jlmiracle

UPDATE! Four Tennessee lawmakers arrested amid Ford investigation By staff and wire reports May 26, 2005 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Federal authorities indicted four lawmakers, a former lawmaker, and two others as part of a corruption probe into the business dealings of state Sen. John Ford of Memphis. Those charged were Ford; state Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis; state Rep. Chris Newton, R-Benton; state Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga; and Roscoe Dixon, a former state senator who is now a top aide to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton. Advertisement Former Sen. Roscoe Dixon was also indicted, as were two "bag men" - Charles Love and Barry Myers. The indictments were part of a sting called "Tennessee Waltz," and began with numerous reports that a number of public officials welcomed bribes in exchange for help passing legislation. According to indictments released Thursday, Ford took $55,000 from representatives of a bogus company called E-Cycle, to help the company pass legislation that would give the company an edge in its field. The fake company was based in Atlanta and reportedly was in the business of disposing of used electronic equipment. According to the indictments, Ford told a representative of E-Cycle who approached him about passing a bill to favor the company: "You are talking to the guy that makes the deals." The indictment also outlines several threats Ford made to undercover FBI agents, telling one on March 11, 2005, "that if he caught someone trying to set him up, he would shoot that person, kill them, so that there would be no witnesses." TBI agents were reportedly inside Ford’s downtown office Thursday morning, but there was little activity outside. Meantime, Shelby County spokeswoman Debby Hall said county officials are preparing a statement on Dixon’s status. Dixon, a former legislator, works as a top aide for Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton. Wharton is in Washington state on business. "We hope it will bring back some of the trust back to state government," said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn. The arrests happened as the Tennessee General Assembly was trying to wrap up debate on the state budget and adjourn the session by Friday. Gov. Phil Bredesen met with Senate leaders after they got news of the arrests, several of which happened early Thursday in Nashville. Sen. Joe Haynes said Bredesen told the leaders that no more lawmakers were to be charged in the case. The governor told the lawmakers that he had been briefed on the investigation early in the day by FBI and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents. "It's a sad day for the state of Tennessee. It's a sad day for the Legislature," said Senate Speaker Pro Tem Micheal Williams, R-Maynardville. The Tennessee General Assembly had been trying to wrap up debate on the budget and adjourn the session by Friday. Newton and Bowers have said they were interviewed earlier this month by FBI agents about Ford Newton said he was asked about Ford's dealings with TennCare contractors, including a contract worth $429,000 with Doral Dental, and about legislation he had sponsored or co-sponsored with Ford, including one bill that would allow companies to buy and sell used electronic equipment from the state. During the close of the session Wednesday, Newton asked to withdraw that bill from the House. Ford, charged with taking $55,000 Dixon, charged with taking $9,500. Bowers, charged with taking $11,500. Crutchfield, charged with taking $12,000. Newton, charged with taking $4,500. The bill would have required state government to route surplus computer and electronic equipment to local schools districts. It also required that any equipment the schools didn't need be disposed of by a qualified electronic recycling company. Love, a registered lobbyist and principal in Charles Love & Associates in Chattanooga, said last week that he lobbied legislators on behalf of E-Cycle Management, even though records show he was not registered to work for that firm. Sponsors of the legislation were Ford, Bowers, Newton, Crutchfield and six other lawmakers - Rep. Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis; Rep. Charles M. Sargent, R-Franklin; Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis; Rep. Paul Stanley, R-Germantown; Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville; and Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland. Rep. Frank Buck, D-Dowelltown, who sponsored a raft of legislative bills dealing with lawmaker and lobbyist ethics reform this year, said he didn't have firsthand knowledge of the arrests but had suspected that more than just Ford might be involved in questionable deals. "It doesn't surprise me. It would be hard to believe that it was limited to one body (Ford)," Buck said. "That kind of conduct has no place around here." Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

UPDATE The legislators were arrested on sealed indictments handed down by a federal grand jury in Memphis. Sources said the arrests were based on violations of the Hobbs Act, which is a type of extortion. Some searches were conducted in the Capitol Building in Nashville. One legislator, Frank Buck, (D) Dowelltown, said he was surprised to see fellow lawmakers being led out in handcuffs. There will a news conference at the U.S. attorney’s office in Memphis detailing the charges against the legislators at 11 a.m. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

this guys has used campaign funds to pay for his daughters wedding. he has 2-3 familes. He keeps 2 households (one with his wife and kids and one with his girlfriend and kids) - neither is in his district. He also has another child from another woman. He let all his friends and family use his govt issued fed-ex account number for all the personal shopping needs and said that is just part of the perks of being a senator. and then there is the Tenncare things and the daycare scams, etct.... UGGG! I get so pissed off thinking about him!!!! j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

