Northern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Department of Justice Awards more than $100 Million to Combat Human Trafficking and Assist VictimsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today it has awarded more than $100 million in funding, including grants to Mississippi recipients, to combat human trafficking and provide vital services to trafficking victims throughout the United States.
“Human traffickers remain a dire threat to human rights across the globe and their actions pose a serious danger to public safety right here in our own country,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “I’m proud that these resources will help our law enforcement officers and victim service providers hold perpetrators accountable and give victims of these abominable crimes a place to turn for refuge and support.”
“We have made the fight against human trafficking a priority in this office, and today’s DOJ grant awards to our fellow members of the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council will allow us all to do even more of this important work. It is only through proactive collaboration and diligent cooperation with our law enforcement, victim service providers, and other stakeholders that we will be able to continue to successfully protect victims, prevent trafficking and prosecute these criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Southern District of Mississippi.
“Preventing and combatting human trafficking is a priority in this District and across our State,” said Chad Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, noting the importance of these grants in helping to combat human trafficking in Mississippi. “We are continuing to develop and expand strategic partnerships in efforts to curb human trafficking and raise awareness about this issue across our State and the entire Southeastern region. We are fortunate to have so many strong partners who are working together to prevent human trafficking in all forms, to hold accountable those individuals who choose to prey on others for their own financial gain, to raise awareness about this critical issue, and to assist and serve victims of these offenses. These grants will be of tremendous assistance to our recipient partners and will help further the important efforts of our entire state-wide anti-trafficking coalition.”
“The Mississippi State Department of Health is incredibly pleased to receive this $900,000 grant. We look forward to expanding and enhancing the accessibility and quality of services that will benefit victims of all forms of human trafficking in Mississippi. It is also a great opportunity to partner with the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council in its effort to prevent these crimes and protect its victims, and to also prosecute perpetrators of this type of crime,” said Heather Wagner, Director of the Office Against Interpersonal Violence for the Mississippi Department of Health.
“The Department of Public Safety is excited to bring these federal funds to Mississippi to aid the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation in formulating official law enforcement-led task forces to fight those who choose to traffic human beings in this state,” said Commissioner Marshall L. Fisher.
The Mississippi State Department of Health received a $900,000 Office of Victims of Crimes grant under the Direct Services to Support Victims of Human Trafficking program, which gives nearly $53 million to 77 organizations to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to victims of all forms of trafficking.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety received an $800,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for building capacity and operational effectiveness as a core member of collaborative, multidisciplinary human trafficking task forces. BJA awarded 13 total grants totaling nearly $11 million under the Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking: Supporting Law Enforcement’s Role.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://ojp.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2019/ojp-news-10082019_a.pdf
On September 9, 2019, U.S. Attorneys Mike Hurst and Chad Lamar, along with their state partners and other stakeholders, launched the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council, the first-ever, state-wide effort with a mission to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute criminals using a victim-centered, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary model. The Council is led by three Co-Chairs: (1) Susan Bradley, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Mississippi; (2) Kathlyn Van Buskirk, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Mississippi; and (3) Ashlee Lucas, Mississippi Human Trafficking Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The Council has a Steering Committee, five subcommittees (Outreach and Public Awareness; Strategic Planning and Trafficking Protocols; Policy and Legislation; Training; and Victim Services), and multiple small, regional law enforcement task forces that investigate and prosecute human trafficking.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Attorney General Announces Launch of Project Guardian – A Nationwide Strategic Plan to Reduce Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes.
Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the “Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complementary effort to the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.
“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America. Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”
Chad Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi emphasized the importance of the Project Guardian principles in the local efforts to reduce gun crime. “In the Northern District of Mississippi, we work closely with ATF, our other federal law enforcement partners, and state and local law enforcement agencies to combat gun, gang, and violent crime. The principles highlighted by the Project Guardian Initiative are sensible and useful methods to help prevent and reduce violent gun crime, and are already key focal points of our District’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. We will continue to use these techniques to help keep our communities safer,” said Lamar.
“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”
Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:
- Coordinated Prosecution. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.
- Enforcing the Background Check System. United States Attorneys, in consultation with the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.
Particular emphasis is placed on individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials.
- Improved Information Sharing. On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.
- Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials. Each United States Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety.
Additionally, United States Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. United States Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health.
- Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination. Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs), and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.
Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide. Therefore, partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.
For more information on Project Guardian, see the Attorney General’s memorandum at: https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download
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- Coordinated Prosecution. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.
Justice Department Awards over $273.4 Million to Improve Public Safety, Serve Crime Victims in American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded over $273.4 million in grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
“Violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities remain at unacceptably high levels, and they demand a response that is both clear and comprehensive,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “We will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee they have the resources they need to curb violence and bring healing to the victims most profoundly affected by it.”
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in the Southern District of Mississippi was awarded $363,000 in federal funding under the Tribal Victim Services Program.
“Helping victims of crime is one of the most important things we do in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and this grant will greatly improve services for crime victims among the Choctaw Indians. We are committed to continuing our close partnership with the Tribe in order to prevent and reduce violence and ensure victims are provided the services they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
“The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Department of Family and Community Services is indeed grateful to receive this much-needed US DOJ grant for our Tribal Victim Services Program. We are making a concerted effort to combat domestic violence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, and our strategic approach can use all of the fiscal and human resources that we can garner to eliminate this chronic problem. Innocent Tribal victims of family violence are in need of our direct and immediate assistance to foster their safety and healing, while our Tribal Government continues working to diminish the instances and effects of violent crime,” said Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben.
Chad Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi also praised the Department’s decision to award federal grant funding to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. “The fight against violent crime is ongoing and always a priority throughout our District,” Lamar stated. “This grant will greatly assist our Tribal partners in efforts to combat violent crime and domestic abuse and to better serve crime victims within our communities.”
Nationwide, 236 grants were awarded to 149 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $118 million awarded via CTAS, just over $62.6 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, about $33.1 million from the Office on Violence Against Women and more than $23.2 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. A portion of the funding will support tribal youth mentoring and intervention services, help native communities implement requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and provide training and technical assistance to tribal communities. Another $5.5 million was funded by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide training and technical assistance to CTAS awardees.
The Department also announced awards and other programming totaling $167.2 million in a set-aside program to serve victims of crime. The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims by supporting programming and technical assistance. About $25.6 million of these awards were awarded under CTAS and are included in the $118 million detailed above.
CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs. The awards cover 10 purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; violent crime reduction; and tribal youth programs.
The Department also provided $6.1 million to help tribes to comply with federal law on sex offender registration and notification, $1.7 million in separate funding to assist tribal youth and nearly $500,000 to support tribal research on missing and murdered indigenous women and children and other public safety-related topics.
Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/awards. A listing of all other announced tribal awards are available at: https://go.usa.gov/xVJuE.
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149 Arrested During Joint Law Enforcement Initiative in the Golden Triangle AreaRead the Press Release
A six-week joint federal, state, and local law enforcement initiative has resulted in the arrests of 149 individuals in North Mississippi on a variety of criminal charges, including violent crimes, drug crimes and gang related activities. “Operation Triple Beam,” a U.S. Marshals led initiative brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in an effort to reduce crime in the Golden Triangle area by identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting violent gang activity, and collecting intelligence to allow for the systematic removal of individuals who are responsible for committing crimes in North Mississippi.
In addition to the arrests, Operation Triple Beam resulted in the seizure of approximately $65,820 worth of narcotics and narcotics related proceeds. Danny McKittrick, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Chad Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, made the announcement on Wednesday in Columbus, together with their federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
Operation Triple Beam commenced in the Golden Triangle area on July 15, 2019, and concluded on August 30, 2019. As a part of the initiative, approximately 50 gang members were arrested or validated by law enforcement. In addition, 155 registered sex offenders living in Northeast Mississippi and the Golden Triangle area were checked for compliance with sex offender registration requirements. Compliance checks were also conducted on eight moderate and high-risk federal and state probationers.
The arrests, seizures and compliance checks occurring as part of the Operation Triple Beam initiative resulted from the combined efforts of a half dozen local law enforcement agencies across three counties in North Mississippi, along with State and Federal law enforcement partners. Law enforcement agencies participating in the Operation Triple Beam initiative included: U.S. Marshal’s Service; U.S. Attorney’s Office; U.S. Probation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Unit; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms; Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics; Mississippi Highway Patrol; Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; Mississippi Department of Corrections; Mississippi Air National Guard; West Point Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department; Columbus Police Department; Clay County Sheriff’s Department; Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department; and the Starkville Police Department.
The use and sharing of investigative resources and the multi-agency partnerships that were crucial to the success of Operation Triple Beam as a whole are key components of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the Department of Justice’s gun violence reduction initiative. PSN began in 2002 under President George W. Bush, continued under President Obama, and was reinvigorated in October of 2017 during President Trump’s administration.
As with Operation Triple Beam, PSN focuses on reducing violent crime and making communities safer through partnerships and collaborative efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement and community partners. The PSN program in the Northern District of Mississippi has long been a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a primary means of combatting violent gun crime. Although it originally focused in the areas of Clarksdale and Greenville, Mississippi, the U.S. Attorney’s Office expanded the program in 2017 to reach other areas of the District, including Columbus and Lowndes County.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr praised the efforts and partnerships that are a part of the District’s PSN Initiative. “The revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a major success,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “It packs a powerful punch by combining advanced data with local leadership, further reducing violence in communities across the country and improving overall public safety. U.S. Attorneys continue to focus their enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals and work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal police. The Justice Department’s relationships across the board have never been stronger.”
U.S. Marshal McKittrick and U.S. Attorney Lamar announced the results of Operation Triple Beam on Wednesday in conjunction with the two year anniversary of the reinvigoration and renewal of the PSN program.
U.S. Marshal McKittrick and Chief Deputy Jeff Woodfin praised the collaboration between the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that took part in the operation. “This initiative gave the public a small glimpse of what law enforcement carries out on a daily basis. We couldn’t be more proud of the men and women who worked diligently during this highly effective operation,” McKittrick remarked. “This all-hands-on-deck approach was pivotal in the success of this operation, which will make a difference in our communities. Some of these cases will be prosecuted in federal court and some in state court. There are additional ongoing investigations that may lead to future arrests, all of which are important in the pursuit of dismantling the criminal element in the Northern District of Mississippi.”
U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar thanked the many law enforcement agencies who participated in Operation Triple Beam and praised the results. “Columbus and the larger Golden Triangle area are focus points for our Project Safe Neighborhoods program and this Operation Triple Beam is a prime example of what law enforcement can accomplish when local, federal, and state partners work together,” Lamar stated. “By running operations like Operation Triple Beam that rely on partnerships, intelligence-driven data and targeted enforcement, we can and will keep make our neighborhoods safer for all citizens.”
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Coahoma County, Mississippi, to Enforce the Rights of a United States Army ReservistRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced that it filed a complaint yesterday in federal court in the Northern District of Mississippi against Coahoma County, Mississippi (Coahoma County), to protect the employment rights of an Army Reservist, Staff Sergeant First Class (SSG) Jason Sims Sr.
According to the complaint, SSG Sims was employed with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office from 2014 to 2018 during which time he also performed military service by teaching leadership courses at the United States Army Installation at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The complaint alleges that he was fired because of this military service obligation, in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The lawsuit seeks reinstatement of SSG Sims to his employment with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office and the recovery of back wages and other benefits of employment that Sims lost as a result of his termination.
“Our Nation has made a commitment to protect the civilian jobs of its servicemembers while they serve our Country,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Federal law frees members of the armed forces from the stress associated with the fear they will be fired because they were called to military service.”
“The legal rights of the members of our Armed Forces, who routinely make personal sacrifices to protect our nation, must be respected,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting those rights, so that these brave men and women can return from their service to their civilian jobs with the full benefits to which they are entitled.”
USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to retain their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations, and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.justice.gov/crt-military/employment-rights-userra and www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.
This case stems from a referral by the U.S. Department of Labor, at SSG Sims’ request, after an investigation by the DOL’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Benedict and Stuart Davis in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi and Brian McEntire in the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Coahoma County, Mississippi, to Enforce the Rights of A United States Army ReservistRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced that it filed a complaint yesterday in federal court in the Northern District of Mississippi against Coahoma County, Mississippi (Coahoma County), to protect the employment rights of an Army Reservist, Staff Sergeant First Class (SSG) Jason Sims Sr.
According to the complaint, SSG Sims was employed with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office from 2014 to 2018 during which time he also performed military service by teaching leadership courses at the United States Army Installation at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The complaint alleges that he was fired because of this military service obligation, in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The lawsuit seeks reinstatement of SSG Sims to his employment with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office and the recovery of back wages and other benefits of employment that Sims lost as a result of his termination.
