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Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted On Fraud Charges

Release Date: June 9, 2004

A 24 year veteran of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for mail fraud.

James William Scruggs, a Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the court system, has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

He was indicted along with his wife, Ranelle, and another man, Curtis Byrd, also of Memphis. The indictment charges the Scruggs’ and Byrd with using the mail system to fraudulently obtain homes and vehicles. The indictment alleges Deputy Scruggs and the others gave false statements when applying for home and car loans.

Deputy Scruggs was hired at the Sheriff’s Office in October, 1979. He served in the Traffic Division from 1979-1987. He has been assigned to the Criminal Courts as a bailiff since 1987.

All questions about the investigation are being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee. For additional information, contact Leigh Anne Jordon at the U. S. Attorney’s Office at (901) 544-4231.

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