[Editor's Note: Phone numbers of fax and cell phones are being deleted here for purposes of privacy and possible abuse of fax and cell. ]
MEMPHIS MAYOR W.W. HERENTON's LETTERS TO U.S. ATTORNEY
GENERAL ALBERTO GONZALES AND TN GOV. PHIL BREDESEN
For Complaint from Gwen Smith .
To view Letters and Complaint in original document form
Below: Mayor W.W. Herenton's Letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales;
Letter to Gov. Phil Bredesen follows.
June 14, 2007 Via fax
The Honorable Alberto R. Gonzales
Attorney General
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Gonzales:
I have been made aware of a disturbing situation in Memphis, Tennessee, that requires the urgent attention of your office. A serious allegation has been made involving the coercion of a vulnerable private citizen to solicit false information for use in a concocted
scheme—the planned secret entry into a federal prison for the purpose of securing a false statement, and the procurement of a criminal indictment based on knowingly untrue information—all for the purpose of wrongfully influencing the outcome of a local election. (See enclosed letter from Gwen Smith to our local District Attorney William Gibbons). The most troubling aspect of this matter to me is the alleged involvement of the local offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the supervision of the United States Attorney.
This illicit plan was apparently concocted when a troubled young woman, Gwen Smith, sought to engage local attorney Richard Fields to represent her in a criminal proceeding pending in Nashville, Tennessee, stemming from an alleged probation violation. Ms. Smith asserts that, after agreeing to represent her, Fields preyed upon her and used his position of power and influence to abuse her sexually and to involve her in an on-going civil/criminal conspiracy designed to entrap African American leaders in the City of Memphis.
According to Ms. Smith, Fields told her that he was working with “benefactors” who are comprised of some of the most powerful, wealthy and influential citizens in Memphis. She also identifies as one of the benefactors an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation named Bob Reicht.
Apparently, Fields and his benefactors wanted Ms. Smith to do four (4) things. They wanted her (1) to seduce the Mayor of the City of Memphis, by any means necessary, and secretly videotape the encounter for their use; (2) to go to a federal prison and convince an inmate named Lambert to lie (for a lesser sentence) and state under oath that he had paid bribes to the Mayor of Memphis to secure the liquor license he obtained when he opened a club known as the Martini Room; (3) to obtain information regarding drug use and/or prostitution on Ralph Lunati the owner of several gentleman’s clubs in Memphis; and (4) to secretly gather information on any and all African American leaders and business persons that could be used by him and his benefactors to control them.
Fields reportedly advised Ms. Smith that the FBI agent, Bob Reicht, would secure her secret entry into the federal correctional facility, arrange the meeting with the inmate, Lambert, and handle all of the details of securing the false testimony from him.
Finally, when Ms. Smith reported all of these activities to me and local law enforcement officials, she had in her possession a supposedly “secret and sealed” indictment against Ralph Lunati and others that she obtained from Fields and federal authorities. This sealed indictment is now in the possession of local law enforcement officials.
A plot of this type is egregious if carried out by private citizens It is outrageous when carried out with the aid and assistance of federal authorities. If the allegations of federal involvement prove to be true the implications of these illegal activities are grave. Therefore, an investigation of this matter by your office is imperative and of the utmost importance.
These allegations must be taken seriously and should, respectfully, become a priority of the Justice Department. I and Larry Godwin, the Director of Police Services in Memphis, stand ready to assist you in any way possible and look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Willie W. Herenton
Enclosure
cc: David Kustoff, United States Attorney
The Honorable Lamar Alexander, United States Senate
The Honorable Bob Corker, United States Senate
The Honorable Steve Cohen, United States Congress
The Honorable Marsha Blackburn, United States Congress
BELOW: LETTER TO TN GOV. PHIL BREDESEN
June 14, 2007
Via facsimile Transmission and Express Delivery
The Honorable Phil Bredesen
Governor
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
Dear Governor Bredesen:
I have been made aware of a disturbing situation in Memphis that I believe requires the appointment of a special prosecutor by the Governor’s Office. I have received a copy of a complaint made yesterday by a private citizen against local attorney Richard Fields and asking local District Attorney General William Gibbons to investigate. (See enclosed letter from Gwen Smith to General Gibbons).
The complaint alleges that Mr. Fields coerced this citizen, Gwen Smith, to solicit false information for use in a scheme concocted for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a local election—the upcoming election for the Mayor of the City of Memphis. The issues implicated by the allegations made are of such concern to me that I have asked U.S. Attorney General Gonzales to open an investigation on the federal side.
This illicit plan was apparently concocted when this troubled young woman, Gwen Smith, sought to engage Fields to represent her in a criminal proceeding pending in Nashville, stemming from an alleged probation violation. Ms. Smith asserts that, after agreeing to represent her, Fields preyed upon her and used his position of power to influence to abuse her sexually and to involve her in an on-going civil/criminal conspiracy designed to entrap African American business and political leaders in the City of Memphis.
According to Ms. Smith, Fields told her that he was working with “benefactors” who are comprised of some of the most powerful, wealthy and influential citizens in Memphis. She also identifies one of the so-called “benefactors” as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation named Bob Reicht. Apparently, Fields and his “benefactors” wanted Ms. Smith to do four (4) things. They wanted her (1) to seduce the Mayor of the City of Memphis, by any means necessary, and secretly videotape the encounter for their use; (2) to go to a federal prison, entry to which was to be provided by the FBI agent, Bob Reicht, and convince an inmate named Lambert to lie ( for a lesser sentence) and state under oath that he had paid bribes to the Mayor of Memphis to secure the liquor license he obtained when he opened a club known as the Martini Room; (3) to obtain information regarding drug use and/or prostitution on Ralph Lunati, the owner of several gentleman’s clubs in Memphis; and (4) to secretly gather information on any and all African American leaders and business persons that could be used by Fields and his “benefactors” to control them.
When Ms. Smith initially reported all of these activities to be me and local law enforcement officials she had in her possession a supposedly “secret and sealed” indictment against Ralph Lunati and others that she obtained from Fields and federal authorities. This sealed indictment is now in the possession of local law enforcement officials.
A plot of this type is egregious if carried out by private citizens. It is outrageous when carried out with the aid and assistance of federal authorities for the purpose of influencing a local election. Because of the gravity of the allegations and the potential consequences to our electoral process, I believe that an investigation by a special prosecutor appointment by you is imperative and of the utmost importance. Larry Godwin, Director of Memphis Police Services and I stand ready to assist you in any way possible.
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Willie W. Herenton
Enclosure
c: William L. Gibbons, District Attorney General, Shelby County