“Our Nation has made a commitment to protect the civilian jobs of its servicemembers while they serve our Country,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Federal law frees members of the armed forces from the stress associated with the fear they will be fired because they were called to military service.”
“The legal rights of the members of our Armed Forces, who routinely make personal sacrifices to protect our nation, must be respected,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting those rights, so that these brave men and women can return from their service to their civilian jobs with the full benefits to which they are entitled.”
USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to retain their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations, and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.justice.gov/crt-military/employment-rights-userra and www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.
This case stems from a referral by the U.S. Department of Labor, at SSG Sims’ request, after an investigation by the DOL’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Benedict and Stuart Davis in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi and Brian McEntire in the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Tupelo Loan Officer Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – A Tupelo bank officer and his co-defendant were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown in federal court in Greenville, Mississippi for bank fraud. Both had previously pled guilty before Judge Brown to one count of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344. Judge Brown sentenced Max Miller, age 53, to serve 18 months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. James Nichols, age, 52, was sentenced to time served followed by 5 years of supervised release. Judge Brown ordered both Miller and Nichols to pay $374,261 in restitution to Renasant Bank.
Max Miller, without the knowledge of Renasant Bank, used his position as a loan officer at Renasant Bank to create loans in the name of specified borrowers when the loans were not actually intended for the named borrowers but were actually intended to benefit his co-defendant, James Nichols, who was not listed as the borrower on the loans. In addition to the scheme with Nichols, Miller also generated loans for his own benefit. As a result of this scheme, Renasant Bank suffered a financial loss of $374,261.
US Attorney Chad Lamar announced the sentences following Friday’s hearing and emphasized the importance of the case. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable any individuals who violate federal law by defrauding the very financial institutions that employ them.” Lamar stated. “The actions of these individuals represent a betrayal not only of the bank they defrauded, but the public trust, and we appreciate the diligent investigation by our partners that helped bring these individuals to justice.”
"The FDIC OIG remains focused in our efforts to investigate financial fraud schemes impacting FDIC-insured financial institutions throughout the country." remarked Laurie Younger, Special Agent in Charge, FDIC-OIG, Dallas Field Office
“The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) is committed to investigating allegations of fraud committed by officers of financial institutions which are members of the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) because their crimes strike at the heart of the FHLBank System,” said Edwin Bonano, Special Agent in Charge of the FHFA-OIG’s Southeast Region Office. “We are proud to have partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi in this case.”
This case was investigated by the FDIC Office of Inspector General and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by AUSA Clay Dabbs.
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National, State, Local and Tribal Government Officials Announce New Statewide Mississippi Human Trafficking Council to Combat This Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division joined U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar, Northern District of Mississippi, Commissioner Marshall Fisher, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and Philip Gunn, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, today to announce the creation and launch of a new, statewide Mississippi Human Trafficking Council.
Building on the foundation established by Governor Phil Bryant’s Human Trafficking Task Force Report from 2015, as well as task forces from around the country, the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council’s mission will be to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute criminals using a victim-centered, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary model. The Council will be led by three Co-Chairs: (1) Susan Bradley, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Mississippi; (2) Kathlyn Van Buskirk, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Mississippi; and (3) Ashlee Lucas, Mississippi Human Trafficking Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
“The Department of Justice is proud to announce the formation of the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council, which will serve as a crucial component to ongoing efforts to secure justice for victims of sex and labor trafficking crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “This is the first statewide trafficking council, and it will help law enforcement more effectively prosecute criminals and protect the rights of victims. This is another strong step in the Department of Justice’s commitment to fighting violent crime and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity, and the monsters who commit these crimes against our children and our fellow human beings will continue to face swift and certain justice in our district,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst. “This Council will coordinate multiple entities and agencies, and help our citizens effectively battle this growing epidemic in our state. I want to thank our law enforcement, our prosecutors, and our governmental and non-governmental partners for stepping up to take this fight to the traffickers. At the end of the day, this is all about protecting victims, preventing trafficking and prosecuting the criminals.”
“We are so pleased to announce the launching of multiple regional human trafficking task forces throughout the state, Northern and Southern Districts,” said U.S. Attorney Lamar. “Not only are these task forces collaborative efforts by federal, state and local law enforcement, but also state service agencies and non-government service providers. The Human Trafficking Council and its committees, comprised of members from both Districts, will provide valuable direction and support.”
“The Mississippi Department of Public Safety is dedicated to building an effective Human Trafficking Division to combat those who prey upon, victimize and traffic others for sexual or labor purposes,” said Commissioner Marshall Fisher. “With the aid of the Human Trafficking Council, MDPS’s Human Trafficking Division has access to a team of state and federal resources to thwart these threats to our communities.”
“Strengthening and improving Mississippi’s human trafficking laws has been and continues to be one of my top priorities,” said Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn. “It’s important to me that we make the process work for these victims while we support those law enforcement personnel on the ground across our state who are on the front lines fighting human trafficking. I envision the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council being an important resource to complement our state’s five existing regional task forces by collaborating and offering assistance when and where needed,” said Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn.
- Steering Committee
The Council will have a Steering Committee, overseen by the Council Co-Chairs, and will be made up of the five subcommittee chairpersons along with the Council Co-Chairs. The Steering Committee will serve as the primary policy making body of the Council. The Steering Committee will discuss and propose recommendations for the Council, upon which the Co-Chairs will vote to approve or disapprove of such recommendations.
- Subcommittees
The Council will consist of five subcommittees and will focus on all forms of domestic and international human trafficking, to include commercial sex trafficking and labor trafficking, for the protection of both adult and minor victims. Each subcommittee chairperson will oversee the operation of each subcommittee, arranges logistics for meetings, keeps records of activities and issues, serves as a member of the Steering Committee and performs other duties as necessary for the efficient and productive operation of the Council.
The five subcommittees and chairpersons are:
- Outreach and Public Awareness Subcommittee
Chair: Mandy Davis, Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- Strategic Planning and Trafficking Protocol Subcommittee
Chair: Dr. Tamara Hurst, University of Southern Mississippi
- Policy and Legislation Subcommittee
Co-Chairs: Angela Cockerham, Mississippi House of Representatives; Lora Hunter, Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- Training Subcommittee
Chair: Paula Broome, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
- Victim Service Subcommittee
Co-Chairs: Hollie Jeffery, Children’s Advocacy Center of Mississippi; Heather Wagner, Mississippi Department of Health
- Task Forces
The Council will also consist of small, regional Task Forces, made up of local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement, local prosecutors, and victim service providers, and will be led by an Assistant U.S. Attorney. These Task Forces will meet monthly and will share information, coordinate investigations, and discuss potential matters and active cases in preparation for prosecution.
The Department of Justice continues to fight human trafficking through investigating and prosecuting traffickers, dismantling transnational human trafficking networks, enhancing victim identification and protection of all victims of trafficking, and funding and providing domestic and international anti-trafficking programs.
National, State, Local and Tribal Government Officials Announce New Statewide Mississippi Human Trafficking Council to Combat This Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division joined U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar, Northern District of Mississippi, Commissioner Marshall Fisher, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and Philip Gunn, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, today to announce the creation and launch of a new, statewide Mississippi Human Trafficking Council.
Building on the foundation established by Governor Phil Bryant’s Human Trafficking Task Force Report from 2015, as well as task forces from around the country, the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council’s mission will be to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute criminals using a victim-centered, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary model. The Council will be led by three Co-Chairs: (1) Susan Bradley, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Mississippi; (2) Kathlyn Van Buskirk, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Mississippi; and (3) Ashlee Lucas, Mississippi Human Trafficking Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
“The Department of Justice is proud to announce the formation of the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council, which will serve as a crucial component to ongoing efforts to secure justice for victims of sex and labor trafficking crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “This is the first statewide trafficking council, and it will help law enforcement more effectively prosecute criminals and protect the rights of victims. This is another strong step in the Department of Justice’s commitment to fighting violent crime and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity, and the monsters who commit these crimes against our children and our fellow human beings will continue to face swift and certain justice in our district,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst. “This Council will coordinate multiple entities and agencies, and help our citizens effectively battle this growing epidemic in our state. I want to thank our law enforcement, our prosecutors, and our governmental and non-governmental partners for stepping up to take this fight to the traffickers. At the end of the day, this is all about protecting victims, preventing trafficking and prosecuting the criminals.”
“We are so pleased to announce the launching of multiple regional human trafficking task forces throughout the state, Northern and Southern Districts,” said U.S. Attorney Lamar. “Not only are these task forces collaborative efforts by federal, state and local law enforcement, but also state service agencies and non-government service providers. The Human Trafficking Council and its committees, comprised of members from both Districts, will provide valuable direction and support.”
“The Mississippi Department of Public Safety is dedicated to building an effective Human Trafficking Division to combat those who prey upon, victimize and traffic others for sexual or labor purposes,” said Commissioner Marshall Fisher. “With the aid of the Human Trafficking Council, MDPS’s Human Trafficking Division has access to a team of state and federal resources to thwart these threats to our communities.”
“Strengthening and improving Mississippi’s human trafficking laws has been and continues to be one of my top priorities,” said Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn. “It’s important to me that we make the process work for these victims while we support those law enforcement personnel on the ground across our state who are on the front lines fighting human trafficking. I envision the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council being an important resource to complement our state’s five existing regional task forces by collaborating and offering assistance when and where needed,” said Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn.
- Steering Committee
The Council will have a Steering Committee, overseen by the Council Co-Chairs, and will be made up of the five subcommittee chairpersons along with the Council Co-Chairs. The Steering Committee will serve as the primary policy making body of the Council. The Steering Committee will discuss and propose recommendations for the Council, upon which the Co-Chairs will vote to approve or disapprove of such recommendations.
- Subcommittees
The Council will consist of five subcommittees and will focus on all forms of domestic and international human trafficking, to include commercial sex trafficking and labor trafficking, for the protection of both adult and minor victims. Each subcommittee chairperson will oversee the operation of each subcommittee, arranges logistics for meetings, keeps records of activities and issues, serves as a member of the Steering Committee and performs other duties as necessary for the efficient and productive operation of the Council.
The five subcommittees and chairpersons are:
- Outreach and Public Awareness Subcommittee
Chair: Mandy Davis, Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- Strategic Planning and Trafficking Protocol Subcommittee
Chair: Dr. Tamara Hurst, University of Southern Mississippi
- Policy and Legislation Subcommittee
Co-Chairs: Angela Cockerham, Mississippi House of Representatives; Lora Hunter, Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- Training Subcommittee
Chair: Paula Broome, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
- Victim Service Subcommittee
Co-Chairs: Hollie Jeffery, Children’s Advocacy Center of Mississippi; Heather Wagner, Mississippi Department of Health
- Task Forces
The Council will also consist of small, regional Task Forces, made up of local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement, local prosecutors, and victim service providers, and will be led by an Assistant U.S. Attorney. These Task Forces will meet monthly and will share information, coordinate investigations, and discuss potential matters and active cases in preparation for prosecution.
The Department of Justice continues to fight human trafficking through investigating and prosecuting traffickers, dismantling transnational human trafficking networks, enhancing victim identification and protection of all victims of trafficking, and funding and providing domestic and international anti-trafficking programs. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found here. An update on human trafficking prosecution statistics can be found here.
Caledonia Man Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Union FundsRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – A Caledonia man was sentenced to almost four years in prison on Thursday for embezzling union funds. Danny Woodcock, age 66, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock following his guilty plea to Embezzlement of Union Funds in violation of Title 29, United States Code, Section 501(c). Judge Aycock sentenced Woodcock to serve 46 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered Woodcock to pay $519,963.04 in restitution to Communication Workers of America - 83770.
Woodcock served as the president of the CWA Local 83770 for approximately 15 years until his removal in October 2016. CWA Local 83770 has approximately 300 to 400 members who are employed primarily as aircraft mechanics, structural specialists and other maintenance personnel with L3 Vertex Aerospace, LLC, a contractor operating on the Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi. Woodcock used his position as president to embezzle and convert to his own use the funds of CWA Local 83770, often times transferring or depositing union funds directly into his personal bank account for his own personal use.
Chad Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, acknowledged the importance of this case and the sentence imposed after Thursday afternoon’s hearing. “This case is a sad example of honest workers being defrauded by someone whom they trusted to speak for them and represent their best interests. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work to help ensure that we hold accountable those individuals who would cheat and betray the very people they have been entrusted to represent.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor – Office of Labor Management Standards and prosecuted by AUSA Clay Dabbs.
