Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Honduran man pleaded guilty to 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, Tommy Pineda-Guevara was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop on September 1, 2022. Pineda-Guevara is a Citizen and National of Honduras. As such, it is contrary to federal law for Pineda-Guevara to possess any firearm.
Pineda-Guevara 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 Mississippi State Highway Patrol, 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.
Walnut Grove Man Pleads Guilty in Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Walnut Grove man pled guilty to possession 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.
Roger Devonta Stokes, 40, pled guilty on September 7, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, tribal and federal investigators conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Stokes in the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation. In June of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Stokes in a two-count indictment involving the possession and distribution of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. Stokes entered a plea of guilty to count two of the indictment, which charged possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. As stated in Court, Stokes admitted his role in the offense.
Stokes will be sentenced on December 12, 2023, and faces a penalty of not less than five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 K. Burns.
Porterville Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Cordaryl Deshean Ford, 37, of Porterville, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams of more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, in May 2020, Cordaryl Deshean Ford conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Kemper County area. Ford and his co-conspirators were charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ford entered a plea of guilty to his charge on the first day of trial in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, 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 Madison Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Carla Clark prosecuted the case.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Neshoba and Kemper County 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.
Picayune Man Sentenced to over 18 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 222 months in federal prison for possession 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.
Joshua Smith, 39, 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, MS (Pearl River County). In 2018, Joshua Smith and another co-defendant were identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of methamphetamine. On November 2, 2018, a DEA confidential source purchased 27.4g of actual methamphetamine at 99% purity from Joshua Smith in Picayune, Mississippi.
Smith was indicted on September 7, 2022, and pled guilty on April 5, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and 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.
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River man pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Garald Benson Johnson, 42, pled guilty on August 29, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, Johnson engaged in sexual activity with a minor and used a cellphone to make recordings of the encounter.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7, 2023, and faces not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 prosecuted the case.
Pascagoula Man Sentenced to over 22 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Pascagoula man was sentenced to 272 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Willie Ray Washington III, 46, was sentenced on August 30, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in September 2021, agents began investigating Washington for distributing fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine from an automotive shop in Moss Point, Mississippi. That location was previously leased by a large-scale distributor of methamphetamine who was no longer distributing narcotics at that location because he had been arrested by DEA agents in an unrelated case. Between April 2022 and May 2022, DEA agents received new information that drugs were again being distributed at that location.
On June 20, 2022, agents executed a search warrant for the property. Agents breached the door to the shop and located Washington standing by a billiards table with a large bag of a white powdery substance in his hand. During the search of the business, agents located approximately 786 grams of methamphetamine; 223 grams of heroin; 172 grams of fentanyl; 64 grams of cocaine hydrochloride; 30 grams of cocaine base; and other smaller quantities of suspected narcotics. Additionally, agents located multiple ledgers on binders indicating a substantial history of narcotics distribution, along with digital scales and other paraphernalia used to package and distribute narcotics.
Washington was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 6, 2022. He pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on April 11, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team (SMMET).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Nicholson, Mississippi Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Nicholson, Mississippi man was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Eric Andrew Slaydon, 35, was sentenced on August 30, 2023, 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, MS (Pearl River County). In 2019, Eric Andrew Slaydon and Damon Stafford 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 DEA confidential source purchased heroin from Eric Andrew Slaydon and Damon Andrew Stafford at Stafford’s residence in Picayune, Mississippi.
Slaydon and Stafford were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022. Both defendants pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin. Stafford will be sentenced later this year.
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.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 51 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 Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Theophilus Smith, 23, was found to be in possession of a firearm after the Byram and Clinton Police Departments executed a search warrant at a residence in Jackson. While executing the search warrant, three firearms belonging to Smith were located inside the residence. Smith has a prior felony conviction and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on May 31, 2023 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica S. Terrill and 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.
