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Release [print
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The penalties for a violation of section 1951 are a maximum prison term of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000 and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years. The indictments also charge that Peete and Ford violated 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(B). Under this statute, it is a crime for an agent of a local governmental agency that receives more than $10,000 in Federal assistance in a year to solicit or accept a bribe in connection with a transaction or series of transactions of that agency involving any thing of value of $5,000 or more. The penalties for a violation of section 666(a)(1)(B) are a maximum prison term of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000 and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years. These indictments result from multi-agency cooperation in a series of investigations. The affidavit supporting the complaint against Cooper alleges that the case against him arose from a long-running narcotics investigation that has already resulted in indictments charging 26 defendants. Those charged in the other cases include a Shelby County Deputy Sheriff and a Shelby County Deputy Jailer.2 The investigation of Cooper and the related investigations of drug dealers were conducted by the Memphis Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The investigations of Peete and Ford -- which as alleged in the indictments utilized Cooper's assistance -- were conducted by the FBI’s Memphis Division, with assistance from the DEA and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Colthurst, Vivian Donelson and Larry Laurenzi, with the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Charges brought against a person through an indictment are accusations only. That person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. In addition, the fact that a matter is under investigation is not a reflection on the guilt or innocence of any person. Operation Mainstreet Sweeper is a continuing investigation. # # # # 1 See prior US Attorney’s Office press release: Complaints Unsealed Against Memphis City Councilmen Rickey Peete and Edmund Ford and Former Shelby County Commission Candidate Joe Cooper (Nov. 30, 2006). 2 See prior US Attorney press releases: Complaint Unsealed in Drug Conspiracy Case Charging Eight Defendants, Including a Shelby County Deputy (October 25, 2005); Complaint Filed Against Deputy Jailer Charging That She Stored Cocaine at Her Residence (December 6, 2005); Superseding Indictment Unsealed after Arrests in Cocaine and Marijuana Conspiracy Case (August 4, 2006). |