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U.S. Attorneys Present Statewide Human Trafficking in Hattiesburg TodayRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – U.S. Attorneys Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi and Chad Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi announced today an Anti-Human Trafficking Training that their offices are sponsoring on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi to train law enforcement, governmental agencies, and non-profits on combatting this growing threat to our communities. The event will take place in the Trent Lott Center.
"Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. This training seeks to educate stakeholders throughout the state to combat this modern day form of slavery and oppression. Sadly, this is a growing problem throughout our state and our nation, and through this training, we are seeking to help people understand this scourge that is plaguing our communities, our citizens and our children. In the coming months, you will see more being done to address this issue as our offices prepare to launch a statewide human trafficking coordination council with our federal, state, and local partners. I want to thank USM President Rodney Bennett for hosting us today and for being a partner in this worthy effort," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar, Northern District of Mississippi, also stressed the importance of this training and this issue in our communities. "The investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases remains a priority for our office. Those engaged in these offenses prey on the victims, many of whom are young, vulnerable, and subjected to repeated abuse. Many of these victims lack the knowledge, education and resources to escape their unfortunate situations. We must train our law enforcement agencies, social service providers and citizens to recognize the signs of human trafficking if we are to help prevent future occurrences and hold accountable those who choose to engage in such reprehensible conduct." Lamar stated.
Presenters at today’s training event include Ashlee Lucas, the new Mississippi Human Trafficking Coordinator, the Mississippi Center for Violence Prevention, the Gulf Coast Center of Non-Violence, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Department of Child Protective
Services, Children’s Advocacy Centers, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern District of Mississippi.
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Olive Branch Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay More than $2 Million in Restitution for Stealing from VolvoRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. –An Olive Branch man was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on Thursday for Mail Fraud and for Making a False Statement in Connection with the Purchase of a Firearm. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced David Quarles, 35, to serve the 51-month prison term and to pay $2,606,529.87 in restitution to US Volvo Group and Chubb Insurance Company.
Quarles was employed at the Volvo distribution center in Byhalia, Mississippi and over the course of two years, from 2015 to 2017, Quarles embezzled auto parts from Volvo and sold them online. Quarles used his position in the warehouse to alter shipping labels and inventory records and conceal his theft of the auto parts. After his Indictment for fraud in October 2018, Quarles attempted to purchase a Micro Draco, 7.62 x 39 mm caliber pistol from the Double Barrel Gun Store in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and in the process of attempting the purchase, he made a false statement on the Form 4473, claiming that he was not under indictment for a felony.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar noted that this prosecution was important for several reasons. “When residents of North Mississippi attempt to make a quick buck by defrauding their employers, it does harm to this State, the companies that chose to do business here, and our honest, law-abiding citizens. We will do everything we can to hold these individuals accountable for their actions. Furthermore, we will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who possess or attempt to possess firearms when they are prohibited by law from doing so.” Lamar remarked.
This case was investigated by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by AUSA Parker Kline.
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Eight People Arrested on Drug Distribution and Weapons Charges in North MississippiRead the Press Release
Tupelo, Miss. – A total of eight individuals are behind bars today following their arrest by federal, state and local law enforcement officers on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges in North East Mississippi. The FBI together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Tupelo Police Department announced that the arrests were made on Tuesday and Wednesday following an extensive multi-year, multi-agency investigation.
The eight individuals currently in custody on federal drug trafficking charges include:
- Jeremy Mairidith, age 38, of Tupelo;
- Eiko T. Jones, age 42, of Waukegun, Illinois;
- Fernando Gonzalez, age 24, of Turlock, California;
- Stefanie K. Johnson, age 30, of Tupelo;
- Dmitri R. Kimble, age 35, of Atlanta, Georgia;
- Samuel Wilson, III, age 30, of Shannon;
- Desmonya Lewis, age 29, of Saltillo;
- Andraea Stovall, age 36, of Corinth.
In addition to drug trafficking charges, Mairidith, Johnson, and Wilson all face federal firearms charges.
Mairidith, Jones, and Gonzalez were first arrested on state drug trafficking charges on May 18, 2019, and have been held in custody since their arrest. On July 23, 2019, Mairidith first appeared in court on related federal drug trafficking charges. Mairidith appeared in court with his defense counsel on Monday for arraignment and a detention hearing on a federal indictment alleging that he was the head of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing methamphetamine and marijuana for multiple years in North Mississippi. After hearing testimony, U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Percy ordered that Mairidith be detained without bond pending trial.
Jones and Gonzalez are scheduled to make their first appearance on the federal indictment on August 19. The remaining subjects are scheduled to appear on the indictment before a United States Magistrate Judge in the Northern District on Mississippi later this week. In addition, law enforcement officials indicated today that they expect additional arrests in this case in the near future.
The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Oxford Resident Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs, in partnership with state and local law enforcement. Agencies assisting with the investigation were the Tupelo Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Corinth Police Department, Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, North Mississippi Narcotics Unit, DEA, United States Postal Inspection Service, Mississippi Department of Corrections and the United States Marshals Service.
Following the arrests, Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre emphasized the importance of this investigation, and praised the joint law enforcement efforts. “The combination of illegal narcotics and illegal weapons leads to violence in our communities. Tupelo Police Officers are constantly working to break this cycle of violence and a key part of our strategy is targeting these dealers who prey on our citizens,” remarked Aguirre. “I am proud of the men and women of our department who put themselves at risk on a daily basis pursuing individuals who engage in narcotics and weapons related crimes. We at TPD are also honored to work with other partner agencies at the local, state and federal level. It is only through these partnerships that we can be successful.”
Like Chief Aguirre, representatives from ATF reiterated their agency’s commitment to apprehending armed individuals who commit crimes in North Mississippi. “ATF, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners will continue to focus our efforts on removing armed violent criminals from our streets,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge William McCrary. "ATF and our partners remain committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who seek to disrupt communities and harm law abiding citizens.”
The FBI likewise indicated its commitment to coordinated efforts like the instant one. FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin remarked: “The FBI’s commitment to our law enforcement partnerships and to the community continues to be at the forefront of our mission to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar praised all of the agencies involved in the operation and the law enforcement initiatives that helped make this joint investigation possible. “As a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and the OCDETF program, we are working closely with local, state and federal partners to apprehend violent armed offenders and to insure that our communities and streets are safer. We are committed to doing everything in our power to facilitate joint investigations and enforcement efforts like the one in this case so that those who choose to deal drugs or victimize others will be held accountable for their actions.”
The case is being prosecuted by AUSA Chad Doleac.
All charges are merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Alleged Members of the Simon City Royals Indicted on Federal Racketeering ChargersRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS. - William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, announced today that several alleged members of the Simon City Royals have been charged in a two-count indictment for participating in a violent assault in aid of a racketeering enterprise. The indictment was returned by a grand jury on April 23, 2019, and unsealed today in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Mississippi.
According to court documents, the Simon City Royals is a national gang with a highly organized structure including board members and Ambassadors who each control geographic regions. The scope of the Simon City Royals’ crimes is wide-ranging and consistent throughout the national operation. The gang protects its power and operation through threats, intimidation and violence, including murder, attempted murder, identity fraud and obstruction of justice.
Investigation has shown that the Simon City Royals is active within correctional facilities in the State of Mississippi, and the organization is primarily overseen by members of the organization who are incarcerated within the correctional facilities. Once a correctional facility has enough members of the “Folk Nation,” primarily Simon City Royals and Gangster Disciples, to form a hierarchy within the facility, they are considered “plugged in,” or part of the Simon City Royal organization. Members are required to submit reports daily to the board over each facility that tracks money earned, disciplinary actions, and any violence/security threats that occur.
The Indictment charged several individuals for their involvement in a prison stabbing that occurred at the EMCF prison facility located in Meridian, Mississippi, including: WILTON JOHNSON a/k/a BIG BOI, JEREMY SMITH a/k/a LIL ONE, CARL MCMILLIAN, JAMES VAUGHN a/k/a SIR FLUTE, JUSTIN HANNAH, and JOE JOHNSON.
All the defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Sanders on Monday and are scheduled for arraignments and detention hearings on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 2:30pm.
Following the publication of the indictments, U.S. Attorney Lamar emphasized his commitment to combatting illegal gang activity and violence. “The prosecution of violent crime, and those individuals who perpetrate it, is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners. We will continue to devote our time, efforts, and resources to the investigation and prosecution of those gangs who threaten our citizens and communities with their illegal activities.”
William McCrary, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for ATF, New Orleans Field Division, stated: “ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to reducing violent crime in the state of Mississippi. These indictments are an example of our ongoing commitment to dismantling violent gangs."
The case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and investigators with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi, and Christopher Taylor from the Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Gang Section.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Local FBI Agent Receives Dual Awards Including Lifetime Achievement Award for Investigation of Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Cases and for Work with Crime VictimsRead the Press Release
An FBI Special Agent from the Oxford Resident Agency Office has been recognized in two separate award ceremonies this week for his investigation of civil rights and human trafficking cases and his work with victims of those offenses. FBI Special Agent Walter Henry, of the FBI Oxford Resident Agency, was honored by leaders from the Department of Justice, FBI and the US Attorney’s Office when he received the FBI’s National Civil Rights Program Award for his lifetime of achievement in investigating Civil Rights Cases. Henry received the national award on Monday in a ceremony attended by family, co-workers and friends. Henry was again recognized on Friday in a ceremony at the US Attorney’s office for his work with crime victims.
The FBI's Civil Rights Program Award is an annual award recognizing outstanding cases, programs, or individuals, inside or outside of the Bureau, who are working Civil Rights Crimes and Human Trafficking threats. The goal of the award program is to highlight the exemplary work of those investigating civil rights matters, and promote the FBI's civil rights mission, foster liaison relationships, and enhance education and outreach efforts. In Henry’s case, he received the award not because of a specific investigation, but for his entire career’s dedication to the investigation of Civil Rights and Human Trafficking cases.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bryan McCloskey of the Memphis Field Office supervised Henry for several years while they were both a part of the FBI Oxford Resident Agency Office and was on hand to introduce Henry and help present the award. McCloskey highlighted the positive impact that Special Agent Henry’s work has had not only in Mississippi, but across the nation. Because of Henry’s experience, empathy and investigative abilities, he has been assigned to assist with difficult and politically charged investigations across the United States. McCloskey noted that in addition to his work in other cities across the country on sensitive civil rights cases, Henry has handled the majority of civil rights cases in this district during the previous year and has helped train law enforcement officers and other individuals across the state of Mississippi on investigating and dealing with suspected civil rights cases.
During the ceremony, Henry was commended for his work with victims, community leaders and civil rights organizations. McCloskey noted that Henry’s calm and empathetic manner allows him effectively deal with emotionally charged situations and to interact with families of victims in a way that helps to bring reassurance and closure.
"Special Agent Henry exemplifies everything positive about the FBI. It is an honor and privilege to recognize SA Henry for being a leader in the FBI's national civil rights program," said SAC Freeze. "Walt's work over the course of his career has ensured that the civil rights of all are protected."
U.S. Attorney Lamar also applauded Henry, and noted that he was particularly deserving of recognition. “Throughout his career, Walt Henry has epitomized what a Special Agent with the Bureau should be. He has left an indelible mark on those with whom he has worked, done with strokes of politeness, humor and goodwill, but most of all with hard work, dedication, brilliance, integrity and humility. I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.”
Henry and two other agents were also recognized in a ceremony on Friday morning for outstanding work with victims as a part of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week. FBI Agent Henry, FBI Agent Ryan Berthay and Health and Human Services Agent Mike Loggins were all recognized on Friday for outstanding work with crime victims.
During the Friday morning ceremony, Henry was recognized for his dedication to crime victims, their families and communities. A federal prosecutor introducing Henry’s award noted that Henry cares for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of victims, recognizes the pain of family members and gently and gracefully displays compassion throughout his investigations.
FBI Agent Ryan Berthay was recognized for his dogged pursuit of justice on behalf of crime victims and for the thorough work he does on each and every investigation. Agent Mike Loggins of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General was recognized for his extraordinary efforts to personally meet and hear from victims of those crimes he investigates.
Desoto County Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Desoto County man has been sentenced to serve 10 years in prison following his conviction for possession of child pornography. Benjamin Adam McDonald, age 33, of Southaven, Mississippi, was arrested and prosecuted after a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was forwarded to the FBI, who investigated the matter in conjunction with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. A search warrant revealed the contents of McDonald’s child pornography collection. U.S. Attorney, William C. Lamar, together with FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze, and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, made the announcement following McDonald’s sentencing on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
In addition to sentencing McDonald to serve 10 years in prison, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson imposed a term of 10 years supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Davidson also ordered McDonald to register as a sex offender. McDonald will begin serving the sentence immediately.
