Tennessee: Gambling Addict at heart of corruption investigation?

Although Gambling Addiction appears unsubstantiated at this time, this ongoing investigation appears to be a matter of long standing involving government corruption.

Shelby County Commissioner Got Calls About Corruption In Millington, Prior To TBI Raid

But there is talk around town of the Mayor's mounting debt and talk of a gambling habit and funneling of money through the Public Works Department. At this point it is all just talk. But County Commissioner Terry Roland, who represents Millington, ...



Officials search city offices in Millington for evidence of possible misconduct
By Kevin McKenzie

After the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Shelby County County District Attorney's Office shocked Millington city government on Wednesday with search warrants in a probe of official misconduct, the waiting began.

"It's hard to react until you know all the facts," said Mike Caruthers, a Millington alderman.

A spokesman for the district attorney's office gave no hint of what the facts may be but said the scope of the search for evidence of possible misconduct by public officials stretches beyond the city limits of Millington.

"Not only here, but throughout Shelby County," said Vince Higgins, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, offering limited information to reporters outside Millington's City Hall on Wednesday.

The gathering of evidence revealed an investigation, but no details about it or even if criminal indictments or charges will follow.

State investigators and Shelby County Sheriff's Office deputies swept into Millington on Wednesday with search warrants and several white, cardboard file boxes for holding evidence.

A complaint to the district attorney's office in December 2010 triggered the probe, Higgins said.

The raid on city offices arrived the day after Millington Mayor Richard Hodges' wife, Rita Hodges, 68, reportedly took her own life in the couple's home not far from City Hall, according to police.

Hodges was stunned by the timing. He said he felt the decision to press the investigation Wednesday was deliberate, coming right after the death of his wife.

"Oh, yeah, there's a connection," Hodges said. "This day wasn't planned six months ago."

Asked why he believes the search warrants were served Wednesday, Hodges said, "To try to break me down."

The state district attorney's investigators arrived at City Hall and separate facilities housing the departments of planning and public works. A morning staff meeting was in progress at the police department when search warrants were served and undisclosed evidence gathered.

Public Works Director Jack Huffman confirmed that investigators arrived at his department at 8:15 a.m. and "went through every piece of paper down there."

The authorities locked the doors and wouldn't let city personnel out, Huffman said.

"They said we hadn't done anything wrong, don't get upset, that they just wanted to look through some records," he said.

The investigators did not take any records with them, Huffman said.

However, the TBI and district attorney's office teams collected undisclosed items in several white file boxes they carried away.

The Transmission Doctors, a private transmission repair business on Easley at Wilkinsville, also was a focus of the state investigators. Building permits for the business were among the evidence gathered in the city's planning department. A reporter seeking comment at the business was asked to leave the property.

Hodges and the apparent owner of the transmission business, Marlin T. Roberts, have financial as well as civic ties.

In his 2011 statement of disclosure of interests with the Tennessee Ethics Commission, Hodges listed Roberts as a loan holder that the mayor owes.

The subject of official misconduct by the mayor arose earlier this year in a leaked memo that Memphis attorney Ted Hansom prepared for several Millington police officers. They were upset by the higher pay given to at least one officer hired after Hodges took office in January 2009.

Prompted by the memo, an investigation by the city attorney found no evidence that Hodges had offered the police officer a job in exchange for the work during his election campaign. However, the April report reprimanded the mayor for violating a policy that would have prevented the higher pay.

The news of the raid drew the attention of residents who have been critical of City Hall or various issues, including Rhonda O'Dell, 45, the city's former storm water manager who was let go when the new budget year began this month.

"People are not tolerating this anymore," O'Dell said of public corruption in Shelby County and nationwide.

At the counter in Millington's City Hall, Tracey Boldien, 45, said she moved to neighboring Tipton County from Memphis last spring because she was sick of corrupt politicians and high taxes, among other things.

Sheriff's deputies guarded the door of the Millington mayor's office as a group of investigators nearby in the City Hall lobby gathered the evidence collected. Television crews recorded the scene.

"I'm thinking I'm getting away from corruption," Boldien said, "and apparently I'm not."

-- Kevin McKenzie
Staff reporters Tom Bailey and Chris Conley contributed to this article.