Tylertown Man Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- A Tylertown man was sentenced to serve 128 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Jason Patrick Appeldorn, 47, was sentenced on August 23, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Appeldorn was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $63,500 to victims and a $5,000 fine. Appeldorn was also ordered to pay an additional $5,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents, on September 23, 2021, federal officers of the U.S. Probation Office executed a search of Appeldorn’s residence in Tylertown, Mississippi. Appeldorn had been under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office since November 29, 2017, because of a previous conviction for possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Appeldorn’s cellular telephone recovered at the search was forensically examined and over 2,000 visual depictions of child sexual abuse material of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct was recovered.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Division.
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
Purvis Man Sentenced to Prison for Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- A Purvis man was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison for assisting in the preparation of a materially false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Atlanta Field Office.
Terance Dewune Price, 41, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Price was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and $58,582 in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents, Price was identified in an investigation by the IRS-CI as a tax preparer who assisted in the preparation and presentation to the IRS of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for an individual A. E. for the calendar year 2017. The investigation revealed that the return was false and fraudulent as to a material matter in that the information provided on Line 53, a “Residential Energy Credit”, and information on Line 64, for “Federal Income Tax Withheld from Form 1099,” was false, and the defendant knew it was false.
“Providing clients assistance in complying with current tax laws when submitting federal returns is a responsibility Terance Price unlawfully failed to do,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Dishonest tax preparers who use their knowledge of the tax system to work around it should look at Price’s sentencing as a warning that IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will hold them accountable for cheating the government.”
Price pled guilty on April 17, 2023 to assisting in the preparation of a materially false tax return.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of an Unregistered SilencerRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss – A Columbia man pled guilty to possession of a silencer that was not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Grant McArthur, 51, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
McArthur will be sentenced on December 6, 2023, 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.
The ATF investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen 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.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Columbia man pled guilty to manufacturing firearms without a license issued under federal law, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Robert “Bobby” Ball, 67, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court documents, Ball, performed milling work on the lower receivers of firearms so that the firearms could be illegally converted into machineguns.
Ball is scheduled to be sentenced on October 31, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen 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.
Carrollton Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Carrollton man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents and facts admitted by the defendant in open court, Robert Earl Givens, Jr., 49, participated in a scheme to defraud multiple banks by obtaining fraudulent heavy equipment loans. Givens, along with four co-conspirators, used fraudulent bills of sale and other false and misleading documents to secure loans for heavy equipment. The participants in the scheme posed as both the buyers and the sellers of the heavy equipment, with Givens generally posing as the buyer. This allowed Givens to obtain the money from the loan, even when the banks disbursed the loan money directly to the purported seller of the heavy equipment. The fraudulent loans were not paid off and the various financial institutions have been forced to charge off those unpaid loan amounts. The overall scheme caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in monetary damages to the affected financial institutions.
Givens will be sentenced on a later date and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“The United States Attorney’s office will continue to prosecute these fraudsters who use schemes instead of firearms to take money from financial institutions,” said United States Attorney LaMarca. “We are appreciative of the thorough investigation by the FBI which led to a successful prosecution.”
“Mr. Robert Earl Givens, Jr. deliberately sought to circumvent the proper banking process through his elaborate criminal scheme,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby. “His actions ripped at the fiber of our economic system, which relies on integrity to sustain our nation's free market. The FBI takes fraudulent activity very seriously and remains committed to pursuing those bad actors who conspire in this type of criminal activity for their personal gain.”
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
Alabama Man Sentenced to over 26 years in Prison for Robberies and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – An Anniston, Alabama man was sentenced to 314 months in prison for two counts of robbery, two counts of using or carrying a firearm in connection with crimes of violence and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jonathan Lewis Jennings, 32, robbed a liquor store and a convenience store in Meridian, Mississippi at gunpoint on January 15, 2018. Evidence collected by the Meridian Police Department established Jennings’s identity as the perpetrator through DNA analysis. ATF agents conducted follow-up investigative measures that further confirmed Jennings’s involvement in and planning of the robberies. Jennings is a convicted felon, and it was therefore also unlawful for him to possess the firearm he used during the robberies.
