Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Picayune Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune, Mississippi man was sentenced to 69 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 12 grams of heroin.
Damon Andrew Stafford, 55, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization located largely in Picayune (Pearl River County). In 2019, Damon Stafford and Eric Slaydon were identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of methamphetamine and heroin. On June 5, 2019, a confidential source purchased 12 grams of heroin from Damon Andrew Stafford and Eric Andrew Slaydon at Stafford’s residence in Picayune.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Stafford and Slaydon. Both defendants pled guilty. Slaydon was sentenced on August 30, 2023, to 84 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm.
According to court documents, Makee McLemore, 20, of Gulfport, was arrested following a Gulfport Police Department investigation into a string of vehicle burglaries resulting in multiple stolen guns. Officers determined that McLemore was a suspect in the vehicle burglaries. He was arrested and a search warrant was executed at his residence. McLemore subsequently admitted to participating in some of the vehicle burglaries and to stealing a Sig Sauer firearm. McLemore gave officers the location of the stolen firearm at his residence.
On September 19, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging McLemore with possession of a stolen firearm.
McLemore is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF along with assistance from the Gulfport Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Remarks of United States Attorney Todd Gee Announcing a Pattern or Practice Investigation of the City of Lexington, Mississippi and the Lexington, Mississippi Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
Thank you, Assistant Attorney General Clarke. Also, I thank you all for being here for this important announcement.
All of us in Mississippi and throughout the nation want to feel safe in our homes and in public. But we want that safety to be obtained fairly and legally, not through illegal force or abuse of power.
Make no mistake: good police work is done legally and fairly every day in many places in America and in Mississippi. The investigation we announce today will ensure that the residents of Lexington, Mississippi are receiving the same from their police force.
The allegations of what has happened in Lexington are serious. I have been to Lexington, and I have met with members of the community. A thorough investigation of the Lexington police department is necessary. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our colleagues in the Civil Rights Division to follow the facts wherever they lead us. We look forward to hearing more from the people of Lexington as we conduct our investigation.
This is the first day of that investigation, and we do not pre-judge the outcome. But if we do find the Lexington police are engaging in a pattern or practice of civil rights violations, I hope we will arrive at remedies that ensure Lexington will have a police force that fights crime, protects the community’s civil rights, and serves as a good example for small law enforcement agencies in rural communities throughout Mississippi and the nation.
Let me add that we maintain tools for all residents of the Southern District of Mississippi to report allegations of civil rights violations. To make a report, please call the United States Attorney’s Office’s civil rights hotline at 601.973.2825. You can also find our civil rights complaint form and email address on our website.
Finally, I want to thank Assistant Attorney General Clarke for her leadership and the Civil Rights Division for their work on this matter. We look forward to our continued partnership with them. Thank you.
Justice Department Announces Investigation of the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police Department (LPD). Lexington is a town of approximately 1,600 people, located about an hour outside of the state’s capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.
The investigation will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution and federal law. The investigation will focus on the police department’s use of force and its stops, searches and arrests. It will assess whether those activities are reasonable, non-discriminatory and respect the right to engage in speech and conduct protected by the First Amendment. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LPD policies, training and supervision, practices for the collection of fines and fees and systems of accountability.
“No city, no town and no law enforcement agency is too large or too small to evade our enforcement of the constitutional rights every American enjoys,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are opening this investigation to determine whether the Lexington Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of discriminatory policing, excessive force or First Amendment violations. This investigation should send a clear message to small and mid-size police departments that they are not exempt from the obligation to provide fair, effective and non-discriminatory policing. We will leave no community behind, including underserved regions in the Deep South, in our quest to ensure lawful and constitutional policing in America.”
“Police officers are trusted with the important duty to keep our communities safe. When police officers fail to respect constitutional rights, they violate that trust,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Our office is committed to ensuring that everyone in Mississippi is treated fairly and lawfully by the police. Today’s announcement reflects that commitment. We will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of LPD, and we will take decisive action to address any unlawful conduct.”
Before this announcement, officials from the Justice Department notified Lexington officials, who have pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Justice Department will conduct outreach to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LPD.
The Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi will jointly conduct this investigation pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. If the Justice Department has reasonable cause to believe that the law enforcement officers of a state or local government have engaged in a prohibited pattern or practice, the department is authorized to bring a lawsuit seeking court-ordered changes to remedy the violations. In this investigation, the department will assess the law enforcement practices under the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the non-discrimination provisions of the Safe Streets Act.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department via email at [email protected] or by phone at (833) 610-1232. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the reporting portal of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, available at www.civilrights.justice.gov. Individuals can also report civil rights violations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected] or (601) 973-2825.
