Posted on 07/16/2007 7:14:34 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The last of five lawmakers indicted in an undercover public corruption probe dubbed Tennessee Waltz pleaded guilty Monday to bribery.
Former state Sen. Kathryn Bowers, 64, a Memphis Democrat, pleaded guilty to one federal count accusing her of splitting $11,500 with an accomplice who served as a go-between with FBI agents posing as dishonest businessmen. She had insisted for two years that she was innocent.
"I needed to go on and admit that I'd made some mistakes so that I can go on and try to move on with my life," Bowers said outside court.
In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped five more serious charges of extortion, each carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The bribery charge carries a maximum 10-year prison term and a fine of $250,000, though federal guidelines would call for a much lighter sentence for a first-time offender. Sentencing was set for Oct. 24.
Defense lawyer William Massey said Bowers' plea agreement did not include a sentencing recommendation but she hoped to persuade U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla to go easy on her.
"She made a mistake. She did. She's admitting that, but she's done a lot of good things and she's been a good person," Massey said.
The Tennessee Waltz investigation began in 2004 and was built around E-Cycle Management, a fake company set up by the FBI supposedly to buy and resell used government computers. The company offered bribes to local officials for government contracts.
Four sitting lawmakers and one former legislator were indicted in May 2005, setting off a scandal that led to changes in state ethics laws.
Prosecutors said Bowers was one of the first lawmakers to fall for the FBI sting and helped undercover agents posing as E-Cycle representatives make contact with other legislators. She resigned from the Senate last year, citing poor health.
In all, the Tennessee Waltz investigation has led to indictments against 11 defendants, including several local officials in Memphis and Chattanooga. Including Bowers, 10 of those charged were convicted, and a former member of the Memphis school board awaits trial.
U.S. Attorney David Kustoff declined to comment but said the investigation continues.S. District Judge Jon McCalla to go easy on her.
"She made a mistake. She did. She's admitting that, but she's done a lot of good things and she's been a good person," Massey said.
The Tennessee Waltz investigation began in 2004 and was built around E-Cycle Management, a fake company set up by the FBI supposedly to buy and resell used government computers. The company offered bribes to local officials for government contracts.
Four sitting lawmakers and one former legislator were indicted in May 2005, setting off a scandal that led to changes in state ethics laws.
Prosecutors said Bowers was one of the first lawmakers to fall for the FBI sting and helped undercover agents posing as E-Cycle representatives make contact with other legislators. She resigned from the Senate last year, citing poor health.
In all, the Tennessee Waltz investigation has led to indictments against 11 defendants, including several local officials in Memphis and Chattanooga. Including Bowers, 10 of those charged were convicted, and a former member of the Memphis school board awaits trial.
U.S. Attorney David Kustoff declined to comment but said the investigation continues.
From what I can tell, bits and pieces of Favors district is split between the GOP seat and the Crutchfield seat. Favors’ predecessor was a White Dem, and it isn’t overwhelmingly Dem. The Black district I was referring to is the heavily Black one represented by Tommie Brown (a woman).
I don’t know Killian’s affiliation, but it being Marion County, I’d presume it was Dem. South Pittsburg is a small town and it’s more likely the seat would go to someone from urban Hamilton County.
Hamilton County Republicans say they will recruit a candidate, but have no specific names mentioned.
Umm, is it their coercion through churches and unions? How about the Sundquist connection that started the investigation that never seems to penetrate his RINO skin? The FBI definitely has a bee in its bonnet on this one, which means much more to come. The spirit of Buford Pusser apparently still walks this land and that's a damn good thing.
No telling where all their money connections come from. Businesses, churches, unions, maybe space aliens. Of course, their punishment administered from our late and much lamented lawdawg would be the equivalent of a wet noodle wrap on their wrists rather than a 2x4 upside their heads. Oh, if only he hadn’d died, had he become Governor, he’d have exposed their crooked network nearly 30 years ago. Imagine having had back to back Republican Governors of Buford Pusser and Elvis Presley ! That sure as hell beats Blanton and Lamar!, ugh.
deberry On a party-line vote, the Democrats on the House Ethics Committee decided not to investigate Lois DeBerry for accepting $200 in gambling money from E-Cycle Tennessee Waltz
12 arrests; 11 convictions, guilty pleas, expected to plead guilty; 1 awaiting trial
Kathryn Bowers, former state senator, scheduled to plead guilty Monday
Darrell Catron, former juvenile court aide, pleaded guilty, awaits sentencing
William Cotton, former Hamilton Co commissioner, convicted, serving three years
Ward Crutchfield, state senator, pleaded guilty Thursday, awaits sentencing
Roscoe Dixon, former state senator, convicted, serving five years
John Ford, former state senator, convicted, awaits sentencing
Michael Hooks Jr., former Memphis city school board member, awaits December trial
Michael Hooks Sr., former county commissioner, pleaded guilty, begins 26 month prison term Friday
Charles Love, former Hamilton County school board member, pleaded guilty, awaits sentencing
Barry Myers, consultant, pleaded guilty, awaits sentencing
Chris Newton, former state representative from Cleveland, pleaded guilty, served one year The LONE Republican
Calvin Williams, former county commission aide, convicted, sentenced to 33 months
Whew! Thanks for that information. And I thought NC had the corner on corruption in the Southeast......guess not.
I think the corruption goes on in every city and town in every country in the world...politics is corrupt by nature it seems.
Memphis has more than it’s share of corruption...dems have been in control for decades. Not that some republicans don’t get greedy and corrupt, but by far it is the dems who do the most. Another Ford, Edmund is now under federal indictment in the MLG & W scandal...the family just keeps on giving...so far JUNIOR hasn’t been caught with his fingers in the cookie jar unless you count using campaign funds to buy extremely expensive suits.
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