Jennings was found guilty by a jury on December 12, 2022 following a trial in U.S. District Court.
The Meridian Police Department and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham 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.
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and to Being a Habitual Offender of Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Pearl River man pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and to being a habitual offender of domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Lee Garrick McMillan, 31, assaulted his wife on May 20, 2023 in the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation. McMillan fractured his wife’s ribs by kicking her with steel toed boots. This assault marked the third domestic violence incident perpetrated by McMillan against an intimate partner.
McMillan is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. 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.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Medicaid Recipients Agree to Pay $315,380 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca announced today that Manjit Kaur (Kaur) and Gurmej Singh (Singh) have agreed to pay $315,380 to resolve allegations that they knowingly falsified their income to unlawfully create eligibility for Mississippi Medicaid health care benefits for their dependents.
The Medicaid Program is a state and federally funded health benefit program intended to assist low-income individuals and families. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (MDOM) is the single state agency responsible for administering these health care benefits for eligible Mississippians. Eligible members do not directly receive money from Medicaid for health benefits. Instead, enrolled and qualified Medicaid providers are reimbursed for health services.
The United States contends that Kaur and Singh did not meet Medicaid’s low-income requirements and thus were not eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursed health benefits for their dependents. According to the United States, husband and wife Kaur and Singh collectively owned and/or were associated with at least 15 convenience store/gas station/wine stores located in Mississippi. Kaur and/or Singh intentionally omitted these multiple businesses from their health benefit applications. Kaur and Singh also own an 8,804 square foot home located in Madison, Mississippi, most recently valued at 2.25 million dollars.
Despite these assets, the United States alleges that Kaur and/or Singh represented on various Mississippi Medicaid health care benefit applications and renewals that Kaur was the sole source of income from one business receiving approximately $1,500 per month. In addition, Kaur and/or Singh represented that Singh was not residing in the home or contributing to the household income. As such, the United States alleges that from January 1, 2016, to December 22, 2022, Kaur and Singh caused the MDOM to pay $157,690 in federal health care coverage benefits on behalf of ineligible recipients.
“The Medicaid Program is intended to provide access to quality health coverage for our most vulnerable populations in Mississippi,” said U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca. “Our office is committed to uncovering individual fraudsters and protecting the funding for eligible Mississippians and their families.”
The FCA claims settled are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and supported by the MDOM and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Laurel Man Sentenced to 80 months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- A Laurel man was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Owens of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
Moses Ray McDonald, 44, was sentenced on August 16, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court documents, on June 8, 2022, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Narcotics Division, made a controlled purchase of approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine from McDonald at his residence in Laurel, Mississippi.
McDonald was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and pled guilty on December 1, 2022.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Border Enforcement Security Task Force (DHS Gulfport BEST), and the Jones County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, Narcotics Division.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shundral Cole and Andrea Jones.
Gulfport Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Gulfport man was sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for producing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Derrick Patrick Flanagan, 38, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Flanagan was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and a $10,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents, Flanagan was identified in February of 2022 in an investigation brought to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office had received two CyberTip Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These CyberTips were ultimately found to be related to Hancock County Deputy Derrick Flanagan, who was assigned to work at the Diamondhead Police Department and resided in Gulfport.
Forensic examinations of a laptop and cellular telephones recovered during the investigation found multiple visual depictions of child sexual abuse material. In addition, the investigation recovered over 40,000 lines of chats sent via a SnapChat App that corresponded to multiple visual depictions.
Flanagan pled guilty on April 20, 2023, to production of child pornography.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cyber Crime Division, investigated this case. 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.
Jackson Woman Sentenced to 27 Months in 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 Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Owens of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Valerie Austin, 37, conspired with two other individuals 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.
