent in Charge.
Both investigations are open and ongoing, according to U.S. Atty. David Kustoff.
The Ford family now has defendants in both investigations.
John Ford, the brother of Edmund Ford, is awaiting trial in a Tennessee Waltz case alleging he took $55,000 in bribes for his support of a bill in the legislature sought by FBI agents posing as crooked businessmen.
Peete was convicted of accepting bribes in connection with another real estate project during a previous term as councilman in 1989, when he extorted $1,000 from a developer for his vote in a land-use case.
Peete, who served 30 months, was re-elected in 1995 and was chairman of the council in 2002. He now serves as chairman of the council's planning and zoning committee.
"When I was first elected, Rickey got indicted the first time," said councilman Jack Sammons. "To see this happen again is an absolute tragedy, because Rickey is a bright and talented guy. It is beyond my imagination why he would put his personal and family welfare at risk for what is referred to on the street as chump change."
In another federal charge announced Thursday, perennial political candidate and businessman Joe Cooper was accused of money laundering in a separate investigation called "Clean Sweep."
Sources said Thursday that Cooper, who was convicted in 1977 on bank fraud charges, was the confidential informant in the cases against Ford and Peete.
Peete had an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance.
Several hours later, Ford made his initial appearance, also before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diane Vescovo, and was released.
Attorneys Handel Durham and Michael Scholl, who represent Peete and Ford respectively, said they would have no comments until they review the evidence with their clients.
Cooper will make an initial court appearance today.
According to the affidavit concerning Peete, an informant who represented clients as a lobbyist before the City Council had an ongoing relationship with Peete in which he made cash payments for the councilman's influence.
The informant, who was facing federal criminal charges, agreed to cooperate with agents of the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The informant allegedly paid Peete a total of $12,000 over three occasions in September and October of this year.
Peete serves as executive director of the Beale Street Merchants Association. During meetings at Peete's office on Beale, he directed the informant to "use the bathroom," where cash payments of $3,000 to $5,000 were left on the sink or on a toilet, authorities said.
According to the affidavit, Peete repeatedly expressed concerns about law enforcement investigations, once asking if he had to worry about "those folks ... alphabet boys."
On a sheet of paper, Peete wrote down "FBI."
The informant allegedly also paid Ford a total of $6,900 on three occasions in August and October at Ford's business, E. H. Ford Mortuary.
On Oct. 3, the City Council voted 9-2 in favor of the billboard project, overturning the recommendation of the Land Use Control Board and the Office of Planning and Development.
"Your thing worked out good, didn't it?" Ford later told the informant, according to the affidavit.
Ford also helped in the ultimate repeal of a moratorium on billboards.
Cooper's money-laundering charges are based on his receipt of $3,500 in cash and a money order as partial payment toward the purchases of automobiles by drug dealers.
The complaint said the charges arose from a long-running narcotics investigation that has already resulted in indictments charging 26 defendants.
Cooper served on the Shelby County Quarterly Court, the predecessor to the County Commission, from 1972 to 1977. He resigned after being convicted of conspiracy to misapply bank funds. He served four months in prison.
City Atty. Sara Hall said the City Charter does not require the immediate removal of elected officials charged with a crime. But Hall said she would advise that Ford and Peete not participate in votes while their cases are pending.
Edmund Ford Rickey Peete
Looks like Tennessee dodged a bullet when it didn't elect a Ford to the Senate.
Let me guess.
Since I was unable to find a SINGLE reference to their political affiliation in the article above (unless I misssed it) I am going to assume these YOUTS were DEMOCRATS.
If they had been Republicans, we would have read it in the FIRST word of the article, as in: "REPUBLICAN Councilmen were..."
Good point there rlmorel.
Is it any wonder the lame stream media is losing readership and viewership with their bias?
Lie, Cheat, and Steal...
F O R D= For Our Retirement Dummy!
LLS
With these Fords, "Corruption is job # 1!"
This statement by a fellow councilman reveals one of three things:
1. Complicity;
2. A lack of imagination; or
3. This small transaction is simply business as usual.
Note also how they avoided any mention of Harold Ford, Jr's family relatioinship with this particular Ford. Thank God we Tennesseans had the good sense to flush that t**d Ford in this election.
Some chump change here and some chump change there, and before long, were talking about some serious chump.
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