Former Richmond County vice officer pleads guilty

AUGUSTA - A former Richmond County sheriff&#39;s lieutenant who led the vice squad admitted he extorted money from a strip club owner. <br> <br> Stoney R. Turnage, 47, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. <br> <br> In December, Turnage and former Investigator Roderick Berry, 43, were indicted after being accused of accepting $40,000 in cash, tickets to the Masters golf tournament, shirts and Cuban cigars over the past five years in exchange for allowing an Augusta nightclub to keep its entertainment license. <br> <br> Both were arrested after an eight-month investigation. <br> <br> Berry, who worked with the department for 14 years, has pleaded innocent to the charges. Turnage, a 25-year veteran, told FBI agents he accepted payments only in 2000 and 2001. <br> <br> FBI Special Agent Carl Herron said Wednesday that Howard Thrower of the Atlanta area began working with FBI agents in Augusta in March. Thrower, a convicted felon, told investigators that he had provided payoff money to vice officers in Augusta so they wouldn&#39;t interfere with his business bringing strippers and prostitutes to town during the Masters Tournament. <br> <br> ``I agree with what he said, yes, your honor,&#39;&#39; Turnage replied when U.S. District Chief Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. asked about the allegations. <br> <br> In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped other charges against Turnage. If he provides substantial assistance in other cases, prosecutors said they will file a motion seeking a reduced sentence for Turnage. <br> <br> ``This is the time to tell it all,&#39;&#39; Judge Bowen told Turnage in court. <br> <br> Turnage resigned from the department in December. Berry was fired the same month. Both are free on $10,000 bonds.

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