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State Sen. Jerry Cooper indicted on three federal felony charges
 State Sen. Jerry Cooper was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Chattanooga on three felony counts stemming from his role in a land deal that has already led to two people's convictions. Cooper, D-Morrison, is accused of bank fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud. He could face as much as 65 years in prison and more than $2 million in fines if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.Cooper has agreed to surrender himself to be arrested "sometime next week," the U.S. Attorney's office said in a news release. Cooper's attorney, Jerry Summers of Chattanooga, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Federal prosecutors allege that Cooper conspired with other people to defraud BankTennessee of Collierville - which Lt. Gov. John Wilder co-owns - by providing a false appraisal of Cooper's woodworking plant in Smartt, Tenn. The appraisal said the property had a railroad spur that did not actually exist. Posted by: Fred 2006-08-23 |
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