Sheriff Billy Long Arrested by FBI

Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long was arrested this morning by the FBI for allegedly taking "what he was told were payments from ethnic Indian store owners to protect their video poker business and other illegal activity."

Long was arrested on charges involving federal bribery, money laundering, providing a firearm to a felon and other offenses.

Long will appear in court today at 3 p.m. at the United States District Court and police say more charges are likely to come.

U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE NEWS RELEASE

Hamilton County Sheriff, William "Billy" Horace Long, was arrested today in Chattanooga by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on charges involving federal bribery and other offenses. This arrest was announced by FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Richard Lambert, and United States Attorney James R. "Russ" Dedrick.

Long's initial appearance is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 2, 2008, in United States District Court in Chattanooga, before the Honorable William B. Mitchell Carter, United States Magistrate Judge.

The details of the charges, which include: Hobbs Act Extortion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code 1951; Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956; and, providing a firearm to a felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d), are outlined in the arrest warrant and supporting affadavit (click beneath "Associated Links"), which are attached to this press release and are filed as public records in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

In summary, the affidavit alleges that beginning on April 3, 2007 and continuing until December 14, 2007, the Sheriff accepted 12 payments totaling $17,400, representing what he was told were payments from ethnic Indian store owners to protect their video poker business and other illegal activity. Thereafter, the FBI introduced the Sheriff to what he believed was a drug trafficking and money laundering operation.

Beginning on December 3, 2007, and continuing until January 24, 2008, the Sheriff accepted five cash payments totaling $6,550, representing his payoff to a Cooperating Witness (CW) supposedly laundering $625,000 in drug trafficking proceeds. United States Attorney Dedrick stated that the United States will seek additional charges related to Saturday's arrest by the FBI.

United States Attorney Dedrick said, "Law enforcement corruption cannot be tolerated and must be dealt with quickly and professionally. Local, state and federal agencies must work together and rely on each other to protect our citizens and to insure a safe environment. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, its deputies and staff, have worked effectively to support these ideals in the past and I am sure will do so in the future."

FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Lambert said, "More than any other crime, it is public

corruption that tears most at the fabric of democracy. When the desire to make money overshadows the duty to serve, not only is the fidelity of government threatened, but our very way of life is jeopardized. It is for those reasons that public corruption is the FBI's top criminal investigative priority."

The Hobbs Act, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, provides that "whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires to do so, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall be fined no more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. The statute further defines "extortion" as used in this section as "the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence or fear, or under color of official right."

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(3) provides in relevant part: "Whoever with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity conducts or attempts to conduct a financial transaction involving property represented to be the proceeeds of specified unlawful activity, or property used to conduct or facilitate specified unlawful activity, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 20 years or both."

Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d) provides; "It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person -- is under indictment for, or has been convicted of any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year." The maximum penalty is ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Federal law provides for fines in the amount of $250,000 for each violation of the Hobbs Act, the firearm statute, and the money laundering statutes; and, a mandatory special assessment of $100 for each felony conviction and restitution to victims.

Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Dedrick expressed thanks to SAC Lambert and the FBI agents for their hard work and dedication to the investigation and to his Assistant United States Attorneys and staff for their support of the FBI's investigation.