Pubdate: Sat,  8 Jun 2002
Source: Clarksdale Press Register (MS)
Copyright: 2002, Clarksdale Press Register
Contact:  http://www.pressregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1656
Author: James Jennings

TOMPKINS PEADS GUILTY TO EXTORTION  CHARGE

Clarksdale Police Sgt. James Tompkins pleaded guilty to extortion Thursday. 
Tompkins appeared before U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson of the 
Northern District of Mississippi in Oxford.

"It's sad that we have to prosecute one of our own," said Assistant U.S. 
Attorney Robert Norman after the hearing. "But we have to clean our own house."

As part of the plea agreement, Tompkins pleaded guilty to one count of 
extortion. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed not to 
charge Tompkins with any other offenses arising from the extortion incident.

The agreement contained no sentencing recommendation, but Tompkins faces up 
to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. He will remain free on 
bond until his sentencing hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

According to court records, Tompkins conducted a traffic stop of a 
Clarksdale woman on Jan. 11. He told her the police had videotapes of her 
committing some sort of drug violation. Tompkins then told her he could 
have the tapes destroyed for between $3,000 and $4,000. The woman reported 
the incident to Police Chief Steve Bingham on Jan. 14, and, while she was 
meeting with Bingham, Tompkins called her on her cell phone demanding 
money. Bingham listened in on the conversation and recognized Tompkins' voice.

Bingham notified Mississippi Highway Patrol investigators, and the woman 
was provided with a tape recorder and $1,000 in marked bills. She met with 
Tompkins and gave him the money. He told her the money was well spent by 
naming some interstate cocaine traffickers who had avoided prosecution.

Immediately after the meeting, Tompkins was arrested and the $1,000 
recovered. He confessed to extorting the money for his own use.

"It's sad that it happened, but at the same time, we're sworn to uphold the 
law, not break the law and become party to something like that," Bingham 
said Thursday. "That became our job."

FBI Special Agent John Lavoie, who worked on the case after the arrest, 
commended the Clarksdale Police Department for moving forward with the 
case. "Some departments would have looked the other way," he said. "This 
one didn't."

Bingham would not comment on whether or not Tompkins agreed to cooperate on 
any related investigations.
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