In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, retired agent John McMurtrie reviews his police corruption investigation where drug dealers operating in Eufaula, Alabama, complained about being extorted by members of the Eufaula Police Department. The dealers cooperated and made consensual recordings that led to the arrest and conviction of a police captain, his lieutenant, and the local district attorney for the extortion scheme.
John also reviews the worst assignment of his FBI career, serving a warrant to search the contents of a septic tank. The lead was part of VANPAC, the major case of the mail bombing of U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Vance in Birmingham, AL.
Special Agent (Retired)
John S. McMurtrie
09/1987 – 04/2016
John McMurtrie served in the FBI for over 28 years. He was assigned to the Mobile Division at the Dothan, Alabama, Resident Agency (RA), the Newark Division, and the Memphis Division in the Nashville RA. Note: Memphis is now an RA out of the Nashville Division.
During his Bureau career, he worked public corruption, South American drug trafficking organizations, and violent crime/street gangs. John was a firearms instructor, a tactical instructor, and an active shooter rapid response tactics instructor. He also served on the Memphis SWAT Team, certified as a team operator.
He retired as the Coordinator for the Nashville RA Violent Crime and Child Exploitation Task Force, which investigated violent crimes against children, sexual abuse of children, and sexual traveler cases. He supervised officers from state and local agencies who were deputized to perform duties as Task Force Officers.
After his retirement from the Bureau, he was hired as a contract program director with the U.S. Department of State in Kosovo. Based stateside, John oversaw the operations in Kosovo and supported a team of eight Americans working with law enforcement and prosecutors in criminal matters.
Later, he was Director of Safety and Security for Maryville College in Maryville, TN. Currently, he is retired full time.
The following are case-related images and links to news articles about the Eufaula police corruption investigation and the mail bombing of U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Vance:
The Eufaula Tribune – 12/5/1990: Officer resigns and Dinkins is on leave
The Eufaula Advertiser – 2/22/1991: Indicted DA pleads guilty
FBI Website: FBI History, Famous Cases and Criminals: Judge Vance Murder
News 4 Dothan – 7/29/2025: Wayne O’Ferrell dies years after suspected of federal judge’s murder
FOX13 – 10/9/2024: FBI field office moves from Memphis to Nashville
Listen to these FBI Case File Review episodes to learn more about how the FBI investigates police corruption:
138: Ray Morrow and Dan Estrem – Cleveland Police Corruption, Undercover Sting (Part 1) and 139: (Part 2)
343: Constantine, Carazza, and Mancini – Boston Badge Betrayal, Police Corruption (Part 1) and 344: (Part 2)
092: Stewart Fillmore – Tenaha, Texas Corruption Cover-Up
John is the author of FBI Special Agent on the Outside, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper on the Inside: How I Went From the Big Hat to the Little Badge, a memoir reflecting on his thirty-five-year journey through his law enforcement career.
The two cases reviewed are covered in his book.
