Bribery attempts spawn investigation

An investigation that began in Blount County more than a decade ago culminated last Tuesday as local law enforcement and F.B.I. agents served arrest warrants on operators and associates of massage parlors across the United States. The investigation, initiated by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office in 1990, found ties to massage parlor operations as far away as Korea and Thailand. In Blount County, seven people are named in federal warrants at several spas. Blount County Sheriff’s investigators began looking into the massage parlor operations when spa owners or their representatives attempted to bribe local law enforcement and judicial officials. One of those approached in the early 90’s was Sheriff James L. Berrong. “I was amazed that someone actually had the nerve to come into the courthouse and ask me to break the law,” says Berrong. “Once I realized what they were asking, I simply got up and escorted them out of my office.” While Berrong ended the conversation quickly, he also met with Detective Lieutenant Jim Widener after learning that spa owners were also approaching other officials. “Judge Bill Brewer came to me when he was approached and offered a bribe,” says Berrong. “At that point, Lieutenant Widener and I asked him to help us widen the investigation.” To confirm the legitimacy of the bribery attempts in 1997, investigators wired Blount County General Sessions Judge William Brewer with recording equipment to see if the spa intermediary would carry through with the offer. Once the deal was completed, Widener immediately contacted the F.B.I. By early 1998, District Attorney General Mike Flynn took the spa cases before a Blount County Grand Jury. The jury returned indictments, but a few months later Flynn dismissed the case at the request of the U.S. Attorney. “Federal investigators realized the far-reaching implications of the spa network,” says Attorney General Mike Flynn. “It’s been a long time in coming, but I am pleased to see this investigation finally paying off. We worked extremely hard and then had to be very patient. This makes all the work and waiting worthwhile.” On Tuesday, July 23rd, the investigation culminated with the service of federal arrest and search warrants at four spas in Blount and several others in surrounding counties. The warrants were executed by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and the F.B.I.