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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2006
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United
States Attorney's Office
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION |
Former County Commission Chairman Pleads Guilty
Memphis, TN - David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Memphis Division, announce today that Michael Hooks, Sr., former Chairman of the Shelby County Commission pleaded guilty to one count of taking bribes to influence official duties in the Shelby County Commission. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2006.
“Violation of the public trust by government officials defies the confidence that citizens expect from their representatives. The public should have the confidence that their government is not for sale. Moreover, elected officials should understand that they are held to the same standard of the law as everyone else. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the strength of the Government’s case against former Shelby County Commissioner Michael Hooks. Michael Hooks admitted in open Court that he violated that public trust in his capacity as a member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Hooks took complete responsibility for the illicit and unlawful actions as alleged in the indictment. The case against Michael Hooks arose from Operation Tennessee Waltz, a public corruption investigation of public officials. Operation Tennessee Waltz continues to be an ongoing, active investigation into public corruption of elected representatives and other government officials,” said U. S. Attorney Kustoff.
A two count indictment was returned on August 30, 2005 which alleged that Hooks received $24, 200 in bribes in order to use his influence to obtain county contracts for a FBI undercover corporation.
This case is a result of an undercover operation, code named Tennessee Waltz, from 2003 to the present, which was led by the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Tim DiScenza and Lorraine Craig are prosecuting the case for the government.
Note: An indictment is an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.