John Ford is a scum sucking pig and should have been arrested along time ago. J Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

that is correct - according to the jumper. j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

It is an addiction, good angle! Now do they have treatment centers? judy Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

If you look for Laverne Davis Road in Somerville, TN 38068, it will bring you to the correct road on msn. Laverne Davis only goes one way - look for the skydiving sign with the .22 holes in it. Judy Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

If he is referring to whom I think he is referring to he is correct using the "c" word. Good Luck Rhino! Be strong. Judy Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Could you at least send Spencer? I miss him. oh and you too skidmark. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

but group membership does not have ANY insurance. It makes no sense. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Why couldn't they? anyone can operate a dropzone at a public airport with the approval from the airport board. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Billy, what property damage occured when charlie did this? j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

yes Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

In the winter I'm going to make a giant green house or move somewhere warm. j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I have a few "killer" barn swallows that swoop me when I'm in the front yard by their nest, but they are just going to have to get over it. j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I've got Cherry tomator around my patio. In the garden I have roma, big boy, salsa (a new tomato from burpee), super steak, mtg lifter, parks whopper, and better boy. I have habenero peppers, Jalepeno Peppers, Jalepeno M's, Anaheim TMR 23, Hungarian Wax, and sweet peppers. (I like to make salsa) I also have okra (which I think is gross but the hubby likes it), cucumbers, 2 different egg plants, pole beans, summer squash, zucchini, and razeberries. I think I will quit my job and open a roadside farmers market. j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I have no problem requiring education, I'm just concerned if we are listening to the "right" people that have the right information. At one point seperation was taught or was an accepted practice by the 45 degree angle BS and we know that doesn't work, although some of the "experienced seasoned" jumpers out there still bring it up. I'm also concerned of ANOTHER additional cost to new jumpers. The cost of learning to skydive now is considerably higher than when I started. When we have new canopies out - Who is going to teach us how to fly them if they are new? Who and how are they going to gain the experience to fly these canopies. When I bot my safire, it took alot of trial and ERROR to land that puppy and it is a pretty forgiving canopy. No one told me it was going to be so difficult to land because no one knew. j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Hooknswoop, I agree education is the first step too, my question is, is there enough GOOD information, reliable information that can be taught and is there enough qualified people to teach it. Can we keep up with the new technology? I remember when I first started skydiving and the little elipitcal canopies were starting to come out and there landing them was all pretty much guess work. Judy Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Nope, no skydiving injuries, but mowing the lawn has become very hazardous for me. Judy Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

When they kick my seat I slap the parents or ask the flight attendant to remove the problem (loudly). That's not fair Billy, I'm jealous! j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Yep and some nieces and a grand nephew now too. I love them dearly but don't any of my own! I have these rants every so often but decided noise reducing head phones was the answer (at least on the airplane). j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I love it when people compare apples to sheepdogs. Do you have anything constructive to add? It was a simple question. Ron answered it. Do you want to debate something? Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Ron - what would be safer for the jumper a wore out big canopy with no flare or a slightly small zp canopy that isn't wore out. Just curious what your opinion is. j Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

thank you, i did a search on midget there, but nothing popped up. I'm really glad its not true. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I don't know if this is true - the link looks legit but I'm overwingloading my brain right now and don't know how to make a clicky link. From the BBC Website May 2nd. Lion Mutilates 42 Midgets in Cambodian Ring-Fight An African Lion much like this is responsible for the death of 28 Cambodian Midgets Spectators cheered as entire Cambodian Midget Fighting League squared off against African Lion Tickets had been sold-out three weeks before the much anticipated fight, which took place in the city of Kâmpóng Chhnãng. The fight was slated when an angry fan contested Yang Sihamoni, President of the CMFL, claiming that one lion could defeat his entire league of 42 fighters. Sihamoni takes great pride in the league he helped create, as was conveyed in his recent advertising campaign for the CMFL that stated his midgets will "... take on anything; man, beast, or machine." This campaign is believed to be what sparked the undisclosed fan to challenge the entire league to fight a lion; a challenge that Sihamoni readily accepted. An African Lion (Panthera Leo) was shipped to centrally located Kâmpóng Chhnãng especially for the event, which took place last Saturday, April 30, 2005 in the city’s coliseum. The Cambodian Government allowed the fight to take place, under the condition that they receive a 50% commission on each ticket sold, and that no cameras would be allowed in the arena. The fight was called in only 12 minutes, after which 28 fighters were declared dead, while the other 14 suffered severe injuries including broken bones and lost limbs, rendering them unable to fight back. Sihamoni was quoted before the fight stating that he felt since his fighters out-numbered the lion 42 to 1, that they “… could out-wit and out-muscle [it].” Unfortunately, he was wrong. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.