Today’s announcement marks the 11th pattern or practice investigation into law enforcement misconduct opened by the Justice Department during this Administration. The department has ongoing investigations into the Phoenix Police Department; the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Worcester (MA) Police Department; the Oklahoma City Police Department; the Memphis (TN) Police Department; and the Trenton (NJ) Police Department. The department recently completed investigations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, and secured agreements in principle with both jurisdictions to negotiate consent decrees to address the violations found.
Additional information about the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is available at www.justice.gov/usao-sdms. Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
The Justice Department will hold a public community meeting on Nov. 8 at 5:00 p.m. CT at St. Paul COGIC Fellowship Hall, located at 17214 Highway 17 South, Lexington, Mississippi. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the investigation.
Justice Department Announces Investigation of the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police Department (LPD). Lexington is a town of approximately 1,600 people, located about an hour outside of the state’s capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.
The investigation will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution and federal law. The investigation will focus on the police department’s use of force and its stops, searches and arrests. It will assess whether those activities are reasonable, non-discriminatory and respect the right to engage in speech and conduct protected by the First Amendment. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LPD policies, training and supervision, practices for the collection of fines and fees and systems of accountability.
“No city, no town and no law enforcement agency is too large or too small to evade our enforcement of the constitutional rights every American enjoys,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are opening this investigation to determine whether the Lexington Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of discriminatory policing, excessive force or First Amendment violations. This investigation should send a clear message to small and mid-size police departments that they are not exempt from the obligation to provide fair, effective and non-discriminatory policing. We will leave no community behind, including underserved regions in the Deep South, in our quest to ensure lawful and constitutional policing in America.”
“Police officers are trusted with the important duty to keep our communities safe. When police officers fail to respect constitutional rights, they violate that trust,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Our office is committed to ensuring that everyone in Mississippi is treated fairly and lawfully by the police. Today’s announcement reflects that commitment. We will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of LPD, and we will take decisive action to address any unlawful conduct.”
Before this announcement, officials from the Justice Department notified Lexington officials, who have pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Justice Department will conduct outreach to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LPD.
The Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi will jointly conduct this investigation pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. If the Justice Department has reasonable cause to believe that the law enforcement officers of a state or local government have engaged in a prohibited pattern or practice, the department is authorized to bring a lawsuit seeking court-ordered changes to remedy the violations. In this investigation, the department will assess the law enforcement practices under the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the non-discrimination provisions of the Safe Streets Act.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department via email at [email protected] or by phone at (833) 610-1232. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the reporting portal of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, available at www.civilrights.justice.gov. Individuals can also report civil rights violations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected] or (601) 973-2825.
Today’s announcement marks the 11th pattern or practice investigation into law enforcement misconduct opened by the Justice Department during this Administration. The department has ongoing investigations into the Phoenix Police Department; the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Worcester (MA) Police Department; the Oklahoma City Police Department; the Memphis (TN) Police Department; and the Trenton (NJ) Police Department. The department recently completed investigations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, and secured agreements in principle with both jurisdictions to negotiate consent decrees to address the violations found.
Additional information about the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is available at www.justice.gov/usao-sdms. Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
The Justice Department will hold a public community meeting on Nov. 8 at 5:00 p.m. CT at St. Paul COGIC Fellowship Hall, located at 17214 Highway 17 South, Lexington, Mississippi. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the investigation.
Wiggins Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Wiggins man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 222 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on February 23, 2022, in Lumberton, Mississippi, Glenn Grant, 37, sold 222 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine to a confidential source.
Grant was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 22, 2023, and he pled guilty on July 17, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shundral H. Cole prosecuted the case.
Texas Man Sentenced to over 9 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Houston, Texas man was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Juan Angel Gonzalez, 50, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on November 1, 2023.
According to court documents, in August 2019, Gonzalez conspired with others, including Kendrick Kenyon Davis, 45, of Amite, Louisiana, and Jimario Juvonca Holmes, 35, of Louisville, Mississippi, to distribute cocaine. During the investigation, agents learned that Gonzalez and Davis negotiated the delivery of kilogram quantities of cocaine, and that Davis had elicited the assistance of Holmes to pick up narcotics from Gonzalez in Houston, Texas and bring them back to Mississippi for distribution.
Ultimately, agents observed Davis meet with Holmes in Mississippi, then travel to Houston, where he met Gonzalez in a parking lot. Davis was later stopped in Beaumont, Texas for a traffic violation. Officers searched Davis’s vehicle, finding over 2 kilograms of cocaine, 172 pounds of marijuana, and a Taurus handgun with 10 rounds and one chambered.
Codefendants Davis and Holmes entered a plea of guilty and will be sentenced on December 14, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Jackson and Houston, Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Kemper County Sheriff’s Office, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Mississippi National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Beaumont (Texas) Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in Philadelphia, Neshoba County, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Justice Department to Monitor the Polls for Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Several JurisdictionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in several jurisdictions for the Nov. 7 general election.
