Former county aide to serve 33 months { TN Waltz in Memphis }

Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 5/19/7 | Lawrence Buser

[SmithL]

An emotional Calvin Williams, once a top aide for the Shelby County Commission, apologized Friday for letting down those who have supported him over the years, but maintained he had done nothing wrong despite his conviction on bribery and extortion charges.

U.S. Dist. Court Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. disagreed, however, and sentenced him to 33 months in prison for accepting a $1,500 bribe to influence a 2002 urban renewal grant application.

Advertisement Mays called Williams "a good person who's done a really stupid thing, but the stupid thing is a very serious crime. Mr. Williams made a series of poor choices."

Still, Mays gave Williams the low end of the federal guideline range, rejecting the request of federal prosecutors to give him the high end of range, which was 41 months.

"He's done tremendous damage to elected officials and to the trust of the electorate," said federal prosecutor Tim DiScenza. "He's shown no remorse."

The case is one of a dozen in the FBI's Tennessee Waltz undercover investigation into public corruption.

A federal jury in January convicted Williams of accepting a $1,500 bribe to influence the commission's approval of a $100,000 grant for the Glenview Community Development Partners.

Williams said the payment was part of a legitimate business arrangement with political consultant and friend Tim Willis and that he exerted no influence over commissioners.

Federal prosecutors, however, played secretly recorded tapes of Williams boasting of being an important behind-the-scenes player. Willis was working as an informant for the FBI.

"They (prosecutors) made it clear to me that 'if you don't cooperate, we're going to drown you,' " Williams said after the sentencing. "Since 2002 there have been a lot of negotiations going on, but I'm not like that.

"I'm not going to ruin any more careers."

Williams, who remains free on his own recognizance, will be notified in about two months when and where to report to federal prison.

Federal prosecutors have won all four trials, including those of Williams, former state senators John Ford and Roscoe Dixon and former Hamilton County commissioner William Cotton in Chattanooga.

There also have been four guilty pleas since the investigation was revealed two years ago. Three trials are pending.

[SmithL]

Calvin Williams

[SmithL]

Don’t bother looking for party affiliation, because it isn’t mentioned. However, it is Shelby County, so you’re free to make assumptions.

Chris Newton was the only Republican caught in the Tennessee Waltz. He admitted that he did wrong, pleaded guilty without a plea deal, served his time, and is long since out of jail.

[razorback-bert]

Got one, many more to go.

[GailA]

Yes...bowers is next.