Fullilove Indicted on License Charges

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Wednesday that a state grand jury had indicted Memphis City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove-Chalmers on charges related to allegedly submitting false information to receive a duplicate Tennessee driver license and allegedly driving while her license is revoked.

The grand jury returned an indictment for unlawfully using a state issued driver license and fraudulently obtaining a driver license. Both are misdemeanor offenses.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol filed these charges against Fullilove-Chalmers last October. A judge in general sessions criminal court sent the case to the grand jury following a preliminary hearing.

According to the indictment, on March 25, 2008, Fullilove-Chalmers requested a duplicate license from a driver license examiner on the basis that her driver license was lost when she was aware that her driver license was not lost, but had been seized by a deputy from the DeSoto County, Mississippi Sheriffs Office.

The grand jury also indicted Fullilove-Chalmers for a separate offense allegedly committed on March 18, 2009. The grand jury returned an indictment for driving while her license was revoked.

According to the indictment, Fullilove-Chalmers unlawfully and knowingly drove her car on the premises of MIFA as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels at a time when her privilege to do so was revoked.

Tennessee Highway Patrol officers took Fullilove-Chalmers into custody Wednesday morning and she is being held on a $5,000 bond for the most recent charge. She is already in custody on $200 bond for the charges filed against her last October. An arraignment date in criminal court has not been set.

Additionally, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has seized Fullilove-Chalmers vehicle in accordance with Tennessee law for a driving while license revoked charge.

"It is our position that Ms. Fullilove has broken the law and continued to drive in Tennessee when she clearly did not have the right to do so. We intend to hold her accountable in accordance with our state laws," District Attorney Gibbons said.

The maximum punishment for a class A misdemeanor is 11 months, 29 days in prison and a $2,500 fine; a class B misdemeanor carries a six month maximum sentence and a $500 fine; and a class C misdemeanor carries a 30 day maximum sentence and a $50 fine.

Fullilove was arrested at her home Wednesday moning, and was later released on $500 bond.

Memphis City Council Chairman Myron Lowery issued the following statement on her arrest:

"The indictment of Council Member Janis Fullilove on charges related to obtaining a replacement driver's license and driving while her license was revoked is a personal matter and not a Council matter.

While we have heard the charges against Councilwoman Fullilove, we will reserve judgment until her issues are resolved in court. Since Councilwoman Fullilove has not been charged with official misconduct related to her office, the City Council's options are limited.

As Chairman, I will make a formal request to the City of Memphis Ethics Officer, Elbert Jefferson to investigate this matter and advise the council. The grand jury's indictment reminds us appropriately, that elected officials are not above the law and should be treated the same as any citizen suspected of breaking the law."