Following the sentencing, Mississippi Attorney General Hood praised the joint work of investigators. “Partnerships between agencies are critical to protecting our children and putting predators behind bars,” General Hood said. “Thank you to Judge Davidson for sentencing this man to the maximum time. Our investigators continue to join forces to make sure Mississippi’s children are safe.”
"When our children are exploited for any reason, it steals their innocence and leaves lifelong scars," said SAC Freeze. "Cases like these would not be successful without the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office."
U. S. Attorney Lamar reiterated the commitment of his office to prosecuting cases involving crimes against children. “Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime and the children who are victimized as a part of these crimes will often deal with trauma and repercussions from these offenses for the rest of their lives. We will continue to work diligently to help address the physical and emotional needs of the victims and to hold accountable those who would prey upon children and other vulnerable victims to satisfy their own lascivious interests.”
Lamar noted that the case was a joint investigation by the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and he thanked the agents who acted on the NCMEC tip that ultimately led to the search of McDonald’s residence. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Paul Roberts.
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Former Sheriff of Tallahatchie County Sentenced to Federal Prison for Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
OXFORD – The former Sheriff of Tallahatchie County was sentenced to six years in federal prison on Thursday for agreeing to allow robbery of a drug dealer and drug distribution in Tallahatchie County in exchange for bribes. William Brewer, 58, appeared before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills in Oxford for sentencing following his guilty plea for extorting a bribe, and Mills imposed the 72-month sentence. In addition, Brewer was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison and to forfeit $42,500. Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Division and William C. Lamar, US Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, made the announcement following the sentence.
Evidence showed that a source cooperating with the FBI who was known by Brewer to sell drugs in Tallahatchie County, informed Brewer of plans to rob another drug dealer of drugs and money. Brewer did nothing to oppose the actions of the individual and the individual delivered $6,500 cash to Brewer at his residence in Tallahatchie County on June 21, 2018, representing that the cash was money obtained from robbing the drug dealer. On two subsequent occasions, the individual delivered additional payments to Brewer’s residence representing that they were proceeds from the sale of the stolen drugs. The evidence established that Brewer accepted a total of $10,000 in bribes over a two-month period.
In August of 2018, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Brewer with multiple counts of extortion by bribe, and a single count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics. On October 30, 2018, Brewer pled guilty to count three of the indictment in exchange of dismissal of the remaining counts and faced not more than 20 years in prison.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze emphasized the importance of investigating and holding accountable corrupt law enforcement officials. "When corrupt law enforcement officers, especially an elected sheriff, participate in the crimes they are sworn to protect against, it degrades the public trust of law enforcement everywhere," said SAC Freeze. "Public corruption continues to be the FBI's top criminal priority, because it tears at the fabric of our democracy."
Following the sentence, U.S. Attorney William Lamar noted that Brewer’s actions were not only illegal, but a betrayal of the citizens he was sworn to serve. “William Brewer violated his oath, dishonoring himself, his badge, and every honest lawman who wears a badge. The citizens of our state and Tallahatchie County deserved better and we hope that today’s sentence will emphasize the commitment of this office to hold accountable elected officials who would so blatantly betray the public’s trust,” remarked Lamar.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Oxford Resident Agency and prosecuted by AUSA Robert Mims.
Eupora Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing and Discharging a Weapon at Eupora High SchoolRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Eupora man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his illegal possession and discharge of a weapon on the campus of Eupora High School in March of 2018. Nathaniel Cole Breazeale, 20, was sentenced Monday afternoon by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to serve 71 months in prison stemming from his discharge of a pistol at Eupora High School during school hours on March 28, 2018. An announcement regarding Breazeale’s sentence was made by Dana Nichols, ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge and U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar.
Information presented as part of the case showed that shortly before school dismissal on March 28, 2018, Breazeale drove a motor bike onto the Eupora High School grounds where he drove erratically around the band practice field before pulling out a 9mm pistol, firing multiple shots at the school building, and driving away in the direction of the elementary school. Testimony revealed that at least one of the rounds fired by Breazeale struck a van, in which a parent sat waiting for her children. Students and parents who were outside the band hall waiting for dismissal ran for cover and the high school was placed on lockdown as a result of the incident. Meanwhile, as anxious parents waited, elementary school students who had already boarded school buses bound for the high school were required to remain on board the buses in the high school parking lot until the scene was secured and cleared by law enforcement. Local, state and federal officers and agents responded to the chaotic scene and collected a total of six 9mm shell casings from the scene.
In sentencing Breazeale to the seventy one month sentence along with three years of supervised release, Judge Sharion Aycock noted that the need to “protect the public” was a “major factor” in her decision to impose the six year sentence. Breazeale, who pled guilty to being a prohibited person, and specifically a habitual user of narcotics in possession of a firearm, faced a maximum of ten years in prison. Aycock ordered Breazeale to undergo drug treatment as a part of his supervised release and recommended that he receive treatment while incarcerated.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar emphasized the commitment of his office to hold accountable individuals who threaten the safety of the community and our schools through lawless and reckless acts. Lamar remarked, “We are committed to doing everything within our power to keep our schools and communities safe. The possession and discharge of a weapon on a school campus demonstrates an extreme and reckless disregard for the safety of students, teachers and parents. In the instant case, the individual discharging the gun was prohibited by law from even possessing a firearm or ammunition. We will continue to work diligently with our local, state and federal partners to enforce the federal firearms laws and to hold accountable those who use firearms to threaten the safety and well-being of our communities, and particularly our schools.”
“The outcome of this prosecution is sending a positive message to the community on ATF’s commitment to keep children, parents, and educators safe from firearms violence while at school,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols. “We will continue to investigate, identify, pursue and hold accountable those individuals who seek to violate the safety of our schools. These investigations are a priority for ATF.”
Multiple local, state and federal agencies participated in the investigation of this case, including the Eupora Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF Supervisory Agent Joseph Frank of the Oxford Resident Office served as the case agent and the case was prosecuted by AUSA Susan Bradley.
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Mississippi U.S. Attorneys Warn Taxpayers to Avoid Unscrupulous Tax Return PreparersRead the Press Release
As “Tax Day,” April 15th, approaches, U.S. Attorneys Mike Hurst and Chad Lamar of the Southern and Northern Districts of Mississippi, respectively, remind taxpayers to beware of unscrupulous tax return preparers.
“Every year, some Mississippians are victimized by dishonest individuals looking to make a quick buck by defrauding our tax system. We are committed to bringing these underhanded return preparers to justice. If you suspect tax fraud, contact our offices or your local IRS office. By being vigilant and working together, we can hold these tax fraudsters and cheats accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
“I certainly echo the words of my colleague. We, as citizens of the United States, have a legal obligation to timely pay our federal and state taxes and to timely file our tax returns. Those who choose to evade those responsibilities, or take advantage of our citizens who are trying to comply with their legal tax filing obligations, will be met with severe penalties, including prosecution.” said U.S. Attorney Lamar.
While most tax return preparers are professional and honest, some prepare returns with false information in order to improperly boost a taxpayer’s refund, to reduce their liability, or to increase business and preparation fees. Under the law, taxpayers are responsible for what is reported on their returns. When the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) uncovers the falsehoods, the taxpayer can face penalties and interest and, if circumstances warrant, criminal prosecution.
The U.S. Attorneys issued the following tips to those who are selecting a tax return preparer:
- Be wary of tax return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than others can.
- Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of your refund into their financial accounts.
- Ensure you use a preparer with a preparer tax identification number (“PTIN”). Paid tax return preparers must have a PTIN to prepare all or substantially all of a tax return.
- Use a reputable tax professional, who enters their PTIN on your tax return, signs the tax return, and provides you a copy of the return (as required).
- Consider whether the individual or firm will be around for months or years after filing the return to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return.
- Never sign a blank tax form.
- Check the person’s credentials. Only attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals.
The U.S. Department of Justice applies both civil and criminal tools at its disposal to shut down illegal tax return preparation activity. Taxpayers should always remain wary of tax return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than others or engage in other unscrupulous practices. Every year, the Justice Department’s Tax Division, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, files civil actions seeking court orders to shut down tax return preparers who allegedly prepared false tax returns, and to punish dishonest tax return preparers for their fraudulent activities. When the evidence supports criminal enforcement action, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices will pursue criminal prosecutions of tax return preparers.
The IRS has some additional information on its website about selecting a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers and a list of tips for choosing a tax preparer.
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FBI Makes Additional Narcotics, Weapons Arrest in GreenvilleRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MISS. – Seven additional men from Greenville, Miss., face federal narcotics and weapons charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury, announced William C. Lamar, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi.
Law enforcement took the following individuals into custody on Thursday:
- Jimmy Appleton, age 44, of Greenville.
- Lamarcus Martin, age 38, of Greenville.
- James Edward Murray, aka James Edward Lunford, age 41, of Greenville.
- Cadarrius Nelson, age 26, of Greenville.
Three individuals were previously taken into federal custody: - Carl Lawrence, age 37, of Greenville was arrested by the Greenville Police Department on March 29, 2019.
- Jonathan Robinson, age 35, of Greenville was previously indicted and transferred from state custody to federal custody.
- Chaddwick Wilson, age 38, of Atlanta was arrested by the FBI Atlanta Division on Wednesday. Wilson is a former Greenville resident.
Appleton is charged in a three-count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Martin is charged in a three-count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Murray is charged in a four-count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Nelson is charged in a three-count indictment with one count of possession with intent to distribute – cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Lawrence is charged in a one-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Robinson is charged in a two-count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felon in possession of ammunition.
Wilson is charged in a three-count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Appleton, Martin, Murray and Nelson made initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden, United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in Greenville on Thursday. Magistrate Judge Virden released Appleton, Murray and Nelson on bond, and ordered that Martin be held pending a detention hearing set for Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
Lawrence initially appeared on Monday and was released on bond on Thursday. Robinson waived his arraignment hearing and was ordered held pending trial by United States Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders. Chaddwick Wilson initially appeared Wednesday in Atlanta and has been held pending an identity and detention hearing in Atlanta scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2019.
Five Greenville men were taken into custody on similar charges on March 19, 2019.
Agencies assisting with the investigation and arrests were the Greenville Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Circuit Court, the United States Marshals Service and the FBI Atlanta and Memphis Divisions. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Mims.
These charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Monroe County Man Convicted of Federal Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Monroe County man was convicted Tuesday night of a federal gun violation and drug trafficking crimes following a two-day jury trial presided over by Senior US District Judge Neal Biggers. Jerry Lee Quinn, 50, formerly of Aberdeen and West Point, was found guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, and Distribution of a Controlled Substance. The announcement regarding Quinn’s conviction was made by Joseph Frank, Supervisory Special Agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Oxford, and U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar.
Information presented during the trial revealed that Quinn was a convicted felon who was on the run from law enforcement with several outstanding arrest warrants in September of 2013. During an investigation into Quinn’s whereabouts, investigators obtained information on the night of September 11, 2013, that Quinn was at a residence in Southaven, Mississippi, and surrounded the house in an attempt to apprehend Quinn. Quinn fled the residence, but was eventually apprehended after a struggle with Desoto County Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force. During a search of bags belonging to Quinn that were found at the residence, officers located two loaded firearms, ammunition, and marijuana packaged for sale.
Following the verdict, U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar praised investigators for their joint efforts to apprehend Quinn, and reiterated the commitment of his office to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods through violence, drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. Lamar remarked, “This investigation and today’s verdict are the result of a collaborative and targeted effort by local and federal law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of our communities. We are committed to doing everything possible to keep our neighborhoods, towns and cities safe and when law enforcement agencies work together, we can hold accountable those individuals who violate the law and threaten the safety of our residents. We will continue to work diligently with our local, state and federal partners to enforce the federal firearms laws and to see that individuals who violate those laws are held accountable.”
The investigation, arrest and prosecution of Quinn was the result of a joint Federal and State investigation by ATF, the US Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, Southaven Police Department and Olive Branch Police Department. The case was prosecuted as a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative by AUSA Robert Mims and AUSA Susan Bradley.
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Lyric Shooter Sentenced to 10 years in PrisonRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Memphis, Tennessee man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Thursday afternoon for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. Desmond Bowen pled guilty to a federal firearms offense in November of 2018, stemming from his role in a shooting that occurred inside the Lyric Theater in Oxford, Mississippi on April 27, 2018. An announcement regarding Bowen’s sentence was made by Joseph Frank, Supervisory Special Agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Oxford, and U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar.
