Veteran federal prosecutor Joe Murphy is the new first assistant in the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s office, U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant announced Monday, July 9. He succeeds Larry Laurenzi, who retired in May to join the government enforcement and investigations group at Baker Donelson. Murphy comes to first assistant from being chief of the office’s criminal division and before that chief of the organized crime and drug enforcement task force.

2. Murphy Appointed New First Asst. US Attorney - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Veteran federal prosecutor Joe Murphy is the new first assistant in the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s office, U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant announced Monday, July 9. He succeeds Larry Laurenzi, who retired in May to join the government enforcement and investigations group at Baker Donelson. Murphy comes to first assistant from being chief of the office’s criminal division and before that chief of the organized crime and drug enforcement task force.

3. Last Word: The Jenkins Ruling, No More City Court Clerk and Harwell's Quest - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Making your early voting plan for Friday’s debut of the voting period in advance of the Aug. 2 election day? Well, you might want to hold off until after Tuesday morning. That’s when the latest changes could get set in stone … or not.

4. Last Word: The Heat and The Memphis Identity and Stackhouse to Grizz - Monday, June 11, 2018

What is it that draws us to social events outside when it is this hot? This is a topic where the specifics counsel against generalities. So it could be argued that the beckoning of summer heat – pre-summer heat in this case – that smothers you after greeting you like a brick wall at any door opening is an indication of the degree to which you are of Memphis.

5. Laurenzi Joins Baker Donelson After Long Career as Prosecutor - Monday, June 11, 2018

Larry Laurenzi describes himself as a “litigator” – meaning much of his 35-year career in the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s office was about the courtroom – going to trial or preparing to go to trial.

6. Last Word: One for Graceland, Randy Boyd in Millington and Green Eyeshades - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

From the distance of 50 years – half a century – it’s hard to relate what it was like to grow up in the 1960s – in particular the year 1968 in a city that figured prominently in the year’s turbulent trajectory.

7. Last Word: Veto Override Drama, Iran Reaction & Rise of the Rest Meets Soundways - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Shelby County Commissioners have a busy committee day Wednesday with a budget presentation – county mayor Mark Luttrell’s final one as the county’s chief executive, more discussions about the Graceland plan and a veto override.

8. Senate Confirms Dunavant As U.S. Attorney - Monday, September 18, 2017

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Tipton County prosecutor Mike Dunavant as the new U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, based in Memphis with offices in Jackson, Tennessee.

9. Dunavant Confirmed As U.S. Attorney - Friday, September 15, 2017

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Tipton County prosecutor Mike Dunavant as the new U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, based in Memphis with offices in Jackson, Tennessee.

10. Bates Family Members Sentenced in Ponzi Scheme - Saturday, September 9, 2017

The last two members of former Tennessee lawmaker Larry Bates’ family who were convicted of swindling investors out of $21 million in a gold-and-silver investment scheme have been sentenced.

11. Last 2 Bates Family Members Sentenced in Ponzi Scheme - Friday, September 8, 2017

The last two members of former Tennessee lawmaker Larry Bates’ family who were convicted of swindling investors out of $21 million in a gold-and-silver investment scheme have been sentenced.

12. Last Word: The Old Auto Inspection Station, Beale Field Trip and Re-Democrating - Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has a different version of his 2016 plan to build two youth development centers for juvenile offenders to go to instead of detention at the Wilder Youth Development Center in Somerville. About a year ago, Herenton had tentative plans for two of the New Path centers in Shelby County that would be centers where the offenders could live.

13. Former Deputy Indicted for Trying to Kill Witness - Saturday, July 22, 2017

Former Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Drewery has been indicted by a federal grand jury for trying to hire someone to kill a witness in another federal court case. Before his termination, Drewery had been assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force.

14. Former Deputy Indicted for Trying to Kill Witness - Monday, July 17, 2017

Former Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Drewery has been indicted by a federal grand jury for trying to hire someone to kill a witness in another federal court case. Before his termination, Drewery had been assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force.

15. Tipton County DA Dunavant Nominated as US Attorney - Wednesday, June 14, 2017

President Donald Trump has nominated District Attorney General Mike Dunavant of Tipton County as the new U.S. attorney for West Tennessee. And he could be close to nominating a new federal district judge for West Tennessee as well.

16. Tipton DA Dunavant Nominated As U.S. Attorney For Western District - Tuesday, June 13, 2017

President Donald Trump has nominated District Attorney General Mike Dunavant of Tipton County as the new U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee.

