Pubdate: Mon, 07 Mar 2005
Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Copyright: 2005 The Commercial Appeal
Contact:  http://www.commercialappeal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: Pamela Perkins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-OFFICER ADMITS CRIMINAL ACTS

Pleads Guilty To Drug, Prostitution Charges

A former Memphis police officer pleaded guilty Friday to eight counts
of drug and prostitution charges in exchange for minimal sentencing
and an agreement to cooperate with federal prosecutors.

Billy Scott, 28, former officers David Tate and John D. Vaughn, and
topless dancer April Veach were charged after an eight-month
undercover FBI investigation yielded bribery, drug, corruption and
civil rights violations charges.

Scott is the third of the four defendants to plea. All but Tate
have pleaded guilty. Tate's court date will be set after his mental
evaluation, said Leigh Ann Jordan, spokeswoman for the local U.S.
Attorney's office.

Scott could be sentenced to five years to life in prison and fined up
to $4 million. U.S. Dist. Court Judge Bernice Donald set Scott's
sentencing for March 3, 2006.

In arranging Scott's plea, prosecutors also agreed to drop two
drug-related counts.

That left eight counts that involve charges of aiding Tate in
transporting FBI agents posing as prostitutes to gamblers at Tunica
casinos and protecting couriers taking Ecstasy and high-grade
methamphetamine to a "buyer" in Tunica. He is also accused of using
his position to violate the rights of wrestler Jerry Lawler by
conspiring to steal $200,000 from Lawler's East Memphis home.

Tate, the son of WREG-TV anchorman Jerry Tate, was charged with taking
bribes to tip off topless club owners about police raids and other
charges similar to Scott's. Veach was charged with conspiring with
Tate.

According to Scott's statement in his plea, Tate became involved with
people thought to be drug traffickers during the summer and recruited
Scott. Scott later recruited Vaughn, his brother-in-law.

At one point in his statement Scott said he was "quite enjoying this"
as it reminded him of his favorite movie, "Blow." The 2001 movie is
about a cocaine smuggling operation.

At Tate's bond hearing in December Scott testified he was to be a
lookout during the Lawler burglary but backed out because "it wasn't
right."

Tate, an 18-year veteran, resigned from the police department Nov. 21
after his arrest. Scott and Vaughn had been on administrative leave
with pay. But Vaughn resigned Jan. 24 and Scott resigned Feb. 8,
according to police department spokesman Sgt. Vince Higgins.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin