Co-Conspirator in Theft from Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk’s Office Indicted

MEMPHIS, TN—A federal grand jury has charged Correy Isom, age 35, of Memphis, Tennessee, with one count of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy to steal from a government entity receiving federal funds), one count of 18 U.S.C. § 666 (theft from a government entity receiving federal funds), and one count of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (money laundering), announced United States Attorney Edward L Stanton, III, and Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis Division. Brandon Gunn, his co-conspirator, pleaded guilty by information on October 28, 2011, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2012.

According to the indictment filed in the case against Correy Isom, Brandon Gunn was an accounting technician in the Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk’s Office. Gunn was responsible for dealing with the sale of properties for delinquent real estate taxes. Funds from delinquent tax sales are deposited into the Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk’s Fund Account, along with other funds. Beginning in 2008, Gunn commenced to write checks on that account payable to Correy Isom, other co-conspirators or to entities he created for the purpose of disguising his involvement in the theft.

Gunn used his knowledge of the Chancery Court system and of tax sales to make it appear these checks were legitimate. The checks were cashed or deposited by Isom into the accounts of the entities or into the account of Isom. Ultimately, Correy Isom and Brandon Gunn used these funds for their own purposes.

United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III stated: “As alleged in the indictment, Isom conspired with Gunn, who was a Shelby County Chancery Court employee and custodian of funds placed in the public trust, in a deliberate scheme to steal large sums of money from the government. This indictment demonstrates that we and our law enforcement partners will continue to work vigorously to hold accountable all those involved with public corruption, whether they are working inside or outside the government.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Fred Godwin on behalf of the government.

NOTE: An indictment is a form of accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.