Memphis, TN - Former Memphis City Councilman Rickey Peete pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). This announcement was made today by David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Memphis Division, and Andrew Dimond, Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA's Memphis Resident Office.

Peete was indicted in this matter on December 19, 2006, and he was previously charged in a complaint unsealed on November 30, 2006. Peete pleaded guilty to receiving cash payments to help secure City Council approval for a real estate development and a billboard alongside Interstate 240.

In the plea agreement filed today, Peete agreed that his sentence should be within a range of 41 to 51 months, which is the final Sentencing Guideline range (as computed by the parties). The Court must decide whether to accept the agreement after a presentence report is prepared by the Probation Officer. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 20, 2007.

The case against Peete was a multi-agency project. The investigation of the individual who ultimately cooperated in the undercover operation resulting in the case against Peete was conducted by the DEA's Memphis Resident Office in partnership with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. That was part of a series of investigations labeled Operation Clean Sweep. The subsequent investigations of public figures - including Peete - have been termed Operation Mainstreet Sweeper and are being conducted by the FBI's Memphis Division.

The case against Peete is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Colthurst and Vivian Donelson, with the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

Operations Clean Sweep and Mainstreet Sweeper are continuing investigations.

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