The department will assign federal observers to monitor the election in Union County, New Jersey, to observe the county’s compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Earlier this year, a federal court approved a consent decree to resolve the department’s claims under Section 203 and 208 of the Voting Rights Act regarding the availability of election assistance and materials in Spanish for Spanish-speaking voters with limited English proficiency in Union County. The consent decree authorizes federal observers to monitor election day activities in the county’s polling places.
For this election, the Civil Rights Division will also monitor for compliance with the federal voting rights laws on Election Day in the following jurisdictions: Pawtucket and Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Madison County and Panola County, Mississippi; and Prince William County, Virginia.
The Civil Rights Division enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with the federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, the Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
Civil Rights Division personnel is also available to receive complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws by a complaint form on the department’s website at civilrights.justice.gov/ or by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931.
Visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting rights laws.
More information about the federal civil rights laws is available at the Civil Rights Division’s website at justice.gov/crt.
Jackson Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison as Armed Career CriminalRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Jackson woman was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison as an Armed Career Criminal for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on December 8, 2021, federal and state law enforcement executed a search warrant at Betty Butler’s home and found her in possession of a firearm. Butler, 56, had prior felony convictions, and felons are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. Four of Butler’s prior convictions were considered serious drug felonies, which triggered application of the Armed Career Criminal Act.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the DEA, with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department.
Criminal Chief Erin Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation targeting illegal methamphetamine and cocaine distribution in central, Mississippi. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 70 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Jackson County man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 70 grams of methamphetamine.
James Richard Morgan, 42, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents utilized a confidential informant to purchase 70 grams of 42% purity methamphetamine from Morgan and co-defendant Karlos Brown in the parking lot of Walmart located on Denny Avenue in Pascagoula.
Morgan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Brown previously pled guilty and was sentenced on February 27, 2023, to 70 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pascagoula Police Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Gulfport Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 264 Grams of Pure MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport woman pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 264 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Mary Lou Harmon, 61, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, agents received information that Harmon was receiving and distributing narcotics at an address in D’Iberville, Mississippi. On July 8, 2020, agents intercepted a package sent to Harmon which contained 264 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Harmon pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Former Jackson Lawyer and Former Jackson Lobbyist Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud InvestorsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former Jackson lawyer and a former Jackson lobbyist were sentenced for conspiracy to defraud investors in a timber deed investment scheme.
On October 31, 2023, former lawyer Jon D. Seawright, 51, of Jackson was sentenced to serve twelve months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Former lobbyist Ted Brent Alexander, 58, of Jackson was sentenced to serve five years of probation, which includes two years of home confinement with electronic monitoring. Seawright and Alexander were ordered to pay restitution joint and severally in the amount of $977,044.53. On separate dates, Alexander and Seawright entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Alexander and Seawright conspired in a scheme to defraud investors by soliciting millions of dollars under false pretenses and by failing to use investor funds as promised. They represented to investors that they were in the business of loaning funds to a “timber broker” to buy timber rights from landowners and then to sell the timber rights to lumber mills at a higher price. Alexander and Seawright promised investors a return of 10% or more over twelve or thirteen months on each unit of invested capital. They led their investors to believe that they were inspecting each tract of land and were vetting each document, deed, and contract in support of their investments, causing investors to believe that their investments were secured by valid assets and that the financial incentives and interests of Alexander and Seawright aligned with those of the investors. In fact, Alexander and Seawright failed to inspect each property related to the timber rights underlying each investment, and they failed to verify each executed lumber mill agreement related to each investment. They made few or no such inquiries, and if they had made such inquiries, they would have discovered that the timber deeds, lumber mill agreements, and related documents had been falsified and were not valid.
Alexander and Seawright also represented to their investors that Alexander and Seawright would only profit from each series of the investment if it performed as promised to the investors. This gave the investors the misleading impression that their interests were fully aligned with those of Alexander and Seawright. In fact, in addition to receiving a predetermined percentage of return on the investors’ funds, Alexander and Seawright also received undisclosed payments of approximately 3% for recruiting investments to the timber investment scheme immediately upon transferring the investment funds to the purported timber broker. They did not disclose to the investors: (a) the fact of these payments, (b) the amount of the payments in relation to the investments made, or (c) the timing of the undisclosed payments to Alexander and Seawright before any repayment was made to the investors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Dave Fulcher and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Eichner.
Bogue Chitto Woman Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Bogue Chitto woman was sentenced to 67 months in prison for voluntary manslaughter involving the stabbing of a man in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, Bethany Thomas, 27, of Bogue Chitto, initiated an argument with the victim at a tribal home in the Bogue Chitto Community which resulted in an altercation between Thomas and the victim. Thomas armed herself with a knife and stabbed the unarmed victim causing the victim’s death.
