TWO FORMER MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICERS INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY

Memphis, TN - Grand jury indictments were unsealed against Joshua Graham and Maurice Lloyd announced Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Larry Godwin, Memphis Police Director, My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Mark Luttrell, Sheriff of Shelby County.

Maurice Lloyd, age 26 and a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, was charged in a three count indictment with conversion of government property valued at more than $1,000.00 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 641. This section of the federal criminal code makes it a crime to steal or embezzle government property or to convert government property to the use of another. Violations of the statute are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of up to $250,000.00. According to the indictment the violations occurred on July 10, 2008, July 29, 2008, and September 9, 2008. At the time the charged violations occurred, Lloyd was an officer with the Memphis Police Department.

Joshua Graham, age 26 and a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, was charged in a one count indictment with making a false statement to FBI agents in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 1001(a)(2). This section of the federal criminal code makes it a crime to knowingly make a materially false statement about a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the federal government. Violations of this statute are punishable by imprisonment for up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000.00. According to the indictment, the false statement was made on April 18, 2008, and involved a statement concerning a previous conversation about stolen merchandise. At the time he made the statement Graham was an officer with the Memphis Police Department.

“The public has the right to trust those who are called to protect them and the citizens of Memphis can rest assured that The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting any law enforcement officer who violates that trust,” said Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

“The FBI continues to aggressively pursue corruption at every level within local government. The Tarnished Blue Task Force is but one method through which we are able to utilize the resources of our partnership with the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Today’s apprehension marks the 46 th arrest of a law enforcement officer made by the Tarnished Blue Task Force to date,” says My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-Memphis Division.

“The Memphis Police Department continues to work with local and federal agencies to investigate criminal behavior by law enforcement officers. Through Tarnished Blue, we will continue to play an active role for the successful prosecution of criminal cases. Under this administration, you have heard me say many times that we are accountable and we must take 100% responsibility for our actions. If those actions are criminal in nature, you will face the proper criminal charges and the consequences thereof.”

The cases were investigated by the Tarnished Blue Task Force, an interagency task force sponsored by the FBI- Memphis Division and staffed by investigators from the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI-Memphis Division. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Murphy of the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

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