U.S. Department of Justice Office of the United States Attorney Western District of Tennessee For Further Information Contact: Leighn Anne Jordon Phone: (901) 544-4231 September 8, 2006

Memphis Police Officer Pleads to Information

Memphis-Tennessee- David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Memphis Field Office, Larry Godwin, Director of the Memphis Police Department, and Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division that Andrew Hunt, a former reserve officer with the Memphis Police Department pleaded guilty to conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights, robbery affecting interstate commerce, and using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

Hunt pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241, which makes it unlawful to conspire to deprive individuals of their civil rights, one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1951, which makes it unlawful to affect interstate commerce by robbery or extortion, and one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 924(c), which makes it unlawful to use a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime.

As part of his plea, the defendant acknowledged that a co-conspirator arranged to purchase a kilogram of cocaine from an individual known as "J.J." Andrew Hunt, while in uniform, on duty, and using a marked squad car, made a traffic stop of J.J. prior to the transaction and robbed him of $1,000 in cash, a $15,000 Jacob watch, and a cellular telephone. Hunt told J.J. he would return the kilogram of cocaine if J.J. produced $15,000 in cash. The next day, J.J. produced $9,500 and, following Hunt's instructions, deposited in a dumpster. Hunt took the money and did not return the cocaine.

The defendant further acknowledged that on September 12, 2005, a co-conspirator arranged the purchase of four kilograms of cocaine. Hunt, in uniform, armed, and driving a marked squad car, pulled over the men delivering the cocaine, Pedro Moreno and Victor Saucedo. Hunt and other co-conspirators then robbed the men of the cocaine and kidnapped them. When the men could not produce the ransom Hunt demanded, he arrested them for possession of 189.5 grams of cocaine and split the remainder of the four kilograms of cocaine with his co-conspirators.

Hunt agreed that his conduct violated federal law. He faces a minimum prison term of five years, and could be sentenced to a maximum penalty of life in prison.
In related matters, former Memphis police officers Arthur Sease, Antoine Owens, and Alexander Johnson were indicted earlier this month in a 50-count indictment charging conspiracy to violate civil rights, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, violation of civil rights, extortion, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime.

The investigation was conducted by the Memphis Police Department Security Squad and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Parker of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee and trial attorney Jonathan Skrmetti from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.