State Sen. John Ford jailed as part of bribery sting

Received by Newsfinder from APMay 27, 2005 0:27 Eastern Time * Editors Note PMs; WILL be led * Photo Advisory TNMEM501 TNMH101-103, TNMH601, 105, WSX603-604 By TERESA WASSONAssociated Press WriterNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ State Sen. John Ford spent the night in jail awaiting a detention hearing today in Memphis on charges of taking $55,000 in bribes from a sophisticated but sham company. With stunning suddenness, Ford, three other lawmakers and a former legislator were arrested Thursday as part of a two-year probe nicknamed “Tennessee Waltz” after the classic country weeper detailing lost love. The lawmakers were arrested and handcuffed in Nashville in the waning days of a General Assembly session dominated by ethics issues. Ford, a patriarch of a political dynasty in Memphis, also was charged with threatening to kill potential witnesses in the case. The indictments issued in Memphis allege the legislators took bribes while shepherding bills through the General Assembly for a company that purported to be a recycler of outdated computer equipment. But the company, E-Cycle Management, was an elaborate fake set up by the FBI. The false company had a Web site, a storefront location in Memphis, hosted a reception for lawmakers with live music and made campaign contributions, according to news reports. It was about 10 blocks from the FBI office in Memphis. The payoffs continued through April while the General Assembly was in session, and the indicted lawmakers were sponsoring legislation on behalf of E-Cycle, authorities said. “Public corruption is a high priority,” Memphis prosecutor Terrell Harris said of the probe prompted by an anonymous complaint. The others charged are Sens. Kathryn Bowers and Ward Crutchfield; state Rep. Chris Newton; and former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon, who resigned later Thursday as a top aide to the Shelby County mayor. Newton is a Republican, and the others are Democrats. The indictment also named two people who are not lawmakers: Charles Love, a lobbyist from Chattanooga and member of the local school board, and Barry Myers, a Memphian who was a candidate to temporarily replace Dixon in the Senate. Each is charged with acting as a go-between for the lawmakers and the company. The arrests marked the biggest corruption indictments in Tennessee since the 1990 Rocky Top gambling scandal that led to several indictments and suicides by two public officials, including the secretary of state at the time. “If these charges are proven, it will be a sad and difficult day for our state,” Gov. Phil Bredesen said, adding that the indictments “cannot help but shake the confidence of the people of Tennessee.” The indictment directly quotes some of those charged, indicating the evidence includes secret tape recordings by undercover agents or witnesses cooperating with the probe. Ford is quoted as saying when asked by a company representative if he needs anything, “Yeah, send me a little money.” Ford had already been fighting other ethical charges this year. The state recently fined him $10,000 for spending campaign money on his daughter’s wedding, and state and federal authorities were looking at whether he took money from companies trying to win state contracts. A state investigation released Thursday indicated he lobbied Tennessee officials on those companies’ behalf. Bowers, Crutchfield and Newton were released on their own recognizance Thursday after appearing before a federal magistrate in Nashville. Said Bowers, “I guess I’m feeling as well as could be expected.” Newton would not comment on the charges, but Crutchfield said he was innocent. If convicted on all six charges, Bowers faces a maximum penalty of 110 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine. Newton and Crutchfield are both named in two counts, and each faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. If Ford is convicted on all five charges, he could be sentenced to 60 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine. Dixon could get 90 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine if convicted on all five charges. Myers faces 11 charges and could get 200 years in prison and a $2.75 million fine if convicted. Federal sentencing guidelines would likely result in much lighter sentences. The federal charges say the scheme unfolded this way: It began in June 2003, when Myers told an unidentified individual that Bowers needed to be paid to support legislation. Demands for specific payoffs didn’t start until March 2004, when Myers and Bowers, then a state representative, began telling E-Cycle that she needed $3,000 to support bills for the company. She was paid off at her home that month. Ford was the next involved, telling an E-Cycle representative who approached him about introducing legislation, “You are talking to the guy that makes the deals.” Ford made his first demand for cash in July, telling E-Cycle it needed to pay him $3,000 to $5,000 a month. He got a series of payoffs until April 8. Love got involved July 30, telling E-Cycle he could get the support of Crutchfield and Newton in exchange for money. The payoffs to them began in September when Love was paid $6,500. He funneled $2,000 to Crutchfield and $750 to Newton. Both would be paid more later. At one point, Love and an E-Cycle representative gave an envelope containing $2,000 and marked with Crutchfield’s initials to the senator’s Chattanooga secretary when they arrived there for a meeting. The secretary, who wasn’t named, told Crutchfield, “He was mighty nice to us today.” Dixon also became involved on July 30 through Myers. The payoffs totaled $55,000 to Ford, $12,000 to Crutchfield and Love, $11,500 to Bowers and Myers, $9,500 to Dixon and Myers, and $4,000 to Newton and Love. State law allows the lawmakers to continue to serve even though indicted. After they were released by the court, Newton, Crutchfield and Bowers returned to their jobs on Capitol Hill. ___ Associated Press writers Woody Baird in Memphis, Matt Gouras, Lucas L. Johnson II, Colin Fly and Rose French in Nashville and Bill Poovey in Chattanooga contributed to this report.