E-waste political corruption found
A two-year FBI investigation known as Tennessee
Waltz made use of an electronic recycling operation named E-Cycle
Management, Inc. to investigate corruption.
This investigation culminated in the indictment
of 10 people, including 5 present and former state lawmakers. Included
is former state senator Roscoe Dixon, who was found guilty of accepting
bribes in order to help change state law.
Witnesses testified that Dixon took $9,500 in
bribes from FBI cover E-Cycle Management, Inc. In return, Dixon
was supposed to help change state law to favor the FBI’s fabricated
electronics recycling business.
The defense argued that E-Cycle was set up to
entrap Dixon and others, and that the FBI informants were a bunch
of con men. Prosecutors, however, say that video tapes of the dialogue
and monetary exchanges between Dixon and E-Cycle management prove
that Dixon was predisposed to criminal conduct before meeting with
E-Cycle employees.
Dixon’s sentencing is scheduled for September
8, 2006. He could be facing up to 90 years in prison, but most estimate
that he’ll be in jail for fewer than 5 years.
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