Three men indicted in corruption scheme

Harry S. (Sandy) Mattice, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, announced that a grand jury sitting in Chattanooga returned a five-count Indictment charging Gary Michael Brock, 41, and Jerry Giles Brock, 36, both of Chattanooga, with conspiracy to commit extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951. This violation of the Hobbs Act carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. They were also charged with four counts of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. Each violation of the mail fraud statute carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The gravamen of the charges concern an allegation that the Brocks, former owners of Brock Bonding Company, bribed a deputy clerk at the Hamilton County General Sessions Court to delete bond jumping cases from computers. The Indictment alleges that the Brocks sought to avoid having to pay the forfeiture by bribing the clerk, as well as to try to reduce their bond-ceiling limit. According to the Indictment, this conduct defrauded the General Sessions Court and deprived it of the honest services of its employee. In addition, the grand jury returned a four-count Indictment charging Darrin T. Webb, 39, of Ringgold, GA, area, with conspiracy, in violation of 18, U.S.C. §1951. This conspiracy allegedly involved fixing citations and performing other favors for Mr. Webb. Webb is also charged with one count of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. As in the Brock Indictment, the mail fraud scheme involves defrauding the Hamilton County General Sessions Court of money in connection with the bribery and defrauding the court of the honest services of its employee, the deputy clerk. In addition, Webb is charged with making a false statement to the FBI in which he allegedly denied ever making any payments to the clerk, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. The maximum penalty for this violation is five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Finally, Webb is charged with teaching and demonstrating the making and use of an explosive or a destructive device. He allegedly intended that the teaching and information be used for and in furtherance of an activity that constitutes a federal crime. It is also alleged that he taught other individuals how to create the explosive knowing that they intended to commit a federal crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842(p)(2)(A) and (B). The maximum penalty for each violation of this statute is 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This last count alleges that Webb taught and demonstrated the making and use of such an explosive in connection with a conspiracy and an attempt to commit arson at The Bay, a local nightclub in Chattanooga. These cases were the result of a joint investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, as well as task force officers from the Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department assigned to the federal agencies. Assistant United States Attorney Gary Humble is prosecuting the case. Mr. Mattice advises that the investigation is continuing. The public is reminded that indictments contain only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the burden of the United States to prove a defendant’s guild beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. For further information, contact U.S. Attorney Mattice or Assistant United States Attorney Gary Humble at 423-752-5140.