Clarksville, TN – Rick Ingram, the former superindentent of the Clarksville Department of Electricity, is facing a 36 count indictment that alleges he conspired to defraud CDE of thousands of dollars, but using his influence to steer contracts to two companies, without the knowledge of the CDE Power Board.
In the indictment handed down by the United States District Court, it’s alleged that during Ingrams time at CDE, between November 2008 until the time he was fired in July of 2009, he conspired with Tommy Walton Sr to defraud the utility and it’s ratepayers.
It’s alleged that along with Tommy Walton Sr. and Tommy Walton Jr., that the three managed to defraud the utility of sums of $32,150, and $156,139 total. Ingram used his influence, and without board consent, to arrange for contracts to be paid to Intelligent Surveillance inc, and Intellinet Consulting LLC, receiving personal kickbacks from both companies.
Ingram is accused of entering into contracts with Tommy Walton jr as opportunities arose, including signing professional service agreements for consulting services for the Clarksville Department of Electricity.
Ingram is currently jailed on another conviction in a South Carolina facility, and will face these new charges once he answers the indictment. He has been ordered to be returned to Nashville District Court to answer the charges.
Wayne Wilkinson, who was the chairman of the CDE board at the time of Ingrams hiring, and is the current board chairman said, “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m glad to see the process work. This is an ongoing investigation, so I can’t comment too much” Wilkenson said. “Rick Ingram came highly recommended by other utilities where he had worked. We vetted him thoroughly and were confident he was the right person for the job. It wasn’t too long after he was on the job we started to suspect something wasn’t quite right” Wilkenson said. Wilkenson was the one who fired Ingram, after the board voted to do so.
Questions began to arrise when senior management officials at CDE began to meet secretely to figure out how to keep the utility moving forward, so as not to be interfered with by Ingram, and the things he was doing. Board members and the news media became curious when these new “consultants” began arriving on the scene, hired by Ingram, and were being paid by CDE for consulting services.
According to the indictment, Walton Sr. paid Ingram over $16,000 in one transaction, after paying off a $40,000 credit card bill of Ingrams.
The FBI has been involved in this case since Ingram was fired. He’s facing over 80 years in prison if convicted, and restitution of nearly 1 million dollars in fines.