17. Bates Gold-and-Silver Fraud Case Includes Big Numbers - Wednesday, May 10, 2017

At the end of a five-week trial in Memphis federal court this month, a jury convicted a former Tennessee state representative turned religious prophet and gold-and-silver broker on 46 counts of fraud.

18. US Attorney’s Office Names Civil Rights Head - Saturday, May 3, 2014

Brian K. Coleman, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, will lead the civil rights unit of the prosecutor’s office.

Coleman was named to the post Tuesday, April 29, by U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton, as unit chief Larry Laurenzi moved to the post of first assistant in the office.

19. US Attorney’s Office Names Civil Rights Head - Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Brian K. Coleman, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, will lead the civil rights unit of the prosecutor’s office.

Coleman was named to the post Tuesday, April 29, by U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton, as unit chief Larry Laurenzi moved to the post of first assistant in the office.

20. Laurenzi to Head Local Civil Rights Unit - Saturday, January 12, 2013

Veteran federal prosecutor Larry Laurenzi is the new chief of the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Tennessee.

21. Laurenzi to Head Local Civil Rights Unit - Monday, January 7, 2013

Veteran federal prosecutor Larry Laurenzi is the new chief of the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Tennessee.

22. Campbell, DeCandia and Laurenzi: Finalists For Criminal Court Judge - Monday, August 27, 2012

Three prosecutors are the finalists for the Criminal Court Judge vacancy.

The Judicial Nominating Commission selected Deputy District Attorney General John Campbell, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean DeCandia and Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi as the finalists for the vacancy created when John Fowlkes won U.S. Senate confirmation as a federal judge.

23. Seven Apply to be Criminal Court Judge - Friday, August 3, 2012

Seven Memphis attorneys — four prosecutors from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office, two federal prosecutors and a corporate general counsel – have applied to be the new judge of Shelby County Criminal Court Division 6.

24. U.S. Attorney Announces Appointments - Wednesday, May 11, 2011

U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee Ed Stanton has completed a reorganization of the federal prosecutor’s office that began last year with the establishment of supervisors for criminal and civil appeals as well as the establishment of a civil rights unit.

25. City Kicked Into ‘Overdrive’ to Lure MEPPI - Monday, March 7, 2011

In February 2010, Memphis showed up in the No. 3 spot on that year’s ranking of “America’s Most Miserable Cities” by Forbes magazine.

It wasn’t publicly discussed at the time, but that undesirable attention also nearly spoiled Memphis’ effort to convince Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. to build a transformer manufacturing plant here. Ultimately, Memphis won the plant. MEPPI announced in mid-February it would build the facility at Belz Enterprises Inc.-owned Rivergate Industrial Park.

26. Drug Case Gets Stranger With Plea Revelation - Thursday, February 24, 2011

It is not unusual in Memphis federal court for a grand jury indictment to be sealed by a judge. And there are times when a guilty plea may be sealed.

But the revelation this week that alleged drug kingpin Craig Petties pleaded guilty over a year ago to 19 counts including murder for hire charges in Memphis federal court is unusual.

27. Owner of Cordova Company Admits Medicare Fraud - Monday, October 11, 2010

Michael E. Cohen, the owner of a Cordova orthotics company, has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare and is scheduled for sentencing in December.

He waived his right to indictment and entered into a plea agreement last month. U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi filed a charge against Cohen on July 23, following a more than year-long investigation.

28. Stanton Confirmed as US Attorney for West Tenn. - Monday, August 9, 2010

Four years ago at about this time, Ed Stanton was contemplating his political future. He had just run in the Democratic primary for the 9th Congressional district and lost.

As the winner of that primary and the seat, Steve Cohen, was claiming the party’s nomination for a third time Thursday evening, Stanton was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

29. Petties Indicted on Prison Weapons Charges - Friday, June 18, 2010

The alleged leader of the largest and most violent drug organization ever tried in Memphis federal court is accused of getting a weapon twice while in the Memphis Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) last fall.

30. Petties Faces New Charges In Prison - Thursday, June 17, 2010

Craig Petties, the alleged leader of the largest and most violent drug organization ever tried in Memphis federal court, faces new federal charges.

31. Court Cases Stay Steady in Q1 - Monday, April 19, 2010

The caseload for three of the four sets of civil courts in Shelby County remained about the same for the first three months of 2010.

Hospital liens remained a major category in Shelby County Circuit Court filings after emerging as a trend in 2009 caseload numbers, according to The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

32. UPDATE: Web Report Says Stanton May Be U.S. Atty. Nominee - Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Attorney Edward Stanton is undergoing a final background check to possibly become the new U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, according to www.mainjustice.com.

33. State’s Nuisance Law Helps Nab Three Memphis Cops - Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Three Memphis police officers could be indicted by a federal grand jury as early as today on conspiracy, bribery and extortion charges.