A federal grand jury indicted Thomas for Second Degree Murder. Thomas entered a plea of guilty to the lesser included charge of voluntary manslaughter. As stated in court, Thomas admitted to using a knife to stab the victim following a verbal argument and a brief physical altercation.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Former Economy Inn Managers Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – Two former managers for the Economy Inn in Bay St. Louis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, in 2023, agents began investigating drug activity at the Economy Inn located at 810 Us Hwy 90. Agents received information that Pernell Robert Galloway, 54, and his girlfriend, Cassie Louise McKenzie, 42, were managers at the hotel but also selling drugs from the hotel. Law Enforcement began doing controlled purchases of a methamphetamine/fentanyl mixture from the duo. On or about June 8, 2023, a search warrant was executed at the Economy Inn where Galloway and McKenzie were located. Agents also located an additional 14 grams of a methamphetamine/fentanyl mixture in two separate bags. Agents also located a firearm, digital scales, and additional unused distribution baggies.
The pair pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. They are both scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2024, and they each face a up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Wiggins Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Wiggins, Mississippi man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2022, in Stone County, Mississippi, Riley Alexander Wallace, 31, sold 20 fentanyl pills to a confidential informant. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 22, 2023.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Terry Man and Jackson Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Terry man was sentenced to 93 months in federal prison and a Jackson woman was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl.
Tyunna Lamar Jordan, 32, of Terry and Mercedes Shykeria Mitchell, 27, of Jackson, were sentenced on October 26, 2023, in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, Jordan and Mitchell conspired with others to distribute “M 30” tablets which contained fentanyl. Beginning in April 2022, Jordan recruited Mitchell to participate in his distribution of the tablets. In May 2022, Mitchell traveled to the UAC Packing & Shipping store in Byram, Mississippi, to assist Jordan in returning M 30 tablets to Jordan’s source of supply. The parcel was intercepted by agents and determined to have a fictitious recipient name. Further investigation revealed the package contained over 2500 small blue tablets marked “M 30.” The tablets were sent to the DEA Laboratory for analysis which determined the tablets contained fentanyl.
Jordan and Mitchell were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 6, 2022. Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in Hinds County and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Moss Point Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 112.5 grams of methamphetamine.
Ronald Charles Glaude, Jr., aka “Bug”, 34, pled guilty on October 26, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on February 22, 2019, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents utilized a confidential informant to purchase a clear plastic bag containing a total package weight of approximately 112.5 grams of methamphetamine for $1,600 from Glaude at a residence in Moss Point.
Glaude is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pascagoula Police Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jackson Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Escape from Reentry CenterRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced today to five years in prison for escape from a Residential Reentry Center.
According to court documents, David Black, 33, was in federal custody at Dismas Charities, a contracted Residential Reentry Center of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, after having served time in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On December 16, 2022, the U.S. Marshals Service was alerted that Black had not reported to work at his designated place of employment during his Reentry term, and he did not return to Dismas after failing to report to work. On December 19, 2022, Black turned himself back into federal custody. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury for this offense.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Marshal Mark B. Shepherd made the announcement.
The United States Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Allen and Andrew Eichner prosecuted the case.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Russell Emmett Gibbs, 46, carjacked a male victim at gunpoint on Edgewood Terrace in Jackson in November of 2020. Gibbs was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023.
Gibbs is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2024. He faces a minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
De Kalb Woman Pleads Guilty to Misappropriation of Postal FundsRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A De Kalb woman pled guilty to misappropriation of postal funds while serving as Postmaster.
According to court documents, Stacey Eldridge Parker, 45, while serving as Postmaster of the Marion Post Office and Administrative Postmaster of the Bailey and Daleville Post Offices, took cash and other property of the United States Postal Service for personal use. A federal grand jury indicted Parker on August 8, 2023.
Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Inspector in Charge Dana Carter of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Houston Divison, made the announcement.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the matter.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute 22 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Hutto, Texas man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, Donald Lamont Griffin, 44, was stopped for a traffic violation on November 7, 2022, on Highway I-10, in Harrison County, MS. The Harrison County Deputy who initiated the stop requested assistance from a police K9. The K9 conducted a sniff of Griffin’s vehicle and alerted. A subsequent search yielded 22 kilograms of cocaine from the vehicle.