Information presented as part of the case against Bowen showed that he attended a party at the Lyric Theater in April on Double Decker Weekend when a fight broke out inside the theater. Bowen fired a shot upward, which hit the underside of a balcony, ricocheted, and struck a patron. Officers collected a .25 auto caliber shell casing from the scene along with an attendee’s video, which depicted Bowen shooting a firearm.
In sentencing Bowen to the maximum possible ten year sentence along with three years of supervised release, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills called Bowen a “risk to the public” and noted the senselessness of Bowen’s acts in discharging the weapon within the crowded Lyric theater.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar announced the sentence and reiterated the commitment of his office to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of the community through lawless and reckless acts. Lamar remarked, “We are committed to doing everything possible to keep our neighborhoods, towns and cities safe. We will always seek to hold accountable those individuals who threaten the safety and security of our communities and citizens through illegal and reckless conduct. The discharge of a weapon inside a crowded public place demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety of others. In the instant case, the individual discharging the gun was prohibited by law from even possessing a firearm or ammunition. We will continue to work diligently with our local, state and federal partners to enforce the federal firearms laws and to see that individuals who violate those laws are held accountable.”
The investigation was the culmination of a joint Federal and State investigation into the shooting with the Oxford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Clyde McGee.
FBI Arrest Five Greenville Men on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MISS. – Five Greenville, Miss. men were taken into custody by law enforcement on Tuesday after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of felon in possession of a weapon, and three of the five are additionally charged with drug trafficking and related weapons charges, announced William C. Lamar, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, law enforcement took the following individuals into custody:
- Ted Bell, age 41, of Greenville.
- Henry Brown, age 39, of Greenville.
- Cornelius K. Harris, age 29, of Greenville.
- George Jefferson, age 34, of Greenville.
- Lonnie Nalls, age 35, of Greenville.
Bell is charged in a four count indictment with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Bell faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Brown is charged in a three count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Brown faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $2.5 million.
Jefferson is charged in a three count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Jefferson faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Harris and Nalls are each charged in a one count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Harris and Nalls each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
All five individuals made initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden, United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in Greenville on Tuesday. Magistrate Judge Virden ordered that Bell, Harris, Jefferson and Nalls be held pending Detention Hearings set for Thursday, March 21, 2019.
Agencies assisting with the investigation and arrests were the Greenville Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Circuit Court and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Mims. -
These charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alcorn County Man Sentenced in AG’s Largest Counterfeit InvestigationRead the Press Release
An Alcorn County man who attempted to sell millions in counterfeit goods was sentenced Thursday in state court for charges following a major state and federal joint investigation, announced Attorney General Jim Hood.
Russell W. Haynie, 45, a native of Stantonville, TN, pleaded guilty in Alcorn County Circuit Court to one count of possession of counterfeit goods with intent to distribute. Alcorn County Circuit Judge John R. White sentenced Haynie to serve five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with two years suspended and leaving three years to serve. Judge White ordered Haynie to pay $1,000 in fines in addition to AG investigative costs. Haynie pleaded guilty last November in federal court to trafficking of counterfeit goods and received a federal sentence of 32 months, which he must serve day for day. Additionally, Haynie must pay $152,930 in federal restitution for Louis Vuitton products and $167,295 for Michael Kors products. The state and federal sentences will be served concurrently.
Haynie and a second defendant were arrested in September 2016 at their Corinth business, Discount Wallet Outlet. The joint investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, the Corinth Police Department and the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division uncovered more than $1.5 million in counterfeit goods and coins the defendants were selling to the general public from their store and online.
Haynie was arrested for the second time in September 2017 at his home by investigators with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Cyber Crime Divisions, where investigators found over $2 million worth of counterfeit goods. Items discovered included Yeti-brand products, Life Proof and Otter Box phone cases, Ray Ban sunglasses, Beats by Dre, and Apple and Bose products. Investigators also found multiple high-end bags by Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Coach, MCM, and Tory Burch. This case was part of General Hood’s Knock Out Knock Offs (KOKO) Taskforce, and it was the largest undercover counterfeit operation since the KOKO’s inception 10 years ago. Multiple agencies assisted in this investigation, including the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department, United States Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Postal Service.
“We have formed strong partnerships with state and federal agencies through our Knock Out Knock Offs Task Force, and this case demonstrates there is a higher price to pay when you are caught selling counterfeit goods in our state,” said General Hood. “We extend our thanks and appreciation to all of the participating agencies in this case for their dedication and hard work. Selling or buying counterfeit goods poses serious health and safety risks to consumers, not to mention loss of revenue to businesses. You won’t get away with it in our state.”
“Criminal networks are working daily to fool the public with illegally imported counterfeit goods they use the profits from to fund other large-scale criminal activity,” said Jere T. Miles, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans. “The same criminal groups behind counterfeit luxury goods also sell counterfeit medical devices, and safety items such as car airbags, that directly threaten public safety for profit. HSI will continue to work with the attorney general and other law enforcement partners to identity and prosecute these criminal enterprises, and to defend legitimate businesses that pay taxes, employ workers and contribute to the health of the legitimate economy.”
William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, said, “Late last year, Russell Wayne Haynie was convicted and sentenced in federal court for importing and trafficking over $1,000,000 in counterfeit designer brand goods mainly from China. Trafficking in counterfeit goods not only causes tremendous damage to the legitimate manufacturers and businesses but also damages consumers who are not receiving the safe quality goods they believe are authentic. This is also another example of federal and state authorities working together for the good of the people of the State of Mississippi."
In addition to the assisting agencies, this case was investigated by Lee McDivitt and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Patrick Beasley, both of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Also prosecuting this case was Assistant United States Attorneys Jamiel Wiggins and Clay Joyner of the United States Attorneys Office.
Bank Officer Sentenced for FraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – A former bank officer has been sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling funds from Southern Bancorp Bank. Michael J. Erickson, age 42, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson on Thursday to serve 24 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. In addition, Erickson was ordered to pay $1,462,030.31 in restitution to Southern Bancorp Bank. United States Attorney William C. Lamar, Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) made the announcement following the sentencing.
Previously, on October 9, 2018, Erickson pled guilty to a one count Information charging him with Embezzlement by a Bank Officer in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 656. The conduct in question occurred while Erickson was employed as an officer at Southern Bancorp Bank in Clarksdale, Mississippi. In August 2010, the United States Treasury Department invested $33,800,000 in the holding company of Southern Bancorp Bank through the Community Development Capital Initiative. As a part of his plea, Erickson admitted to using his position as a bank officer to embezzle bank funds for his own benefit and generate fraudulent loans for the benefit of himself and others.
Following the sentencing in Oxford, Mississippi, U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar remarked, “As evidenced by the sentencing today, we will vigorously prosecute those bank employees who betray the public trust by embezzling or stealing from our financial institutions.”
“Embezzlement at any level weakens our economic stability and undermines our financial institutions as a whole,” said Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. “We will maintain our strong relationship with the United States Attorney’s Office and partner with law enforcement agencies to ensure these types of criminals are fully investigated and prosecuted across Mississippi.”
“Former bank officer Michael Erickson was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for criminally defrauding Southern Bancorp, after the bank received a nearly $34 million TARP bailout,” said Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Christy Goldsmith Romero. “Instead of acting in the public trust, Erickson used his position at Southern Bancorp to steal thousands of dollars for his own personal enrichment from a commercial loan he managed. I thank the United States Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Mississippi for bringing justice in this case.”
This case was jointly investigated by the FBI and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP). The case was prosecuted by AUSA Clay Dabbs.
Luther Floyd of Booneville Sentenced for Attempted Creation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Oxford, Miss. – A federal judge has sentenced Luther Scott Floyd of Booneville to serve 180 months in prison for attempted creation of child pornography. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, and Tishomingo County Sheriff Randy Tolar announced that Floyd was sentenced to the term of imprisonment on Thursday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown in Oxford.
Floyd pled guilty on August 10, 2018, to knowingly attempting to create videos of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(1)(a). At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown ordered Floyd to serve 5 years of supervised release after he completes the 15-year prison sentence.
Following the sentencing hearing, U.S. Attorney Lamar noted, “We will continue to do everything that we can to protect our children by removing these reprehensible predators from our communities.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Southaven Resident Agency, The Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Alcorn Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Paul Roberts in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
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Lyric Shooter Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Memphis, Tennessee man has pled guilty to federal firearms charges relating to his role in a shooting that occurred inside the Lyric Theater in Oxford, Mississippi on April 27, 2018. Desmond Bowen pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of ammunition during the incident. The announcement regarding Bowen’s guilty plea was made by Oxford Police Chief Joey East, Joseph Frank, Supervisory Special Agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Oxford, and U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar.
Information presented at the change of plea hearing showed that Bowen attended a party at the Lyric Theater in April on Double Decker Weekend when a fight broke out inside the theater. Bowen fired a shot upward, which hit underneath the balcony, ricocheted and hit a patron. Officers collected a .25 auto caliber shell casing from the scene along with an attendee’s video, which depicted Bowen shooting a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills in the Northern Judicial District of Mississippi accepted Bowen’s guilty plea to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Bowen faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. The sentencing is set for February 14, 2019.
Following the plea, U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar remarked, “We are committed to doing everything possible to keep our neighborhoods, towns and cities safe. We will always seek to hold accountable those individuals who threaten the safety and security of our communities and citizens through illegal and reckless conduct. The discharge of a weapon inside a crowded public place demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety of others. In the instant case, the individual discharging the gun was prohibited by law from even possessing a firearm or ammunition. We will continue to work diligently with our local, state and federal partners to enforce the federal firearms laws and to see that individuals who violate those laws are held accountable.”
Oxford Police Chief Joey East also praised the cooperative efforts of those agencies involved in the investigation. “This is a perfect example of the collaborative efforts of state, federal and local law enforcement agencies working together for the common goal of public safety. Without the dedicated work of all of the agencies involved, Desmond Bowen would not have been brought to justice. It is always a good day when hard work pays off. The safety of citizens is our top priority, because it is not about who does what but about what was accomplished working together as a team,” stated East.
The investigation was the culmination of a joint Federal and State investigation into the shooting with the Oxford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Clyde McGee.
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U.S. Attorneys in Mississippi Stand Ready to Protect Voting Rights on Election DayRead the Press Release
United States Attorneys Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi and William C. Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi announced today that they have appointed District Election Officers (“DEO”) in their respective Districts to be responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in Mississippi in consultation with U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wansley in the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant United States Attorney Robert Coleman in the Northern District of Mississippi will lead the efforts of the United States Attorneys’ Offices in Mississippi in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2018, general election.
“Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and ensuring free and fair elections is one of the most important responsibilities we have as U.S. Attorneys. If anyone has specific information about election fraud or discrimination, please contact our offices, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division. We stand ready to act promptly and aggressively to protect voter rights and the integrity of the election process,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
U.S. Attorney Lamar said, “The fairness of the election process hinges on our citizens’ ability to fully and fairly exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear, resistance or undue outside influence. We will work diligently to insure that the right of our citizens to vote and to participate in the electoral process will not be impeded.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Chris Wansley and AUSA/DEO Robert Coleman will be on duty in their respective Districts while the polls are open. Wansley can be reached at 601-973-2883 and Coleman can be contacted at 662-238-7676.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 601-948-5000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to [email protected] or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
Pontotoc Woman Sentenced to Prison for Identity Theft and Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, together with Thomas J. Holloman, III, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, announced today that a Pontotoc, Mississippi woman was sentenced on Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to 21 months incarceration followed by three years supervised release for identity theft and stealing government funds.
Tracy Smith of Pontotoc, Mississippi, had previously pled guilty to one count of theft of government funds. Evidence submitted at the change of plea hearing showed that Smith obtained the personal identifying information of numerous individuals and used that information to file fraudulent tax returns and generate fraudulent tax refunds for her personal benefit. Smith was ordered to pay $224,578 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar remarked: “When individuals in our society choose to steal the identity of others in order to file fraudulent tax returns, they create long-lasting consequences and hardships for the people who have been victimized that go far beyond delayed tax returns. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to hold these individuals accountable by vigilantly prosecuting those who choose to victimize our citizens and steal money from the US Treasury.”
Thomas J. Holloman, III, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated, “Stolen Identity Refund Fraud is a high priority for the Special Agents of IRS – CI. Tracy Smith’s tax fraud is a direct theft from the U S Treasury and the taxpayers we are sworn to protect. She will now serve time in prison for her victimization of Mississippi taxpayers, and every day of her prison term is a well-deserved reward for her criminal actions.”
