Gary Michael "Mike" Brock, who along with his brother, Jerry Brock, was convicted of bribing a court clerk, then had the conviction thrown out, is seeking to get back in the bonding business.
He is asking Criminal Court Judges Rebecca Stern, Barry Steelman and Don Poole to allow him to again write bonds. The judges said they would discuss the matter, then rule later.
He is asking to join Gary's Bonding, which is operated by his sister.
A federal Grand Jury in December 2004 returned a five-count indictment charging the Brocks with conspiracy to commit extortion.
The Grand Jury also returned indictments against nightclub owner Darrin T. Webb - including new charges that he paid cash to have cases fixed at General Sessions Court.
Many of the charges against the Brocks and Webb related to payments to General Sessions Court Deputy Clerk Scott Simcox to remove bond forfeitures from the records. Simcox had been cooperating with the FBI for several years. He later served time in federal prison.
The Brocks formerly operated Brock Bonding Company.
In overturning their conviction, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said the federal Hobbs Act extortion law did not apply to the facts of the case. Darrin Webb did not raise the Hobbs Act issue, so his conviction was affirmed.
The appeals court said, "Mike and Jerry Brock contend that the Hobbs Act does not permit them to be convicted of conspiring to extort their own property. We agree and accordingly reverse their convictions and sentences."
The Brocks had been sentenced to 21 months each in federal prison. They were also ordered to pay $5,000 fines under the ruling from Judge Allan Edgar.
The Brocks were allowed to remain free on bond pending appeal.