Griffin will be sentenced on February 7, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison as to each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on March 24, 2022, Shermaine Monteil Burse, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by FBI agents and Jackson Police officers after an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Burse was a passenger. A firearm was found at Burse’s feet on the floorboard. Burse has prior felony convictions out of Hinds County for possession of a stolen weapon and receiving stolen goods. As a convicted felon, Burse is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
Burse was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Terrill and Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Construction Firm CFO Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Employment Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Louisiana man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for willfully failing to report and pay over the IRS employment taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Julian Russ of Houma, was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Community Construction Company LLC, a pipeline-maintenance and construction company based in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. As CFO, Russ was responsible for collecting, accounting for and paying over the company’s employment taxes. From at least 2012 to 2018, Russ did not file the company’s quarterly employment tax returns or pay the IRS the taxes withheld from employees’ wages, despite knowing of his legal obligation to do so. In total, Russ caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $6 million.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Senior Judge David Bramlette III ordered Russ to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2,714,280.71 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Curtis J. Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
Construction Firm CFO Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Employment Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for willfully failing to report and pay over the IRS employment taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Julian Russ of Houma, was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Community Construction Company LLC, a pipeline-maintenance and construction company based in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. As CFO, Russ was responsible for collecting, accounting for and paying over the company’s employment taxes. From at least 2012 to 2018, Russ did not file the company’s quarterly employment tax returns or pay the IRS the taxes withheld from employees’ wages, despite knowing of his legal obligation to do so. In total, Russ caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $6 million.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Senior Judge David Bramlette III ordered Russ to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2,714,280.71 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Curtis J. Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River man pled guilty to possessing child pornography in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
William Henry, 25, pled guilty on October 24, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, Henry possessed in excess of 400 images of child pornography, with 20 of the images positively identified as specific children.
On September 20, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Henry.
Henry will be sentenced on January 22, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Officials Sentenced for Using Excessive Force Against an InmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three former Mississippi Department of Corrections officials were sentenced today for using excessive force against an inmate, involving the use of dangerous weapons and resulting in bodily injury.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2019, at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, Corrections Officer (CO) Jessica Hill, CO LaToya Richardson and Case Manager Nicole Moore assaulted a defenseless inmate, L.C., while L.C. was in the fetal position and not resisting in any fashion. Hill struck L.C. several times with an OC cannister and then repeatedly punched her in the head. Richardson kicked the inmate four times in the head and upper torso, and Moore kicked L.C. one time in the back of the head. Hill continued to strike L.C., who was still laying on the ground in the fetal position, until fellow prison staff intervened to stop Hill’s assault.
All three defendants previously pleaded guilty to their respective roles assaulting L.C., in violation of the inmate’s Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Hill was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. Richardson was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. Moore was sentenced to two years in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine.
“These defendants are being held accountable for their criminal abuse of their authority by using excessive force against an inmate who was not resisting them,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting prison officials who violate the law and their oaths by subjecting inmates in their custody to cruel and unusual punishment.”
“The defendants in this case ignored their sworn duty to protect inmates and chose violence instead,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We will continue to prosecute those who abuse their positions of authority and violate the civil rights of inmates.”
“Our citizens serving time for their criminal acts against the public are warranted the safety and protection from harm by correctional officers responsible for their care,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Hill’s deliberate violation of this trust is a disservice to those in the penal system, correctional officials who are honorable in their profession and citizens in general. The FBI is committed to protecting all citizens of our community.”
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Officials Sentenced for Using Excessive Force Against an InmateRead the Press Release
Three former Mississippi Department of Corrections officials were sentenced today for using excessive force against an inmate, involving the use of dangerous weapons and resulting in bodily injury.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2019, at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, Corrections Officer (CO) Jessica Hill, CO LaToya Richardson and Case Manager Nicole Moore assaulted a defenseless inmate, L.C., while L.C. was in the fetal position and not resisting in any fashion. Hill struck L.C. several times with an OC cannister and then repeatedly punched her in the head. Richardson kicked the inmate four times in the head and upper torso, and Moore kicked L.C. one time in the back of the head. Hill continued to strike L.C., who was still laying on the ground in the fetal position, until fellow prison staff intervened to stop Hill’s assault.
All three defendants previously pleaded guilty to their respective roles assaulting L.C., in violation of the inmate’s Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Hill was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. Richardson was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. Moore was sentenced to two years in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine.
“These defendants are being held accountable for their criminal abuse of their authority by using excessive force against an inmate who was not resisting them,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting prison officials who violate the law and their oaths by subjecting inmates in their custody to cruel and unusual punishment.”
“The defendants in this case ignored their sworn duty to protect inmates and chose violence instead,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We will continue to prosecute those who abuse their positions of authority and violate the civil rights of inmates.”
“Our citizens serving time for their criminal acts against the public are warranted the safety and protection from harm by correctional officers responsible for their care,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Hill’s deliberate violation of this trust is a disservice to those in the penal system, correctional officials who are honorable in their profession and citizens in general. The FBI is committed to protecting all citizens of our community.”
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
Former Federal Corrections Officer Sentenced for BriberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former federal corrections officer from Greenville, Mississippi, was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in federal prison for bribery.
According to court documents, from August 2017 to June 2018, Brian Jenkins, 39, accepted payment in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Federal Prison in Yazoo County, Mississippi, where he was employed as a corrections officer. Jenkins admitted receiving payments of just over four thousand dollars from inmates and others for delivering the contraband to inmates inside the facility.
Jenkins was charged by criminal information and pled guilty to accepting bribe payments in exchange for bringing contraband items into the Yazoo City Federal Corrections Complex.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sandra Barnes of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Dave Fulcher.
Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Jackson County man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing heroin.
Bradford Thompson, Jr., 39, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in May of 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence of Bradford Thompson, Jr. During the execution of the warrant, agents found suspected cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, over $30,000.00 in cash, and a firearm. Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed that the controlled substances included 100 grams or more of a substance containing heroin. Field tests also confirmed the presence of fentanyl and cocaine.
Thompson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2024. He faces a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner.
Alabama Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Grand Bay, Alabama man was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Walton Stephen Vaughan, 67, was found to be in possession of hundreds of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct when, on February 27, 2019, FBI agents and local law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant at his residence in Lucedale, Mississippi.
Vaughan was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 23, 2023.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Vaughan was ordered to pay restitution to victims totaling $29,500, and a $3,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. Vaughan was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI in Mobile, Alabama, and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI in Mississippi made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI in Mobile, Alabama, with assistance from the FBI in Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Mexican National Arrested in Gulfport Transporting Nine Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Mexican National was arrested today in Harrison County, Mississippi, on criminal charges related to his alleged transportation of 9 kilograms of fentanyl while driving on Interstate 10 in Gulfport.
According to court documents, Jose Gilberto Rodriguez-Hernandez, 32, was pulled over on I-10 when Border Patrol Agents recognized him as a known illegal alien who had previously been removed from the United States. During the traffic stop, Rodriguez-Hernandez was found to be in possession of nine kilogram bricks of fentanyl.
Rodriguez-Hernandez is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, Rodriguez-Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Red Water Man Arrested for MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On October 19, 2023, a Red Water man was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging murder in the second degree.
According to court documents, Montero Ray Willis, 21, was charged in the criminal complaint which alleged he shot to death another person in the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
A criminal complaint is an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Trails Task Force which is comprised of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Police Department, and various state and local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns will prosecute the case.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to over 33 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to serve a total of 400 months in federal prison and pay a $10,000 fine for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Jarvin Maurice Summerall, 38, was sentenced on October 19, 2023, in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, from October 2021 through December 2021, Summerall conspired with others, including his sister, Tara Shametrice Summerall, to distribute methamphetamine. The investigation involved multiple controlled purchases and seizures that revealed the scope of the operation, which not only involved over four kilograms of methamphetamine, but seven pounds of marijuana, Lortabs, Percocets, heroin and cocaine being distributed in the Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi area.
Co-defendant Tara Summerall entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced on August 2, 2023, to 39 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and acting Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Hattiesburg Police Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in Hattiesburg, Forrest County, and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle Drugs into Prisons in Multiple StatesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Long Beach, Mississippi man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute FUB-AMB and 5F-MDMB-PICA, both of which are synthetic cannabinoids, into prisons in multiple states.
Johnson Tran, 46, pleaded guilty on October 16, 2023, in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in 2018, agents with the DEA received information from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that drug laced letters and greeting cards were being sent to inmates in the Bureau of Prisons from the Southern District of Mississippi. The drug laced letters and cards were intercepted at prisons in Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
DEA and BOP officials were able to determine that inmates were ordering the drug laced letters and cards from Johnson Tran via prison email accounts and jail calls. The inmates would typically order the drugs using coded language. The letters or greeting cards were laced with the synthetic cannabinoids, and many of them were sent from Gulfport, Mississippi.
Agents were also able to determine through the review of financial records that Tran would ultimately receive payment for the drugs that he sent into prison via U.S. Department of Treasury checks drawn from the inmate’s prison accounts and/or peer-to-peer money transfers from associates or family members of the inmates. When Tran’s associates would receive funds on Tran’s behalf, Tran would give them a portion of the funds they received as payment for their services.
Tran was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 18, 2023, along with 19 co-defendants who are currently scheduled for trial in December of 2023.
Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case with assistance from the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Anthony Craig Myrick, 45, of Jackson, opened an account at BankPlus in another person’s name. He received several $500 checks he knew to be counterfeit United States Treasury checks from a co-conspirator. Myrick and his co-conspirator deposited the counterfeit checks into the BankPlus account and cashed the checks before they were determined to be counterfeit.
Myrick is scheduled to be sentenced on January 18, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement.
The U.S. Secret Service and Rankin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Houston, Texas man pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others in the Southern District of Mississippi to possess with intent to distribute approximately one pound of a substance containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Marcus Lamont Wallace, 33, of Houston, Texas, admitted that he knowingly agreed with others to mail approximately 11,000 tablets made with methamphetamine from Houston, TX, to an address Wallace owned in Jackson, MS, with the intent that those tablets be further distributed. Postal video surveillance captured Wallace mailing the drugs by Priority Mail on January 4, 2022, to the Jackson address. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the parcel and obtained a federal search warrant to open the package after a certified narcotics canine detected the odor of narcotics coming from the parcel. In addition to identifying the methamphetamine in a random sample of the drugs, scientists with Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Laboratory and Science Services also developed fingerprints on the packaging around the drugs, and these prints belonged to Wallace and an unidentified person.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2024, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Inspector in Charge Scott Pierce of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Clark is prosecuting the case.
