Clarksville Police Detective Convicted of Fraud and Stolen Property Offenses

NASHVILLE, TN—Clarksville, Tennessee police detective Martin Edward Hall, Jr., 47, was found guilty by a federal court jury late yesterday on all four counts of an indictment charging him with bank fraud, concealing an asset from his bankruptcy trustee, interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle that was transported in interstate commerce, announced Jerry E. Martin, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, and Amy Hess, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for November 8, 2010.

According to trial testimony, Hall was found in possession of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade in August of 2009, after it had been reported stolen from a Marion, Arkansas Police Department impoundment lot on April 27, 2007. The Cadillac Escalade had been seized by state of Arkansas authorities in October of 2006 after it was stopped on Interstate 40 and found to contain over 10 pounds of marijuana. At the time of the stop of the Escalade by Arkansas authorities it was registered to Hall and bore a Fraternal Order of Police specialty license plate. It was being driven by a woman from Clarksville, Tennessee who was arrested and convicted by Arkansas authorities for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

After the Cadillac Escalade was seized by Arkansas authorities, Hall filed bankruptcy and stated his intention to surrender the Escalade to its lien holder, Regions Bank. Hall, according to his attorney, took the Escalade from the Marion, Arkansas Police Department impoundment lot. Hall, however, never advised the Marion, Arkansas Police Department, Regions Bank, or his bankruptcy trustee that he had taken the Escalade. Hall re-registered the Escalade with a new license plate before the theft of the Escalade was noticed by the Marion, Arkansas Police Department and before the theft of the Escalade was reported to the National Crime Information Center (“NCIC”) computer database. One year later, when Hall sought to renew the registration for the Escalade he was unable to do so because it was in the NCIC computer database as stolen.

Hall, thereafter, placed the expired Fraternal Order of Police specialty license plate back on the Escalade affixed with stickers from another truck that he owned to make it appear to be currently registered.

United States Attorney Jerry E. Martin stated “Law enforcement officials are not above the law. The use of law enforcement authority to conceal criminal activity cannot be tolerated. The United States Attorneys Office is committed to prosecuting public corruption at all levels of government.”

Hall faces up to 30 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, and supervision for up to five years. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States is represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorneys Byron Jones and Sandra Moses.