Thread: TN:Former Hamilton sheriff changes plea to guilty in extorti

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Federal officials also allege that Sheriff Long received five cash payments totaling $6,550 between Dec. 3 and Jan. 24, payoff for allowing what he thought was the laundering of $625,000 in drug trafficking proceedings. The operation, which supposedly involved shipping money to Mexico in cremation urns under cremated human remains, was actually an undercover sting conducted by the FBI.

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http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008 ... tortion-p/



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tennessean.com

May 6, 2008

Former Hamilton sheriff changes plea to guilty in extortion, drug case

Associated Press

CHATTANOOGA — Former Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long on Monday changed his plea to guilty on 27 of 28 counts of extortion, money laundering, drug and gun charges.

One count of possession of a weapon in the commission of a drug offense was dismissed under a plea agreement during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Harry S. Mattice.

Long, 56, was to have gone on trial May 13. He will be sentenced Aug. 18, and could get 10 years to life in prison.

Long was arrested Feb. 2 on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, extortion, money laundering, providing a gun to a felon and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He resigned after his arrest.

Long, a Democrat and career lawman, was elected sheriff in 2006.

At the 40-minute hearing Monday, Long smiled at his wife but said little.

"I hope to paint the true picture of Billy Long," defense attorney Jerry Summers told the court Monday.

Long remains in jail in Bradley County.

Mattice said he would await a pre-sentencing report before accepting or rejecting the plea agreement. The judge said it is "perhaps likely" that he will accept the agreement.

Court records show the FBI began investigating Long in April 2007, using an undercover informant and former felon identified by the Chattanooga Times Free Press as the Rev. Eugene Overstreet, a pastor and mortuary owner.

An FBI agent's affidavit says Long told agents that he was involved in drug trafficking, and that hours before his arrest he had loaded 10 kilograms or 22 pounds of cocaine into the trunk of a car.

Court records allege Long also accepted $17,400 from convenience store owners "to protect their video poker business and other illegal activity" such as products used to make methamphetamine, and threatened at least one for failing to "fulfill his campaign donation promise" to Long.

The affidavit also said Long accepted $6,550 to supposedly help launder drug proceeds.


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http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 009/NEWS02

This is just one more Tennessee story that links Mexico, drugs, money laundering, and the unfortunate fall of a law enforcement officer. How many more may be being tempted? How many more may be participating? Inaction does cause people to wonder.

Chattanooga, TN in Hamilton County and Bradley County, TN next door are falling prey to illegal immigration, drug cartels, gangs, murder, law enforcement corruption, document mills, and the other community effects from overcrowded housing, schools, medical facilities, etc.

Psalm 91

Story from next county (Bradley County). Sheriff of Chattanooga, TN Billy Long is being held there. Illegal immigration, drugs, human trafficking, money laundering, bootlegging, murder, gangs, document mills, are all happening and destroying Chattanooga and Cleveland,TN.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-114817.html

Psalm 91

Another one bites the dust . i wonder if the aclu will come running claiming it was his up-bring that caused him to good bad ? Hmmm