Timothy Green, Christopher Crawford and Michael Young were arrested Friday and charged in a complaint.

34. 2010 - Monday, January 4, 2010

Is it over yet? That may be the most frequently asked question in the New Year. “It” is the worst national economic recession since the Great Depression.

Accurately reading the indicators will not be easy. Some will predict the recession is about to end, just as new indicators point to continuing economic agony for thousands of Memphians.

35. Petties Drug Case Reaches Pivotal Juncture - Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The largest drug case ever presented in Memphis federal court reaches a critical phase today when U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi begins a series of meetings with attorneys for five of the nine defendants.

36. Timing Perfect For Holder’s Visit - Friday, July 24, 2009

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s stop in Memphis this week came at a critical time for U.S. Department of Justice operations in West Tennessee.

The U.S. Attorney’s office is awaiting the appointment of a new chief prosecutor by President Barack Obama. Local U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, and John Tanner, D-Union City, have been consulted by the administration, which took up residence seven months ago in the White House. Larry Laurenzi has been acting U.S. attorney since the resignation of David Kustoff took effect in May 2008.

37. Petties Drug Case Could Linger Into Autumn - Thursday, April 16, 2009

It could be the fall before prosecutors in the federal drug, racketeering and murder for hire case against Craig Petties and seven others make a decision on seeking the death penalty.

38. Questions Remain Unanswered in Ford-Lee Case - Friday, June 27, 2008

With a federal corruption case pending against him, Joseph Lee walked into the office of Kendall Investigations in Knoxville and met with former FBI special agent Kendall Shull. It was Oct. 16, 2007, and Lee – the former president and CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division – was there in an effort to clear his name. He had traveled to Knoxville to take a polygraph test at Shull’s office. Lee’s attorney, Robert Spence, said this week he had planned to somehow publicize the results of the polygraph – which Lee passed – to defend his client against federal bribery charges.

39. ‘Not Guilty’ Eclipses Week of Ford Trial Highlights - Friday, May 23, 2008

Outside the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays Wednesday afternoon, reporters waiting for word of a verdict in the Edmund Ford federal corruption trial reflected on memorable phrases uttered during the court proceedings.

40. While Acquitted Wednesday, Ford Still Awaits Separate Pay-for-Favors Trial - Thursday, May 22, 2008

Former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford wiped his eyes after a jury of seven women and five men acquitted him Wednesday afternoon on three counts of bribery and three counts of extortion.

The tears soon were replaced with vocal outbursts of joy. When reporters approached him for comment outside the courtroom after the verdict had been read, the former councilman threw his arms forward and boomed: “It’s over.” Speaking to reporters in the plaza area outside the federal building, the ex-councilman raised his arms in thanks.

41. Jury Deliberates In Ford Case - Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The jury in the corruption trial of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. deliberated Tuesday for about two hours before breaking for the night.

The panel of 12 got the case Tuesday afternoon, a week and a day after the trial opened in Memphis federal court before U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays. They return to work this morning.

42. Trial’s Outcome Likely to Follow Its Stars - Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Neither of the two principal players in the federal corruption trial of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Jr. will walk away from the trial unscathed.

The credibility of the government’s key witness, Joe Cooper, took a beating in the first week of the trial from defense attorney Michael Scholl. And Ford, who testified this week, couldn’t explain away to Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi the money he took from Cooper in recordings that are the heart of the government’s case.

43. Ford Takes Stand at Corruption Trial - Monday, May 19, 2008

Former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. took the witness stand late this morning at his federal corruption trial.

Ford, who was a volatile political presence at times during his two terms on the council, was calm throughout the hour-long direct examination by attorney Michael Scholl.

44. Ford Takes Stand at Corruption Trial - Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. took the witness stand late Monday morning at his federal corruption trial.

Ford, who was a volatile political presence at times during his two terms on the council, was calm throughout the hour-long direct examination by attorney Michael Scholl.

45. Ford Trial’s Nuances Appear Made for TV - Monday, May 19, 2008

Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi told a federal court jury last week that the trial of former City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. would, in part, be about “a corrupt environment” at Memphis City Hall.

46. Cooper Testifying In Ford Trial - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Former Shelby County Commissioner Joe Cooper will continue his testimony Wednesday in the federal corruption trial of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr.

Cooper, who took the witness stand late Tuesday afternoon, is the key government witness in the trial which is expected to last all of this week. When he met with Ford between August and November 2006, Cooper was cooperating with the FBI, recording the conversations and passing money provided by the FBI to Ford.