This case was investigated by the IRS – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by AUSA Clay Dabbs.
Former Southaven Alderman Sentenced for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Oxford, Miss. – Ronald W. Hale, a former Alderman for the City of Southaven was sentenced Wednesday morning to 85 months imprisonment for transportation of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi William C. Lamar, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi Christopher Freeze, and DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco.
Hale pled guilty on April 2, 2018, to knowingly using a means of interstate or foreign commerce to transport or ship a visual depiction involving a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(1)(a). In sentencing Hale on Wednesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock also ordered Hale to serve 5 years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, and to pay $3,500 in restitution to a victim of the crime.
Following the sentencing hearing, U.S. Attorney Lamar noted, “There is sometimes a misconception that child pornography is a victimless crime and that no one is injured by those who merely view or exchange it. This could not be further from the truth. Every day, there are children in our country who are victimized and tortured by those individuals who use them to produce, record and distribute graphic sexual images as a means of pleasure or entertainment. Individuals who choose to view and transport those images provide a market for these unconscionable and illegal acts, and re-victimize those children each time it is shared or viewed. We must continue to protect these vulnerable child victims by holding accountable those who produce, distribute or view child pornography.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Southaven Resident Agency and DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Southaven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Paul Roberts in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Cleveland Woman Pleads Guilty to Hospice FraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, together with Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta and Jim Hood, Attorney General for the State of Mississippi, announced today that a Cleveland, Mississippi woman has pled guilty to defrauding the United States by operating multiple fraudulent hospice programs and submitting fraudulent claims.
Charline Brandon of Cleveland, Mississippi, pled guilty on Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown, to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud for her role in collecting Medicare and Medicaid payments from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Mississippi State Division of Medicaid for the fraudulent hospice claims.
Evidence submitted at the change of plea hearing showed that Brandon owned and operated a series of Hospice organizations headquartered in Cleveland, Mississippi, including Haven Hospice, North Haven Hospice, Lion Hospice and North Lion Hospice. Brandon admitted that she fraudulently submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for hospice services that were not medically necessary or that were not provided to the hospice patients as claimed. Brandon further admitted that she illegally recruited patients who were not hospice eligible. The Government alleged at the change of plea hearing that Brandon submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and more than $2 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid.
“This sham hospice provider exploited the most vulnerable in our society while stealing millions from our health care system,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta. “This is one of the largest and most egregious hospice schemes I have seen in Mississippi. The OIG will continue to identify the individuals committing these crimes and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Hospice is designed for end of life care to care for our most vulnerable people, not for personal gain. Unfortunately, this defendant was billing the taxpayers for patients who were not terminal. It is our duty to make sure our tax dollars are not stolen so there is money available to care for those who are terminally ill.” Attorney General Jim Hood said. “Joint investigations such as this one are key to protecting our healthcare system.”
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar remarked: “In addition to helping to protect victims and those vulnerable members of our society, another part of our mission and goal is to protect our taxpayer dollars from those who would steal and misuse them. The United States Attorney’s Office will always seek to hold accountable those individuals who victimize our citizens and steal those resources designed to help them.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and prosecuted by AUSA Clay Dabbs.
Former Coldwater, Mississippi Town Clerk Arrested and Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
JACKSON, Miss. – George Nangah, 51, of Cordova, Tennessee was arrested following a 14-count indictment by a federal grand jury alleging wire fraud, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi William C. Lamar, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi Christopher Freeze and Mississippi State Auditor Shad White.
According to the indictment, Nangah allegedly committed wire fraud by unauthorized use of a debit card attached to the Town of Coldwater’s general fund banking account at home improvement stores in Southaven and Bartlett, Tennessee for items not used by the Town of Coldwater. Nangah also allegedly used a charge account set up in the town’s name at an electronics store where he would purchase items and gift cards not used or meant for use by the town. He also allegedly provided unauthorized payments to himself on the town’s clearing and general fund bank account. Nangah also allegedly made unauthorized payments to a third party who would then pay a kickback amount to Nangah.
In all, from April 2014 to July 2017, it is alleged that Nangah received approximately $116,005.41 in cash and property as a result of the scheme.
Nangah made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy in the Northern District of Mississippi in Oxford on Tuesday. Magistrate Judge Percy ordered Nangah to be held pending a detention hearing set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, 2018.
If convicted, Nangah faces up to 20 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Southaven Resident Agency and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. The FBI Memphis Division and Tunica County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Parker Kline.
These charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
255 Arrested as a Part of Combined Law Enforcement Operation in North MississippiRead the Press Release
A month long joint federal, state, and local law enforcement initiative has resulted in the arrests of 255 individuals in North Mississippi on a variety of criminal charges, including homicide, assault, robbery, arson, drug distribution, illegal gun crimes and failure to register as a sex offender. “Operation Triple Beam,” a US Marshals led initiative brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in an effort to reduce crime in North Mississippi by identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting violent gang activity and collecting intelligence to allow for the systematic removal of individuals who have committed and are committing crimes in North Mississippi.
In addition to the arrests, Operation Triple Beam resulted in the seizure of approximately $52,773 worth of narcotics, $50,565 cash, and 76 firearms as well as the recovery of 11 stolen vehicles. The announcement was made on Tuesday in Tupelo by Danny McKittrick, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Mississippi, and William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, together with federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
Operation Triple Beam commenced on August 13, 2018, in Northeast Mississippi and concluded on September 14, 2018. As a part of the initiative, approximately 150 gang members were arrested or validated by law enforcement. In addition, almost 200 registered sex offenders living in areas of North-East Mississippi were checked for compliance with sex offender registration requirements. Compliance checks were also conducted on another 150 moderate and high-risk federal and state probationers.
The arrests, seizures and compliance checks occurring as part of the Operation Triple Beam initiative resulted from the combined efforts of more than 30 local law enforcement agencies across 13 counties in North Mississippi, along with State and Federal law enforcement partners.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions praised the collaboration and combined efforts of law enforcement that led to the success of this operation. “When law enforcement officers work together, we get results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “Again and again, law enforcement in North Mississippi has given the rest of this nation an example of what we can accomplish when we bring together the resources and expertise of our federal officers with the street level intelligence of our state and local partners. The arrest of more than 250 defendants—including multiple sex offenders—as part of Operation Triple Beam builds on the hundreds of arrests that our Deputy Marshals in North Mississippi have helped make over the last year in operations like this one. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Lamar, our outstanding Deputy Marshals, ATF, CBP, six state-level law enforcement agencies, 13 sheriffs, and eight Northeast Mississippi police departments for the roles that they played in these arrests.”
During the initiative, law enforcement agencies were able to utilize a mobile NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network Unit) lab provided by ATF to check seized firearms and shell casings. As a result of these checks and the abilities of the NIBIN system to match spent shell casings to particular firearms, ATF generated 17 leads on unsolved gun crimes in Northeast Mississippi and beyond. Those leads will be utilized by law enforcement agencies in Mississippi and across the nation to help investigate unsolved gun crimes.
The use and sharing of investigative resources such as NIBIN and the multi-agency partnerships that were crucial to the success of Operation Triple Beam as a whole are key components of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the Department of Justice’s violence reduction initiative. PSN began in 2002 under President George W. Bush, continued under President Obama and was reinvigorated during President Trump’s administration. As with Operation Triple Beam, PSN focuses on reducing violent crime and making communities safer through partnerships and collaborative efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement and community partners. The PSN program in the Northern District of Mississippi, named MPACT (Mississippi Partners Alleviating Crime Together), has long been a priority for the US Attorney’s Office and a primary means of combatting violent gun crime. Although it originally focused in the areas of Clarksdale and Greenville, Mississippi, the program has been expanded in recent years to reach other areas of the District.
Operation Triple Beam was accomplished in partnership with the following agencies:
U.S. Marshal’s Service
U.S. Attorney’s Office
U.S. Probation
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Division
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
Mississippi Bureau of Investigations
Mississippi Highway Patrol
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics
Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
Mississippi Department of Corrections
Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Lee County Sheriff’s Department
Tupelo Police Department
Pontotoc Police Department
Pontotoc Sheriff’s Department
Union County Sheriff’s Department
Monroe County Sheriff’s Department
Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department
Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department
Corinth Police Department
Booneville Police Department
Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department
Tate County Sheriff’s Department
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department
Starkville Police Department
Marshall County Sheriff’s Department
Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department
Panola County Sheriff’s Department
Itawamba County Sheriff’s Department
Fulton Police Department
Okolona Police Department
New Albany Police DepartmentCorinth Man Ordered to Pay $50,000 Fine and Banned from Hunting for Killing Migratory BirdsRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Luis Santiago, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced that:
Frederick Alvin Corder, 53, of Corinth, Mississippi, was sentenced Wednesday to pay a $50,000 fine for his role in trapping and killing migratory birds. In addition to the fine, Corder was placed on probation for a term of two years. As a condition of his probation, Corder will be prohibited from hunting anywhere in the world or participating in field trials for a period of two (2) years.
Corder was previously found guilty of eight counts charging him with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”) and one count of conspiracy to violate the MBTA following a bench trial on August 6-7, 2018, before United States Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders, in Oxford, Mississippi. Each count pertained to the taking or attempted taking of migratory birds of prey, including hawks and owls, on Cedar Oak Plantation in Marshall County, Mississippi. Corder, who utilized Cedar Oak Plantation for purposes of releasing pen-raised quail for field trials and the training of bird dogs, participated in a scheme over a three to four year period to trap and kill hawks and owls that might prey upon the released quail.
“We take our mission working with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the citizens of Mississippi in conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats very seriously,” said United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Santiago. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement will continue to work closely with our State partners to assist them in these important investigations.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to hold accountable those individuals who choose to violate the law by abusing our environment,” stated U.S. Attorney Lamar.
This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The case was prosecuted for the United States by AUSA Robert Mims.
Columbus, Mississippi Vice Lord Sentenced to Statutory MaximumRead the Press Release
OXFORD – On September 13, 2018, Darmarcus Fisher, a Vice Lord gang member in Columbus, Mississippi, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of ten years in federal prison for his role in two gang-related shootings, which occurred on March 7, 2016. The melee left one gang member hospitalized and resulted in bullets striking a bystander’s vehicle and residence.
Fisher previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition, which was discharged from a firearm in March of 2016. On Thursday, Fisher was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills in the Northern Judicial District of Mississippi to ten (10) years imprisonment. Fisher’s incarceration will be followed by three years of supervised release.
The sentencing was the culmination of a joint Federal and State investigation into multiple shootings in 2016, which occurred between rival gang members of the Vice Lords and the Black Gangster Disciples in Columbus, Mississippi. Multiple arrests have been made resulting in a substantial reduction in violent crime in Columbus, Mississippi.
William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi and Joseph Frank, Supervisory Special Agent for the Oxford Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, made the announcement.
“We are making our neighborhoods safe again by removing violent offenders from our communities. Through the combined efforts of our Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, federal, state, and local agents and officers will work together to make and keep our neighborhoods safe,” remarked U.S. Attorney Lamar.
These charges were the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that provides supplemental funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of violent organizations and pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhoods anti-violent crime initiative. Several agencies were crucial to this investigation, including the ATF, the Columbus Police Department, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Sixteenth Circuit Court of Mississippi. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oxford, Mississippi.
Nine Arrested on Federal Narcotics Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, announced today that four criminal defendants were held without bond pending trial in the Northern District of Mississippi following their arrests for drug trafficking. The defendants were among nine defendants arrested and fifteen charged in the Northern District of Mississippi for conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine. The arrests were made as part of a joint, ongoing investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), United States Marshals Service, Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marshal County Sheriff’s Office.
All nine defendants arrested are facing federal drug trafficking charges. They include:
- Richard Smith, a.k.a.”Che,” age 36, of Cordova
- Mardrequs McKinney, a.k.a. “Dreek,” age 26, of Byhalia
- Cornelius McKinney, a.k.a. “Fruit,” age 36, of Memphis
- Alvin Rhyan, age 39, of Holly Springs
- Tynisha Dennis, age 27, of Memphis
- Jerrod Kinkle, age 31;
- Herbert Luellen, age 62;
- Charles Ratliff, age 61, of Corinth
- Samuel Nathan Clark, age 43
United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy ordered that Richard Smith, Mardrequs McKinney, Cornelius McKinney and Alvin Rhyan should all be held pending their trials without bond after a hearing in federal court on Friday morning. Judge Percy ordered the detention of the defendants after finding that each of the four defendants presented a danger to the community.
