Pubdate: Tue, 16 Aug 2005
Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN)
Copyright: 2005 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.
Contact:  http://www.knoxnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226
Author: J.J. Stambaugh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

COCKE JAILER QUITS, PLEADS GUILTY TO LAUNDERING

FBI Subpoenas Records Of Deputy Under Probe

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - A Cocke County jailer resigned four hours after
pleading guilty to a single count of attempted money laundering Monday
in federal court.

Also Monday, a Cocke County Sheriff's Department official confirmed
that the FBI has taken the personnel file of Deputy Christopher Smith
as well as a videotape of a traffic stop he was involved in.

"(The FBI) do have it," said administrative assistant Deborah
Gregg. "They subpoenaed that."

Smith has taken a leave of absence from the department pending the
outcome of an internal affairs investigation. Officials have declined
to discuss the substance of the probe.

Two sheriff's department employees have been arrested in recent weeks
by state and federal authorities who are investigating public
corruption and organized crime in Cocke County.

One of them, 20-year-old Derrick Lynn Cureton, left the federal
courthouse Monday morning a convicted felon who could end up spending
the next two decades of his life in federal prison.

Although the former jailer may get probation, U.S. District Judge J.
Ronnie Greer made it clear that he could sentence the corrections
officer to 20 years behind bars.

After Greer explained the potential penalties to Cureton, he asked the
officer if he still wanted to plead guilty to a one count-information
filed by prosecutors.

"Yes, sir," Cureton replied.

Cureton was arrested at the Cocke County Jail last month. He was
accused of conspiring in July 2004 with former sheriff's deputy Larry
Joe Dodgin, 26, to smuggle $80,000 in cash they believed to be illegal
drug money and $250,000 in counterfeit bonds.

The scheme, however, was an undercover sting operation by FBI agents
operating in three different states, according to court records.

The two officers and an unidentified third person allegedly drove the
cash to Atlanta, where an FBI agent put the fake bonds and cash into a
secret compartment installed in a car the agent provided to them. They
next traveled to Miami in the two vehicles and gave the money and
bonds to a pair of undercover agents posing as drug traffickers.

Dodgin was paid $2,000 for the trip and Cureton was paid $1,000,
records show.

Dodgin was arrested June 17 after trying to buy $60,000 worth of
cocaine from an undercover FBI agent in Dandridge. He pleaded guilty
to that offense and is cooperating with authorities.

Cureton, who admitted his guilt in court Monday, will remain free on
$25,000 bond pending a Dec. 5 sentencing hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Smith said Cureton could be sentenced to
probation or up to 20 years in prison. Cureton also faces a maximum
fine of $250,000, he said.

Greer explained to Cureton that, by pleading guilty to a felony, he
was losing many of his citizenship rights including the right to vote,
the right to hold public office and the right to possess "any kind of
firearms."

As part of his plea agreement, Cureton promised to cooperate "fully,
truthfully and completely" with investigators and to testify before a
federal grand jury or in other court proceedings.

Sheriff's department spokesman and jail administrator Michael McCarter
said Cureton tendered his resignation Monday afternoon.

McCarter described Cureton's case as a tragedy and stressed that
illegal drug activity affects "educators, firefighters and every
profession and every field."

According to McCarter, Cureton was a dependable employee who impressed
his co-workers.

"Bad choices will ultimately lead you on a path you'll regret,"
McCarter said. "It's tragic to see. This was a shocker."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin