A Polk County woman has been charged with bribing voters.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began an investigation on July 24 into allegations of illegal activities related to the August general election in Polk County. The investigation was commenced at the request of District Attorney General Stephen Crump. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, along with Calvin Rockholt, criminal investigator for the Office of the District Attorney General for the 10th Judicial District, specifically investigated allegations that individuals were being paid to vote for certain candidates.
Numerous witnesses were interviewed and other evidence was obtained related to those allegations, authorities said.
On Monday, the Polk County Grand Jury returned a six-count indictment against Jo Ann Cronan alleging that Ms. Cronan had paid individuals for their vote, thus bribing those individuals for their vote in violation of T.C.A. §2-19-126(1).
On Tuesday, agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation along with Investigator Rockholt served the capias from the Criminal Court of Polk County on Ms. Cronan. Ms. Cronan was placed in custody and transported to the Polk County Justice Center.
“For too long, this sort of criminal activity has been accepted as part of life in Polk County,” said District Attorney General Crump. “It will no longer be tolerated. Every election cycle this office will be proactive and aggressive in prosecuting those who seek to influence the outcome of elections by illegal means. This is just the first prosecution to come from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s current investigation. Further evidence will be presented to the grand jury in Polk County.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is still completing an investigation into illegal activities related to the August general election in Monroe County. “I anticipate that evidence will be presented to the Monroe County Grand Jury in the very near future as well,” said Mr. Crump. “I want to thank the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as well as Calvin Rockholt for their hard work on this case. A person who would buy a vote is not serving the interests of a political party. They have a dangerous desire for power and control and ultimately, only serve their own selfish interests. Those who would try to buy an election should take note and recognize that we will be watching and waiting.”