Tenn. lawmaker pleads guilty to bribery

Tenn. lawmaker pleads guilty to bribery

	Published : Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:11 By : Agencies Print this Story

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A veteran state senator pleaded guilty to bribery Thursday, admitting he took $3,000 in FBI money during a statewide corruption investigation.

Sen. Ward Crutchfield, 78, was one of five current and former state lawmakers charged in the FBI sting code-named Tennessee Waltz, and the only one to remain in office. His trial was scheduled to begin Monday.

In return for the Chattanooga Democrat's guilty plea, a more serious charge of extortion was dropped by federal prosecutors.

'I have read the (plea) agreement, and I accept responsibility,' Crutchfield told U.S. Judge J. Daniel Breen.

Defense attorney William Farmer, characterized the money that Crutchfield admitted taking as a 'gratuity' rather than a bribe.

'They gave him a gratuity -- thanks for all your help -- long after he had already agreed to support this bill,' Farmer said outside court.

Tennessee Waltz indictments were returned in May 2005, charging the five with taking payoffs from a company called E-Cycle Management, which turned out to be a creation of the FBI.

His attorney, William Farmer, said Crutchfield, who has served in the General Assembly for 31 years, plans to resign 'in due time,' before the Legislature returns to session in January.

Crutchfield still will be eligible for his $42,000 annual pension because his membership in the state's retirement system predated changes in the law to strip benefits from convicted lawmakers.

He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, though federal guidelines for a first-time offender would call for a much lighter sentence. Sentencing was set for Nov. 28.

The indictment against Crutchfield accused him of splitting $12,000 in bribes with a so-called 'bagman' and former lobbyist, Charles Love. Love pleaded guilty and was to testify against Crutchfield at trial.

Crutchfield, who has a law practice in Chattanooga, said after the hearing that he hopes to remain in public service. 'I'm going to continue to try to help people,' he said.

Crutchfield was first elected to the state House in 1956 and served 14 terms in the Senate. He was Senate Democratic leader for six years until losing a caucus vote about five months before the Tennessee Waltz investigation became public.

'It is our hope that this does not obscure what was a record of noteworthy public service. Senator Crutchfield represented the people of his district with distinction for a very long time,' Democratic caucus chairman Joe Haynes said in a statement.

Prosecutors say the Tennessee Waltz investigation is ongoing.

In all, 11 people have been indicted on Tennessee Waltz charges, including several officials in Memphis and Chattanooga.

Of the other four former lawmakers, one was convicted of extortion and bribery and is serving a five-year prison sentence. Another spent nine months in prison, and a third is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 10. Former Sen. John Ford, the most prominent of the defendants, was convicted of bribery and is scheduled for sentencing July 31.