Money laundering, theft charges levied against Memphis court clerk

(The Center Square) – Federal charges of money laundering and theft are included in a six-count indictment of a county Superior Court clerk in Tennessee.

In Shelby County, Tamara Sawyer is accused of using more than $44,000 in county procurement funds and other means to purchase alcohol, food and other goods through web-based services.

Other charges were made to the Memphis Tigers, FedExForum, fundraisers and PayPal accounts, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Sawyer said the expenses were related to business, but many were made on weekends or holidays, the department said.

“Public servants are entrusted by all of us to act in the best interests of the public they serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “As alleged, the defendant brazenly abused her authority as a General Sessions Court Clerk to steal taxpayer dollars to serve herself.”

Sawyer is charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud; conspirac...