Prosecutor Wants Stiff Sentence for Former Sheriff

Humble Says Long Deserves Stiff Sentence
The Chattanoogan - November 12, 2008

Prosecutor Gary Humble, in a new 10-page motion, says former Sheriff Billy Long should not receive leniency at his sentencing next Wednesday. He said his action that led to his arrest by the FBI revealed "his avarice, selfishness, disregard for sacred oaths, exploitation of the weak, and supreme arrogance." Judge Sandy Mattice will set the sentence. Previously, "New Charge Brought Against Sheriff Billy Long - Agents Say He Was Helping With "Cocaine Deal" At Time Of Arrest from February 4, 2008: A fourth charge has been brought against Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long, prosecutors said Monday. The sheriff was out helping with what he believed was a sale of 10 kilograms of cocaine on Saturday morning when he was arrested, prosecutor Gary Humble said. After he was arrested, Sheriff Long told federal agents “he had made bad choices for which he was sorry," the new complaint says. The prosecutor said Sheriff Long on Saturday went to the business of a man described as a cooperating witness (CW). He said 10 kilograms of cocaine were loaded into the trunk of the CW's vehicle, and the sheriff was told it was being dropped off at another location. Sheriff Long followed the CW to the "drop" and then gave him a ride back to the business. Then he took a split of $48,000 from the alleged drug deal, prosecutor Humble said. He said the CW told the sheriff that he had to dispose of a gun the sheriff had given him earlier. He said Sheriff Long told him he had "done the right thing" and said he would get him another gun. Sheriff Long is also charged with providing a gun to a felon, with bribery and with money laundering. He made a brief court appearance on Monday afternoon before Magistrate Bill Carter and was again handcuffed and wearing the same jeans jacket as he did Saturday afternoon. A detention hearing and preliminary hearing were delayed to allow attorney Jerry Summers to talk with Sheriff Long and to study the new charges.