Austin was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 7, 2023 and she pled guilty on April 26, 2023 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The Madison Police Department and HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Florida man was sentenced to 127 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ricky Fernando Duckworth, 41, of Jacksonville, Florida was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, on March 19, 2019, investigators through an undercover agent purchased two ounces of 98% pure methamphetamine from Duckworth in Moss Point, Mississippi. On November 16, 2021, Mr. Duckworth was indicted by a federal grand jury. He pled guilty on March 28, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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.
California Man Sentenced to over 13 Years of Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A California man was sentenced to 159 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Cedric Joseph Gaytan, age 63, of Orange, California, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, after a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Gaytan on July 22, 2022, agents obtained a search warrant for Gaytan’s Biloxi residence. During the search of the residence, investigators located 173 grams of fentanyl inside of a grandfather clock in the living room.
Gaytan was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 16, 2022. He pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 28, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Biloxi Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
California Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A California man was sentenced to 237 months in 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.
Brent Alan Wright, age 50, of Yorba Linda, California, was sentenced on August 3, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, on December 29, 2021, DEA agents received information regarding a drug trafficking organization in Long Beach, MS. The investigation revealed that the leader of this drug trafficking organization (DTO), Antonina Troyer, was receiving multi-pound packages of methamphetamine from Brent Alan Wright in California. Wright used the United States Postal Service to ship methamphetamine to Troyer on several occasions. During the course of the conspiracy, Wright shipped approximately 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine to South Mississippi.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Richton Man Pleads Guilty to a Violation of the Archeological Resources Protection ActRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Richton man pleaded guilty to the unlawful excavation of an archeological site, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Forest Supervisor Shannon Kelardy of the United States Forest Service.
According to court documents, Amos Justin Burnham, 42, of Richton, used a tractor to illegally excavate an archeological site within the Desoto National Forest. Court documents further revealed that the archeological site had been designated as a protected site because it contained material remains of past human activities that are of archeological interest.
The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, is a federal law that governs the excavation of archaeological sites on federal and Indian lands in the United States, and the removal and disposition of archaeological collections from those sites.
Burnham pleaded guilty to one count of Unauthorize Excavation of Archeological Resources. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine of not more than $20,000, and the potential cost associated with the restoration and repair of the archeological site as part of restitution. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“When archeological sites are destroyed by unlawful excavations and artifacts are stolen, we lose important clues about the past, forever. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District and its law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting archeological sites throughout the Southern District of Mississippi.” Darren J. LaMarca, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns are prosecuting the case.
Mississippi Landman Sentenced to Prison for Submitting False Corporate Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Mississippi man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for filing a false corporate income tax return on behalf of his oil and gas leasing business.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jeffrey C. Randall of Jackson, Mississippi, owned and operated an oil and gas lease company, Gulf States Royalty, Ltd. After informing his return preparer that he was unwilling to pay the tax he owed on the $3 million dollars earned by Gulf States in 2008, Randall and his preparer falsely reported more than $2 million dollars in business expenses on Gulf States’ corporate income tax return for that year. Randall then signed the false return and directed his tax return preparer to submit it to the IRS. In total, Randall caused a tax loss to the IRS of $824,036.72.
At the sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence that after being indicted in 2015, Randall earned roughly $2 million in income from his oil and gas business between 2015 and 2021, for which he did not pay any taxes. As a result, the United States argued that Randall caused an additional loss to the IRS of over $700,000, and nearly $300,000 in interest and penalties.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III ordered Randall to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $824,036.72 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 Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Richard (R.J.) Hagerman of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chet W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
- Centreville Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
Bassfield Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Bassfield, Mississippi man was sentenced to 160 months in prison for Possession 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.
Jamario Myers, 26, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court documents, from December 2019 through February of 2020, DEA agents conducted an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in the Bassfield area by Myers.
During that time Myers was monitored and surveilled distributing methamphetamine from his shed behind his residence. His methamphetamine distribution occurred throughout Jefferson Davis County, MS.
Myers was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 23, 2022. He plead guilty on February 28, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Rose and Shundral Cole.