Former Jackson Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Submitting False Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan ApplicationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with his submission of a false COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application.
According to court documents, Wesley Murray, Sr., 54, submitted to the United States Small Business Association (“SBA”) a false EIDL application containing material misrepresentations. In reliance on his certification that he would use the EIDL funds for business purposes, the SBA awarded Murray approximately $72,400 in COVID-19 relief funds. Murray acknowledged that he used these funds for purely personal expenses. Pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement with the United States, Murray agreed to make full restitution to the SBA.
Murray is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Inspector General Stephen Ravas of the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Conehatta Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Conehatta man pleaded guilty today to abusive sexual contact with a child.
According to court documents, Dayleon Phillips, Sr., 35, engaged in sexual contact with a minor under the age of twelve. Court records show that the offense occurred in the Conehatta Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
Phillips is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2024, and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Uses Civil Forfeiture to Recover $18,500 for Fraud VictimRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – On September 28, 2023, U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden entered a Final Judgment of Forfeiture against $18,500.00 in U.S. Currency seized in the form of a cashier check from one of the co-conspirators of a fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. The funds will be returned to the victim of the scheme.
According to the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the co-conspirator was engaged in a business email compromise scheme (BEC) to receive fraud proceeds. A BEC is a sophisticated scam, often targeting businesses and individuals involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques. It causes employees of the victim company (or other individuals involved in legitimate business transactions with them) to transfer funds to accounts the scammers control.
The complaint was filed on June 12, alleging that on September 25, 2020, the victim received an email appearing to be from his attorney, giving him wiring instructions needed to close on a real estate transaction. The fraudulent email instructed the victim to send the funds via wire transfer to a bank account set up by a co-conspirator. Following the fraudulent instructions, the victim wired approximately $142,834.80 to the account.
After an investigation, the Government seized $18,500 in the form of a cashier check that had been issued to the co-conspirator in a fictitious name. After the complaint was filed in federal court, the victim filed a claim and answer in the civil forfeiture proceeding, explaining that he had been the victim of the fraud scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office entered into a Stipulated Settlement Agreement with the victim and asked the Court to enter a Final Judgment ordering the return of the $18,500.00 to the victim and canceling the interests of any other person or entity.
On January 29, 2021, in the Southern District of Texas, the United States filed a civil forfeiture action (United States v. $142,869.20 in U.S. Currency, 4:21-cv-306) against the funds then remaining in the co-conspirator’s account, of which $86,671.93 remained after the account was frozen. The United States won a default judgment, and the funds have since been returned to the victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. In the Southern District of Mississippi, the USAO Asset Recovery Unit team, led by AUSA Clay B. Baldwin handled the matter.
Business Email Compromise schemes can be prevented. Here are some tips:
• Independently obtain mortgage payoff statements and confirm with verified and trusted sources.
• Independently verify the authenticity of information included in correspondence and statements.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all email accounts.
• Routinely change passwords.
• Routinely monitor email account access, check for unauthorized email rules and forwarding settings.
• Restrict wire transfers to known and previously verified accounts.
• Pay using checks when the information cannot be independently verified.
• Have a clear and detailed Incident Response Plan.
For more information visit the Secret Service’s Preparing for a Cyber Incident page. To learn more about the Secret Service and efforts to combat Business Email Compromise fraud, please click here.
United States Files Civil Complaint Against Local School and Owner Alleging VA Education Assistance Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - Todd W. Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today that the United States filed a civil complaint against April Tucker Beard and her barber school, April’s Mane Attraction, Inc., Academy, seeking treble damages and penalties for defrauding the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ Post-9/11 GI Bill education assistance program. The United States alleges that Beard and her school unlawfully received VA education assistance funds in the amount of $235,734 to which she was not entitled.
As part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, the VA provides tuition and fee payments directly to qualifying schools, including non-degree schools such as AMA/Academy, on behalf of eligible veterans. These benefits are part of the United States’ promise to support veterans after honorably serving our country.
To qualify as an institution eligible to receive VA education assistance funds, the school must submit a written application with supporting documents to the State’s Approving Agency. Beard and AMA/Academy received such approval in May 2017. Thereafter, the school’s certifying official must submit separate enrollment certifications for each enrolled veteran certifying the course in which the veteran is being enrolled, the start and end dates of the enrollment period, the number of hours per week the veteran will attend class, and the cost of tuition and fees for the course. In addition, the school certifies that it will comply with all program requirements under Title 38, which includes charging comparable tuition for VA and non-VA students. Requiring consistent and comparable tuition ensures that the VA is paying fair market value tuition rates and also provides protection for the government so that it is not funding education for non-VA students.
