The Dance is Over

Bribery. Bagmen. Crooked politicians. Ethical lapses. All ugly terms that were part of an FBI public corruption case that began six years ago and recently came to a successful close. Last month, the undercover sting known as "Tennessee Waltz" (coincidentally, also the official state song), ended where it started: a contractor working in Shelby County Juvenile Court Clerk's Office was sentenced for his role in a corrupt invoice scam, accepting money for work never performed. He was the 12th and final subject brought to justice in the case. Tennessee Waltz was a landmark investigation: it not only led to the convictions or guilty pleas of a dozen state and local public officialsincluding several state senators, a state representative, two county commissioners, and two school board membersbut also to new state ethics laws and the creation of an independent ethics commission in Tennessee. It began in May 2002, when the Memphis office of the FBI opened an investigation into reports of fraud and corruption in the Juvenile Court Clerk's Office. One of the individuals questioneda well-known lobbyist who was consulting for that office admitted to wrongdoing and agreed to cooperate and wear a wire to record conversations with suspects. It wasn't long before the lobbyist was approached by an employee in the office who claimed to be a close acquaintance of several state legislators. The employee advised the lobbyist that he was a "bagman" for these politiciansand that, in exchange for money, these lawmakers would vote on legislation that would benefit the lobbyist's clients. The corruption investigation then expandedfrom local government to the state legislature. In the fall of 2003, an undercover operation was launched to address what appeared to be a widespread public corruption problem. As part of the operation, the FBI set up a fictitious company that recycled surplus electronic equipment to third world countries. They let it be known that they wanted legislation that would benefit their company, and they wanted exclusive contracts with local governments. The undercover agents offered bribes to individuals whobased on information believed would take them...and they did. And then they told their colleagues, who in some instances took bribes as well. Some of the corrupt politicians even introduced legislation that the FBI drafted (but no legislation was ever passed). All told, more than $150,000 in bribe money was paid out by the time the undercover portion of Tennessee Waltz ended in 2005.