Memphis, TN - Former Memphis City Councilman Rickey Peete was sentenced today to 51 months imprisonment based on his previous plea of 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, and My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Memphis Division.

Peete was indicted in this matter on December 19, 2006, and he was previously charged in a complaint unsealed on November 30, 2006. [See prior press releases: Complaints Unsealed Against Memphis City Councilmen Rickey Peete and Edmund Ford and Former Shelby County Commission Candidate Joe Cooper (Nov. 30, 2006), and Indictments Returned Against Memphis City Councilmen Rickey Peete and Edmund Ford (Dec. 19, 2006).] Peete pleaded guilty on June 20, 2007, to receiving cash payments to help secure City Council approval for a real estate development and a billboard alongside Interstate 240.

Today, Peete was sentenced by the Honorable Samuel H. Mays, Jr., United States District Court Judge, to 51 months imprisonment, a $100 special assessment and three years supervised release. This sentence was at the top of the Sentencing Guidelines range which the Court found was applicable in this matter. Peete will receive a notification from the Bureau of Prisons as to when and where he is to report to serve his sentence. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Peete has waived his right to an appeal of the sentence, and the proceedings against him are now concluded.

United States Attorney David Kustoff commented, "Most of our elected officials do a good job of representing their constituents in a fair and honorable manner. As an elected leader, Rickey Peete violated the trust of Memphians who entrusted him to serve city government. The sentence imposed by the Court is a severe penalty which is warranted. Mr. Peete pleaded guilty to committing virtually the same criminal conduct for which he was convicted almost 20 years ago. Justice was served today."
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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vivian Donelson and Tom Colthurst, with the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

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