The United States alleges in its complaint that from July 2017 to November 2019, Beard and AMA/Academy made or caused to be made false statements to the VA regarding veteran students’ enrollment in her barber training program to obtain VA funding. The United States alleges that Beard and her school charged inflated tuition and fees for VA students in the amount of $22,400 as compared to $50/week or $2,400 for non-VA students. According to the United States, Beard did not maintain accurate attendance records, did not maintain complete and accurate payment ledgers, and did not provide course instruction and certificates of completion to VA students in accordance with program rules and as she certified in application and enrollment documents submitted to the VA.
“The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides important educational and training opportunities to our nation’s veterans, which we must protect from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said United States Attorney Gee. “This office will continue to help safeguard the integrity of VA programs intended to benefit those who serve our nation.”
“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds is a top priority for our agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.”
This investigation was the result of a dedicated and coordinated effort from the VA OIG, the Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDMS.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jamarquis Vasean Tate, 25, was found to be in possession of a firearm by the Hattiesburg Police Department after officers responded to a reported disturbance at a local area hotel on December 3, 2021. Hattiesburg police officers encountered Tate, who fled on foot but was detained shortly thereafter. The officer observed Tate throw a firearm away from his body during the chase, and this was confirmed by bodycam video that recorded the incident. The firearm was recovered.
Tate was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Jackson Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson woman was sentenced to 27 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Latasha Wise, 36, conspired with others to obtain bank loans through fraudulent means. Austin used false names and social security numbers that did not belong to her to obtain bank loans. She pled guilty on June 27, 2023 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The case was investigated by the Madison, Mississippi Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
Bogue Chitto Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Shooting at a Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Bogue Chitto man was sentenced today to ten years in prison for shooting at a law enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Shane Alexander Bell, Jr., 27, used a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and fired a handgun at an officer with the Choctaw Police Department. Court documents also revealed that the gunfire resulted in damage to the officer’s home located in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation. Fortunately, the officer was unharmed.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Picayune Man Sentenced to 52 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Justin Paul Berry, Jr., 35, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO), located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County). In 2018, Justin Paul Berry, Jr. was identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal Agents determined that Berry was responsible for the exchange of narcotics and currency in furtherance of the large-scale drug trafficking organization.
Berry pled guilty on June 21, 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
California Woman Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A California woman was sentenced to 229 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Antonina Isabel Troyer, 41, of Yorba, Linda, CA, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, on December 29, 2021, DEA agents received information regarding the drug trafficking activities of Troyer in Long Beach, MS. The investigation revealed that Troyer was receiving multi-pound packages of methamphetamine from a source of supply in California. On January 12, 2022, Postal Inspectors notified DEA agents that they had intercepted a package addressed to Troyer that contained methamphetamine. On March 30, 2022, Postal Inspectors seized a similar package addressed to Troyer. The following day, DEA and USPS did a controlled delivery of the package to Troyer’s residence. Approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine were inside the package and Troyer was placed under arrest.
It was determined through the course of the conspiracy that Troyer was responsible for the sale of roughly 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Southern District of Mississippi.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Pearl River Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking on Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Antoniel Thomas Jr. 29, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, distributed methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation from January 2020 to February of 2020.
In August of 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Thomas in a four-count indictment involving the possession and distribution of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. On January 27, 2021, Thomas entered a plea of guilty to count one of the indictment charging conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Burns.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking on Choctaw ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 68 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Terll Shell 42, of Philadelphia, distributed methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation from May 2019 to April of 2020.
A federal grand jury indicted Shell in August 2020. On December 11, 2020, Shell entered a plea of guilty to count one of the indictment charging conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Burns.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Return to the United States After Removal and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Mexican man pleaded guilty to unlawful return to the United States after removal, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2023, the Pearl Police Department received a report of an intoxicated man with a gun at a Pearl apartment complex. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and located Antonio Andrade-Hernandez, 36, with a gun pointed at his head. With small children in the immediate area around Andrade-Hernandez, law enforcement was able to get him to surrender peacefully. A records check revealed that Andrade-Hernandez was an illegal alien who had previously been removed from the United States. Additionally, since Andrade-Hernandez is a Mexican national illegally in the United States, it is contrary to federal law for him to possess any firearm.
Andrade-Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Pearl Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Waltravious Leeandre Watson, 31, was found in possession of nine firearms by officers of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office on February 19, 2020, during a search of his home. Watson has a prior felony conviction for burglary of a dwelling. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Watson to possess any firearm.
Watson pled guilty on March 21, 2023, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Allen and Charles W. Kirkham are prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jeremy Lovell, 44, was found in possession of approximately 630 grams of methamphetamine, and two firearms on May 3, 2022, during the execution of a search warrant at Lovell’s residence. Lovell has prior convictions for burglary of a commercial building and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Lovell to possess any firearm.
Lovell is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.