47. Opening Statements Get Ford Trial Under Way - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The defense and prosecution in the corruption trial of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. have given the jury in the federal case very different explanations for the money Ford is accused of having taken.

48. Jury Pool Expanded, Questions Thorough For Coming Ford Trial - Thursday, April 24, 2008

The corruption trial of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. will begin next month with a jury pool of 105 people. There will be lots of questions for the jury about their backgrounds and political views, but the questions won't be as direct as whether they are Republicans or Democrats or whom they have supported in what races.

49. Churchwell Trial Set for Mid-April - Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Dennis Churchwell, the one-time landlord of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford, is scheduled to go to trial April 14 on federal perjury charges.

U.S. District Court Judge Bernice Donald set the trial date last week and Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi estimated it will take about a week.

50. Churchwell Trial DateSet for April 14 - Friday, February 22, 2008
     An April 14 trial date has been set for Dennis Churchwell, charged with perjury in connection with the federal bribery case against former City Council member Edmund Ford Sr.
     U.S. Distri

51. Scholl Says Number of Trials 'Onerous' - Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The federal corruption cases involving former City Council member Edmund Ford have taken an unusual path through three grand jury reviews in a year's time.

In that time, Ford picked up a second set of corruption charges and a codefendant, former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee.

52. Ford’s First Trial Set for May - Monday, January 28, 2008

U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays Friday set a May 12 trial date for former City Council member Edmund Ford on corruption charges. But prosecutors and defense attorneys will try later to agree on a trial date for separate corruption charges involving Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee.

53. Ford’s First Trial Set for May - Friday, January 25, 2008

U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays today set a May 12 trial date for former City Council member Edmund Ford on corruption charges. But prosecutors and defense attorneys will try later to agree on a trial date for separate corruption charges involving Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee.

54. Grand Jury Returns New Indictments Against Ford, Lee - Thursday, January 10, 2008

A federal grand jury has returned new indictments against former Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee. Both men are the subject of pending federal cases involving charges of bribery and public corruption.

55. Grand Jury Returns New Indictments Against Ford, Lee - Wednesday, January 9, 2008

A grand jury has returned new indictments against former Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee. Both men are the subject of pending federal cases involving charges of bribery and public corruption.

56. New Insights Surface In Cooper Testimony - Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Joe Cooper gave an insider's account of the private deals, expensive favors and back room meetings now apparently commonplace in Memphis politics.

What the former Shelby County commissioner, car salesman, political consultant and now twice-convicted felon also alleged in a sworn statement Dec. 20 is that real estate developer Rusty Hyneman lied about being involved in one of those favors in a recent lawsuit.

57. Grand Jury Returns New Indictments Against Ford, Lee - Tuesday, January 8, 2008

A grand jury has returned new indictments against former Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee. Both men are the subject of pending federal cases involving charges of bribery and public corruption.

58. Feds ‘Strenuously’ Disagree With Mays’s Ruling About Ford and Lee Trials - Friday, December 21, 2007

Federal prosecutors plan to ask U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays to reconsider Wednesday’s ruling separating the corruption cases and trials of Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee.

59. Feds ‘Strenuously’ Disagree With Mays’s Ruling About Ford and Lee Trials - Thursday, December 20, 2007

Federal prosecutors plan to ask U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays to reconsider Wednesday’s ruling separating the corruption cases and trials of Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president Joseph Lee.

60. Ford, Lee to be Tried Separately on Corruption Charges - Thursday, December 20, 2007

U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays ruled late Wednesday that City Council member Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas &Water Division president Joseph Lee will be tried separately on corruption charges.

61. Ford, Lee to be Tried Separately on Corruption Charges - Wednesday, December 19, 2007

U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays ruled late today that City Council member Edmund Ford and former Memphis Light, Gas &Water Division president Joseph Lee will be tried separately on corruption charges.

62. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, May 10, 2001
Mid-South Wendys owner Mid-South Wendys owner settles ADA lawsuit A settlement was reached in a lawsuit charging Valenti Mid-South Management LLC, owner of 54 Wendys restaurants in West Tennessee, North Mississippi, East Arkansas and Southeast Misso...

63. Archived Article: Law Briefs - Thursday, February 27, 1997
The Memphis/Mid-South chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the U The Memphis/Mid-South chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee are sponsoring a continuing education seminar on Fr...

64. Archived Article: Law Briefs - Thursday, February 20, 1997
Jay H Jay H. Lindy and Jennifer W. Sammons were named owners in the Waring Cox law firm. Lindy practices in securities, corporate and health care law. Sammons specializes in employment, business and general civil litigation. Lindy has a bachelors de...