Hooks pleads not guilty to bribery, extortion charges

Hooks, 54, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on charges he took $24,200 in bribes from undercover FBI agents in exchange for using his influence to help a fake company land a lucrative county contract.

Hooks appeared outside the federal courthouse in Memphis, but didn’t comment, The Commercial Appeal reported.

Prosecutors say Hooks took money from E-Cycle Management, a fake company set up by the FBI.

Hooks’ attorney, Steve Farese, said that like other Tennessee Waltz cases, it appears the government has audio and video evidence of his client accepting money. Hooks is scheduled to appear Sept. 22 before U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald.

Hooks has no current plans to resign from his commission post, Farese said.

“It’s been a personal struggle, but he is able to represent his constituents well,” he said.

The Tennessee Waltz investigation also netted charges against five current or former state lawmakers and two men described as “bag men” for those defendants.

Of those, former Republican state Rep. Chris Newton and bag man Charles Love, from Chattanooga, and Memphian Barry Myers have pleaded guilty.

Also indicted are Former Memphis Democratic Sen. John Ford; Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga; Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis; and former Memphis Democratic Sen. Roscoe Dixon.