U.S. Attorney Lamar stated: “This was truly a collaborative effort between federal, state and local law enforcement officers. This is another of many operations we are conducting in our district. Under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Taskforce and Project Safe Neighborhoods, these operations are targeted toward removing violent offenders from our communities. Working together, we will make and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
This case is being prosecuted for the United States by AUSA Scott Leary and AUSA Chad Doleac.
The public is reminded that all charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
FBI Arrests 18 on Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Cleveland, Miss. - The FBI has arrested 18 individuals on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges in the Mississippi Delta. The announcement was made at a press conference today in Cleveland by Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi Christopher Freeze, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi Chad Lamar and Cleveland Police Chief Charles Bingham.
The arrests come following an extensive investigation into violent street gang activity following an increase in violent crime in the Mississippi Delta.
14 individuals were taken into custody today by law enforcement on federal drug trafficking and firearms charges:
- Eddie Mitchell, age 30, of Cleveland.
- Darren Scott, age 23, of Cleveland.
- Cordero Walker, age 31, of Cleveland.
- Derrick Williams, age 29, of Cleveland.
- Wendell Fitzgerald, age 29, of Cleveland.
- Frederick Belvin, age 29, of Cleveland.
- Stevie Hester, age 47, of Cleveland.
- Kibrya Cooper, age 33, of Cleveland.
- Demetrius Johnson, age 39, of Cleveland.
- Jayonto Daniels, age 44, of Cleveland.
- Jarrian Johnson, age 31, of Cleveland.
- Frederick Matthews, age 21, of Cleveland.
- Carl Quinn, age 23, of Cleveland.
- Ken Stallings, age 28, taken into custody in Kileen, Texas.
Two individuals were taken into custody by law enforcement on federal drug trafficking charges:
- Jafort Franklin, age 30, of Cleveland.
- Gideon Butler, age 43, of Cleveland.
Two individuals were taken into custody by law enforcement on firearms charges:
- Joe Crawford, age 65, of Boyle.
- Glen May, 28, of Cleveland.
The subjects are scheduled to make their initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the Northern District on Mississippi today.
The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Oxford Resident Agency, under the umbrella of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Agencies assisting with the investigation and arrests were the Cleveland Police Department, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, United States Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
All charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tallahatchie County Sheriff Arrested on Narcotics Trafficking and Extortion ChargesRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, announced today that the Sheriff of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, has been arrested on federal narcotics trafficking and extortion charges.
William Brewer, 58, a resident of Oakland, Mississippi, was charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and extortion and bribery under color of official right in violation of the Hobbs Act, set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 1951. Brewer was charged by criminal complaint in the Northern District of Mississippi.
If convicted, Brewer faces up to 20 years in prison on each count, along with fines ranging from $250,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 per count. Brewer appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending preliminary and detention hearings which are set for August 14, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., in the Federal Courthouse in Oxford, Mississippi.
A criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Mississippi Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Starkville, Mississippi tax return preparer pleaded guilty today to aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar for the Northern District of Mississippi.
According to documents and information provided to the court, from early 2012 through April 2016, Jameka Coffey managed ABS Tax Services, a tax preparation business in Starkville, Mississippi. Coffey falsified taxpayer client returns by claiming false education credits and reporting fake businesses in order to seek refunds to which her clients were not entitled. Coffey also admitted that she trained other preparers to file fraudulent returns.
Coffey faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. Coffey's sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Lamar thanked agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Dabbs and Trial Attorney William Montague of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 30 years for Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss: Raymorris Asencio, 32, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison following his conviction for human trafficking and transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Christopher Freeze and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.
Ascencio was convicted at trial in March of 2018 for trafficking a minor female for sex. U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson presided over Ascencio’s trial and sentenced him on Thursday in Federal Court in Oxford, Mississippi. In total, Judge Davidson sentenced Ascencio to 30 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar said, “Combatting human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice and our office. Through collaborative efforts with our state and local law enforcement partners in Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Safe Childhood we will do just that. We must protect our children from predators like Asencio. I want to thank the private citizens in Oxford who noticed the minor and Asencio and notified the Oxford Police Department of their concerns for the minor's safety. I also want to commend the quick action of the Oxford Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other police departments in Hattiesburg, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who all worked together to locate and rescue the minor.”
“It is nearly unthinkable that trafficking a minor for prostitution still happens in Mississippi, but the jury in this case agreed that the charges against Asencio were warranted,” said Special Agent in Charge Freeze. “Our Child Exploitation Task Force constantly focuses on those that prey on children. I want to personally thank the special agents, task force officers and partner law enforcement agencies that assisted with this case, because without these partnerships, these types of verdicts would not be possible.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Roberts and Michael Hallock prosecuted the case for the United States. The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which is made up of agents from the FBI, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and officers from the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Office and Southaven Police Department.
Woman Sentenced in North Mississippi for Student Loan FraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, together with Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General, Southern Region Office, announced today that a Memphis, Tennessee woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain student aid.
Lakeisha Arterberry, 32, of Memphis, Tennessee, formerly of Greenwood, Mississippi, was sentenced on July 5, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown, following her plea of guilty on January 25, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to student aid provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The charge stems from a series of fraudulent applications submitted by Arterberry to the U.S. Department of Education for federal student aid. Each of the fraudulent submissions sought federal student aid for individuals who were enrolled in online classes but who had no intention of completing the coursework or seeking a degree.
Judge Brown ordered Arterberry to serve a total of 18 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $249,000. Arterberry is scheduled to report to prison on August 27, 2018.
“Federal student aid exists so that individuals can pursue and make their dream of a higher education a reality. As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that those who steal student aid or game the system for their own selfish purposes are stopped and held accountable for their criminal actions is a big part of our mission,” said Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General's Southern Region Office. "That’s why I’m proud of the work of OIG special agents and our law enforcement colleagues for holding Lakeisha Arterberry accountable for her criminal actions.”
Following the sentence, U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar remarked: “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to holding those individuals who seek to profit from their fraudulent schemes accountable for their illegal activities. The punishment imposed upon Lakeisha Arterberry reinforces the message that federal courts view her actions as serious crimes which warrant significant punishment.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by AUSA Robert Mims.
***
District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against Mississippi Compounding Pharmacy and Two of its Officers to Prevent Distribution of Adulterated DrugsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against defendants Delta Pharma, Inc. (Delta Pharma), its President, Dr. Tommy T. Simpson, and its Vice President and Pharmacist in Charge, Charles Michael Harrison, to prevent the distribution of adulterated drugs in violation of federal law, the Department of Justice announced today.
The entered permanent injunction stems from a complaint the Department filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi on June 4, 2018, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The complaint alleged, among other things, that the defendants distributed adulterated drugs in interstate commerce.
As part of the permanent injunction, defendants are enjoined from manufacturing, holding, or distributing any drugs manufactured from their facility unless they comply with specific remedial measures. Those measures include submitting a plan to FDA, which will provide for an independent expert to conduct inspection(s) of defendants’ facility and ensuring that defendants implement all recommended corrective actions. In addition, the defendants must report to FDA the actions they have taken to correct all insanitary conditions and deviations from current good manufacturing practice brought to their attention by the FDA or defendants’ expert. The permanent injunction provides that defendants cannot resume manufacturing, holding, and distributing such drugs until FDA notifies them in writing that they appear to be in compliance with the ordered remedial measures.
“Compounding pharmacies have a responsibility to ensure that they process and label drugs in a manner that ensures the safety and quality of such drugs,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work with FDA to ensure that doctors and patients can rely on the drug safety protections in federal law.”
“The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is designed to protect the American people,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar for the Northern District of Mississippi. “This civil action demonstrates our commitment to enforce laws designed to protect the health and safety of the American public.”
According to the complaint filed by the Department, defendants’ drugs were adulterated because they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated or may have been rendered injurious to health. The complaint also alleged that defendants’ drugs were adulterated because defendants failed to comply with current good manufacturing practice requirements.
FDA conducted an inspection of Delta Pharma in February 2017. According to the complaint, FDA investigators observed and documented numerous insanitary conditions, including the use of fifty-foot-long tubing to process purportedly sterile drugs, without determining whether the procedures for sterilizing the tubing are effective or assessing the tubing’s compatibility with the drug products to ensure that chemicals or particulates from the tubing do not leach, interact, or otherwise contaminate such drug products.
In addition, the complaint alleges that during the 2017 inspection, FDA documented numerous deviations from current good manufacturing practice requirements for drugs, including defendants’ failure to establish and follow appropriate written procedures that are designed to prevent microbiological contamination of drug products purporting to be sterile. According to the complaint, the FDA also documented that defendants failed to thoroughly review and investigate any unexplained discrepancy or the failure of a batch or any of its components to meet any of its specifications; and failed to establish an adequate quality control unit that has the responsibility and authority to approve or reject all components, drug product containers, closures, in-process materials, packaging material, labeling, and drug products, and has the authority to investigate any errors that may have occurred.
The consent decree of permanent injunction also resolved allegations in the complaint filed by the Department that the defendants distributed misbranded and unapproved new drugs in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The government is represented by Trial Attorney Joshua D. Rothman of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gough of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, with the assistance of Associate Chief Counsel Laura Akowuah of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel’s Food and Drug Division.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndms.
Memphis Man Sentenced for His Role in Interstate Sex Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze announced today that a Memphis man was sentenced in Mississippi on Thursday for his role in a human trafficking scheme. Mario D. Collins of Memphis, Tennessee was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills for trafficking a victim from Georgia to Tennessee and ultimately to Oxford, Mississippi for commercial sex purposes.
An investigation conducted by the Oxford Police Department and the FBI revealed that the female victim was transported from Atlanta, Georgia to Oxford, Mississippi by Collins and Clayton so that she could engage in prostitution. Evidence presented at a December 2017 trial established that OPD Officers responded to an Oxford motel on April 27, 2017, after receiving a 911 call indicating that the victim was being held against her will. Collins and Clayton were arrested in the hotel parking lot and the victim was recovered from inside the hotel. OPD Officers Joshua Shipp and Brandon Jenkins were among the officers who initially responded to the 911 call and assisted throughout the investigation and trial of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Dabbs and Sam Stringfellow represented the United States in this case which was spearheaded by agents and officers from the FBI and the Oxford Police Department.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar praised the cooperative teamwork of the FBI and the Oxford Police Department. Lamar further remarked, “We are dedicated to keeping our communities safe, especially from human trafficking. Women, many of whom are very young, are often coerced into prostitution by predators, taken advantage of, and are frequently victims of violence themselves. We will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address this problem in our District and prosecute those responsible.”
“Human trafficking in any form is reprehensible, and those who promote trafficking human beings for sex or labor are not welcome in our communities,” said Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. The FBI and our law enforcement partners statewide will continue to aggressively seek out those who exploit innocent victims to line their own pockets.”
Guatemalan Woman Pleads Guilty to Illegally Re-entering United States After RemovalRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Yesica Paola Rojas-Baten, 19, an illegal alien from Guatemala, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to unlawful re-entry by an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Thomas Annello, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Joseph A. Banco Jr., Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
Rojas-Baten will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on August 2, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
On January 30, 2018, two Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputies, working together, but in separate patrol vehicles, conducted traffic stops on two separate Honda Pilot Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) that were traveling together. The U.S. Border Patrol was contacted and arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Both drivers of the SUVs were found to be in the United States illegally and each vehicle contained eight passengers who also were illegal aliens.
All eighteen occupants of both vehicles were arrested and transported to the Border Patrol Station in Gulfport, MS. One of the passengers was Yesica Paola Rojas-Baten, the defendant in this case. Rojas-Baten had been lawfully ordered removed from the United States by the Department of Homeland Security in December 2017, and had illegally returned to the U.S. after being flown from Texas back to her home country of Guatemala.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Desoto County Student Arrested and Denied Bail for Internet ThreatsRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – US Attorney William C. Lamar and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI announced today that Nathan Caleb Brown, age 19, of Desoto County, Mississippi, appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy at the Federal Courthouse in Oxford, Mississippi pursuant to a Criminal Complaint and Arrest Warrant charging him with transmitting threats in interstate commerce using social media platforms, such as Twitter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c).
At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing and detention hearing, Magistrate Judge Percy determined that there was probable cause to believe that Nathan Caleb Brown had communicated threats via the internet regarding Snapchat headquarters as well as threats referencing a school shooting similar to the 1999 Columbine mass shooting and ordered Brown detained pending presentation of the case to the Grand Jury.
The public is reminded that a Criminal Complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the United States has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Today, as the Department of Justice recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the nationwide rollout of an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing. The announcement includes an interagency task force between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Justice Department to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit, and a public awareness campaign. This three-pronged approach will strengthen the Department’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing.
"Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable," said Attorney General Sessions. "It is all too common today, as too many landlords, managers, and their employees attempt to prey on vulnerable women. We will not hesitate to pursue these predators and enforce the law. In October, I ordered a new initiative to bring more of these cases, and we have already won relief for 15 victims. Today we announce three new steps to make the initiative more effective and to win more cases. I want to thank the dedicated and committed professionals in our Civil Rights Division and our partners in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their hard work in this effort. We will continue to aggressively pursue harassers, because everyone has a right to be safe in their home."
"All discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment," said Secretary Ben Carson. "No person should have to tolerate unwanted sexual advances in order to keep a roof over his or her head. Part of our mission at HUD is to provide safe housing and we will remain diligent in this mission to protect those we serve. I look forward to working with Attorney General Sessions and the Department of Justice as part of this task force to bring an end to this type of discrimination."
"A fundamental principle of our country’s identity is that a person’s home is their castle. As such, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stands ready and willing to continue to defend and enforce the rights of people to be safe and secure in their homes, especially from sexual harassment," said D. Michael Hurst, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.
In October 2017, the Justice Department announced an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing and launched pilot programs in D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. The initiative sought to increase the Department’s efforts to protect women from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners. During the pilots, the Department developed and tested ways to better connect both with victims of sexual harassment in housing and with those organizations that victims may turn to first for help – including law enforcement, legal services providers, public housing authorities, sexual assault services providers, and shelters. The Department also tested certain aspects of the initiative in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, the Central District of California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Michigan.
The two pilot programs generated an upswing in harassment reporting to the Department from both D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. In D.C., the Department generated six leads since the October 2017 launch. In Virginia, the Department generated three leads. While the Justice Department recognizes that leads and investigations do not always lead to enforcement actions, the pilot program’s results—when extrapolated across all the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country—could lead to hundreds of new reports of sexual harassment in housing across the country.
Because of these promising results, the Department is rolling out three major components to the Initiative:
First, the new HUD-DOJ Task Force to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing will drive a shared strategy between the Department and HUD for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the country. It will focus on five key areas: continued data sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public outreach and press strategy, and review of federal policies.
Second, the outreach toolkit is designed to leverage the Justice Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The toolkit provides templates, guidance, and checklists based on pilot program feedback. It ultimately will amplify available enforcement resources and help victims of sexual harassment connect with the Department.
Third, the public awareness campaign has three major components: a partnership package with relevant stakeholders, launch of a social media campaign, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) run by the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys. The campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness, and make it easier for victims all over the country to find resources and report harassment.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing should call the Department at 1-844-380-6178, send an e-mail to [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. If you have information or questions about any other housing discrimination, you can contact the Department at 1-800-896-7743.
Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS - Today, as the Department of Justice recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the nationwide rollout of an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing. The announcement includes an interagency task force between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Justice Department to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit, and a public awareness campaign. This three-pronged approach will strengthen the Department’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing.
“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable," said Attorney General Sessions. “It is all too common today, as too many landlords, managers, and their employees attempt to prey on vulnerable women. We will not hesitate to pursue these predators and enforce the law. In October, I ordered a new initiative to bring more of these cases, and we have already won relief for 15 victims. Today we announce three new steps to make the initiative more effective and to win more cases. I want to thank the dedicated and committed professionals in our Civil Rights Division and our partners in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their hard work in this effort. We will continue to aggressively pursue harassers, because everyone has a right to be safe in their home.”
“All discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “No person should have to tolerate unwanted sexual advances in order to keep a roof over his or her head. Part of our mission at HUD is to provide safe housing and we will remain diligent in this mission to protect those we serve. I look forward to working with Attorney General Sessions and the Department of Justice as part of this task force to bring an end to this type of discrimination.”
“Discrimination of any kind within federal housing in our district is unacceptable and will be met with aggressive civil and criminal enforcement efforts,” said United States Attorney, William C. Lamar.
In October 2017, the Justice Department announced an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing and launched pilot programs in D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. The initiative sought to increase the Department’s efforts to protect women from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners. During the pilots, the Department developed and tested ways to better connect both with victims of sexual harassment in housing and with those organizations that victims may turn to first for help – including law enforcement, legal services providers, public housing authorities, sexual assault services providers, and shelters. The Department also tested certain aspects of the initiative in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, the Central District of California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Michigan.
The two pilot programs generated an upswing in harassment reporting to the Department from both D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. In D.C., the Department generated six leads since the October 2017 launch. In Virginia, the Department generated three leads. While the Justice Department recognizes that leads and investigations do not always lead to enforcement actions, the pilot program’s results—when extrapolated across all the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country—could lead to hundreds of new reports of sexual harassment in housing across the country.
Because of these promising results, the Department is rolling out three major components to the Initiative.
First, the new HUD-DOJ Task Force to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing will drive a shared strategy between the Department and HUD for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the country. It will focus on five key areas: continued data sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public outreach and press strategy, and review of federal policies.
Second, the outreach toolkit is designed to leverage the Justice Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The toolkit provides templates, guidance, and checklists based on pilot program feedback. It ultimately will amplify available enforcement resources and help victims of sexual harassment connect with the Department.
Third, the public awareness campaign has three major components: a partnership package with relevant stakeholders, launch of a social media campaign, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) run by the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys. The campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness, and make it easier for victims all over the country to find resources and report harassment.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing should call the Department at 1-844-380-6178, send an e-mail to [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. If you have information or questions about any other housing discrimination, you can contact the Department at 1-800-896-7743.
Alabama Woman Sentenced to 22 YearsRead the Press Release
OXFORD - An Alabama woman was sentenced to more than 22 years in federal prison for her role in the robbery of a North Mississippi Post Office and the shooting of the Postmaster during the robbery. Angela Roy, 36, of Wilmer, Alabama was sentenced to 270 months incarceration for her part in the September 23, 2016, armed robbery and discharge of a firearm at the Randolph, Mississippi Post Office. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Roy to serve consecutive 150 month and 120-month terms for aiding and abetting in the armed robbery and discharge of a firearm during that robbery.
U.S. Postal Inspectors, Pontotoc Sheriff’s Deputies, and agents from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation responded to 911 calls from a business neighboring the Randolph post office on September 23, 2016, when the Postmaster fled to the business after being shot during the robbery. Agents quickly converged on the Post Office and, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, identified Roy and her codefendant Thomas Scott as suspects. Evidence showed that Roy contacted the post office to make sure that it was open just minutes before she and Scott went to the building. Scott then entered the post office, pulled a gun and shot the Postmaster while Roy waited outside at the vehicle. Roy and Scott were arrested in Lockport, Louisiana on September 27, 2016 as they attempted to flee to Texas.
A jury in the Northern District convicted Roy at trial in October 2017. Thomas Scott, who pled guilty for his role in the same case, was sentenced in February to serve 195 months for committing the robbery and discharging the firearm.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar thanked the Pontotoc Police Department and Sheriff’s Department, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshal’s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Post Office for their efforts in investigating the case and apprehending the perpetrators.
Following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Lamar stated: “The prosecution of violent criminals is always a top priority in this office and for this Administration. We appreciate the investigative efforts of our local, state and federal partners that helped insure that the individuals responsible for this heinous crime have been held accountable for their actions. We will continue to devote all available resources to see that those who seek gain by harming others in this community will not flourish or escape punishment for their violent acts.”
"Today's sentencing of Angela Roy reinforces the message that criminals directly endangering the lives or safety of Postal Service employees will never be tolerated," stated Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Houston Division. "The cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement was second to none. The Postal Inspection Service is fortunate to have such determined law enforcement partners working to ensure that Mississippi's post offices remain safe places to conduct business."
The case is an example of the ongoing efforts of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which seeks to reduce violence and increase community safety through the combined efforts of local, state and federal investigators, prosecutors and community partners. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Paul Roberts and Robert H. Norman, Criminal Chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi.
Multiple Defendants Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Tupelo woman, the final defendant in a multi-defendant conspiracy, has been sentenced to 205 months in federal prison resulting from her role in a methamphetamine (ice) distribution conspiracy in the Northern District of Mississippi. The defendant, Judy Harmon, was also ordered to forfeit thousands of dollars in drug trafficking proceeds. Harmon was convicted after a week-long jury trial in United States District Court in September 2017. Chief Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced her for her crimes in United States District Court Wednesday morning.
The investigation and prosecution of this international drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing more than 120 pounds of methamphetamine, obtained from Mexico and transported through Southern California to North Mississippi, is the result of a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, North Mississippi Narcotics Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation involved numerous search warrants, arrests, and convictions resulting in the seizure of firearms, drugs and property. In all, ten defendants have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Joseph Frank, Supervisory Special Agent for the Oxford ATF Office, Warner Benson, Resident Agent in Charge of the Oxford Office of the DEA, and Phillip Robertson, Major, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics made the announcement on Wednesday.
Following the sentencing, US Attorney Lamar affirmed the commitment of his office to the aggressive prosecution of drug trafficking organizations operating in the Northern District of Mississippi. “As a part of our Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative and in conjunction with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, this office will continue to work hand-in-hand with our state and local partners and use all available resources to protect our communities from Trans-National Drug Organizations, like the one dismantled in this case, who threaten the well-being of our citizens as they seek illegitimate profits through violence and drug trafficking,” Lamar stated.
Nine other defendants were also convicted and sentenced as a result of the investigation
- Rudy Flores pleaded guilty in January of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to discharge a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Flores to a total of 175 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Fernando Manguilla-Paez of Mexico pleaded guilty in February of 2017 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Judge Aycock ordered Manguilla-Paez to serve a total of 157 months in custody.
- Methamphetamine supplier, Ricardo Aguilar Gonzalez of San Diego, California, pleaded guilty in February of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate racketeering. Judge Aycock ordered Gonzalez to serve a total of 168 months in custody.
- Thomas Scruggs of Tupelo, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in June of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Aycock sentenced Scruggs as a career offender and ordered Scruggs to serve a total of 240 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Jerry Zamora, a/k/a “Gerardo Lima” of Mexico pleaded guilty in June of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of firearms by an illegal alien and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate racketeering. Judge Aycock ordered Zamora to serve 200 months in custody.
- Abigail Lima of Tupelo, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in May of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate racketeering. Judge Aycock ordered Lima to serve 31 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Manual Sandiago of Mexico pleaded guilty in May of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of firearms by an illegal alien. Judge Aycock ordered Sandiago to serve 101 months in custody.
- David Espiricueta of Houston, Mississippi pleaded guilty in April 2017 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Judge Aycock sentenced Espiricueta to 150 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Raul Cruz-Lopez of Tupelo, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in February of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Judge Aycock ordered Cruz-Lopez to serve 70 months in custody.
These charges were the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that provides supplemental funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations, and pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhoods anti-violent crime initiative. Several agencies were crucial to this investigation, including the DEA, ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, North East Mississippi Narcotics Unit, Tupelo Police Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the Mississippi National Guard Counter-Drug Unit.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad M. Doleac and Sam Wright.
Hattiesburg Man Convicted of Human Trafficking in Oxford MississippiRead the Press Release
Late yesterday afternoon, a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Oxford, Mississippi, found Raymorris Asencio, 31 of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, guilty of human trafficking and transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar and Special Agent in Charge, Christopher Freeze, Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from the victim and local citizens who observed the minor and reported their concerns to police. FBI agents and task force officers from Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana were able to rescue the minor from a hotel room in Baton Rouge in February 2017.
U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson presided over the trial and will sentence Asencio at a later date. Asencio faces possible penalties of not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, fines of up to $250,000, and post-imprisonment terms of supervision of not less than 5 years.
United States Attorney William C. Lamar said, “Combatting human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice and our office. Through collaborative efforts with our state and local law enforcement partners in Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Safe Childhood we will do just that. We must protect our children from predators like Asencio. I want to thank the private citizens in Oxford who noticed the minor and Asencio and notified the Oxford Police Department of their concerns for the minor's safety. I also want to commend the quick action of the Oxford Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other police departments in Hattiesburg, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who all worked together to locate and rescue the minor.”
“It is nearly unthinkable that trafficking a minor for prostitution still happens in Mississippi, but the jury in this case agreed that the charges against Asencio were warranted,” said Special Agent in Charge Freeze. “Our Child Exploitation Task Force constantly focuses on those that prey on children. I want to personally thank the special agents, task force officers and partner law enforcement agencies that assisted with this case, because without these partnerships, these types of verdicts would not be possible.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Roberts and Michael Hallock prosecuted the case for the United States. The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which is made up of agents from the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and officers from the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Office and Southaven Police Department.
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