Ex-judge Casey Moreland pleads guilty to federal charges after investigation

Casey Moreland, once one of Nashville's most powerful judges, entered a guilty plea in federal court Thursday, admitting he attempted to bribe an ex-paramour and that he conspired to steal from a program for recovering drug addicts.

Moreland, 60, sat in a teal jail jumpsuit while prosecutors described the theft and his elaborate and repeated attempts to squelch a corruption investigation against him.

Standing under oath moments later in the U.S. District Court in Nashville, Moreland admitted it was true. He pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, retaliating against a witness, theft from a federally funded program, destruction of records and witness tampering.

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The plea change, which came days before he was set to stand trial, was brokered in an agreement between Moreland and federal prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Don Cochran, who prosecutes federal cases in Middle Tennessee, cheered the outcome after the hearing Thursday afternoon. He praised the attorneys and investigators "whose relentless work on this case helped to bring justice."

"This is a very serious case," Cochran said outside the courtroom. "This is somebody who was a judge. He was sworn to uphold the law, and instead of doing that he violated that oath, dishonored the robe he wore and then also broke the law himself."

Moreland's attorney Peter Strianse said negotiations began with prosecutors after Moreland's March 1 arrest on a second wave of corruption charges. Strianse said Moreland was resigned but relaxed as he entered his plea.

"Judge Moreland gave a large part of his adult life to this community," Strianse said. "It's sad to see that it has to end that way, but I think...he certainly made the correct decision."

The plea agreement did not include a deal on a possible sentence.

Federal law allows for a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison for Moreland's charges. Strianse said federal guidelines he had discussed with prosecutors suggested a window of three to four years behind bars.

Strianse said he would cite Moreland's contribution to the Nashville area while arguing for a lower sentence during an Aug. 31 hearing in front of Chief District Judge Waverly Crenshaw. Cochran said prosecutors would ask for "a very serious sentence."

Guilty plea caps Moreland's downfall

Moreland's guilty plea was the latest development in the swift decline for the former General Sessions judge.

Moreland was first indicted in April 2017 on charges he tried to interfere with a federal grand jury and FBI investigation. Law enforcement was investigating whether he used his judicial influence to offer favors to friends and lovers in exchange for sex or other benefits.

The FBI says Moreland and semi-pro wrestler James Pedigo tried to bribe Natalie Amos, a woman who'd publicly stated she slept with Moreland in order to get herself out of legal trouble.

► More: Ex-Nashville Judge Casey Moreland indicted on federal bribery, tampering charges

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Pedigo ended up helping the FBI after agents confronted him, offering evidence federal prosecutors say shows Moreland attempted to bribe and plant drugs on Amos in an effort to discredit her.

After pleading not guilty, Moreland was allowed to remain out of jail on supervised released. But on March 1, the FBI arrested Moreland again, saying he continued his attempts to hamstring the case by destroying evidence and pushing a witness to lie under oath as recently as Feb. 13.

More: Drug court foundation tied to Casey Moreland repays nearly $9,000

More: Woman accused of helping Casey Moreland embezzle thousands from drug court pleads guilty

Moreland repeatedly worked to hide the fact that he used the Davidson County Drug Court, an entity he started and led for more than a decade, to funnel cash to himself and a colleague.

The FBI states over several years Moreland orchestrated the theft of thousands of dollars from the foundation that supported the drug court's work. After the FBI launched its investigation into Moreland's conduct, the former judge allegedly asked an accomplice to destroy the evidence.

Nan Casey, an employee who worked for the court, pleaded guilty in March to helping embezzle funds from the drug court foundation. Accused of destroying evidence, Casey began working with the FBI against Moreland and recorded several conversations with him.

During the conversations, Moreland repeatedly pressured her to mislead the federal grand jury considering charges against him. The recordings laid the groundwork for obstruction and theft charges.

After the second arrest, and the recordings between Moreland and Casey, Strianse said Thursday it became clear a plea deal was preferable to a jury trial.

"That would have been a really foolish decision," Strianse said. "The die was sort of cast.

"We would have lost that fight."

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and atamburin@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets. Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892, dboucher@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.