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.
Six Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Plead Guilty to Torturing and Abusing Two Black MenRead the Press Release
Two federal criminal informations were unsealed today charging six former Mississippi law enforcement officers with a total of 16 felonies stemming from the torture and physical abuse of three Rankin County residents in two separate unrelated incidents. Those 16 felonies include civil rights conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.
In federal court this morning, six defendants, five former members of the Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office (RSCO) – Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin, 52, Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon, 28, Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton, 46, Deputy Hunter Elward, 31, Deputy Daniel Opdyke, 27 – and one former member of the Richland, Mississippi, Police Department – Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield, 31 – pleaded guilty to all charges against them.
The defendants admitted that on Jan. 24, without a warrant or any exigent circumstances, they kicked in the door and entered a home in Braxton, Rankin County, Mississippi where two Black men, M.J. and E.P., were residing. The defendants handcuffed and arrested the men without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime, called them racial slurs, and warned them to stay out of Rankin County. Further, the defendants punched and kicked the men, tased them 17 times, forced them to ingest liquids, and assaulted them with a dildo. During the incident, Dedmon fired his gun twice to intimidate the men.
At the conclusion of the incident, Elward surreptitiously removed a bullet from the chamber of his gun, forced the gun into M.J.’s mouth and pulled the trigger. The unloaded gun clicked but did not fire. Elward racked the slide, intending to dry-fire a second time. When Elward pulled the trigger, the gun discharged. The bullet lacerated M.J.’s tongue, broke his jaw and exited out of his neck.
As M.J. was bleeding on the floor, the defendants did not provide medical aid, but instead gathered outside the home to devise a false cover story and took steps to corroborate it, including: planting a gun on M.J.; destroying surveillance video, spent shell casings, and taser cartridges; submitting fraudulent drug evidence to the crime lab; filing false reports; charging M.J. with crimes he did not commit; making false statements to investigators; and pressuring witnesses to stick to the cover story. Three of the defendants admitted in court that they were members of “The Goon Squad,” a group of RCSO officers who were known for using excessive force and not reporting it.
Additionally, during their court appearances this morning, Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke each also pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging them with three additional federal felony offenses, including deprivation of rights under color of law and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The charges arise out of an incident on Dec. 4, 2022, in which Dedmon beat and tased a white man and fired a gun near his head to coerce a confession, while Elward and Opdyke failed to intervene.
“The defendants in this case tortured and inflicted unspeakable harm on their victims, egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect, and shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who abuse the public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The physical and emotional impact of their crimes resulted from a calculated, deliberate, and egregious course of conduct that required a significant response from authorities. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers who violate the public trust by abusing the power given to them by virtue of their position.”
“These former law enforcement officers have committed heinous and wanton acts of violence disgracing the badge which so many others have worn with pride and honor,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “They violated their oaths and have become the criminals they were sworn to protect us from.”
“Our citizens deserve credible law enforcement to safeguard the community from crime. The actions of these deputies and the officer significantly deprived the citizens of that protection and eroded the trust earned each day by honest law enforcement officers throughout the nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating those who misuse their authority, violate the color of law, or inject biases in the execution of their duties.”
“Without a relationship of trust between law enforcement officers and those they swear to serve and protect,” said Mississippi State Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Our fight for justice and against crime is doomed to fail. This brutal attack caused more than physical harm to these two individual victims, it severed that vital trust with the people. This abuse of power will not be tolerated. The Attorney General’s Office is committed to delivering justice for these victims and all Mississippians, and we are grateful for this strong partnership we have with our U.S. Attorney’s Offices and FBI Field Office. Working together, it is my hope that we can help these victims heal and restore confidence in our criminal justice system.”
The defendants face state charges arising out of the same incident, including home invasion, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, and obstruction of justice.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the federal case. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated the state case.
Criminal Chief Erin O. Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section; and Mississippi Deputy Attorney General Mary Helen Wall, who was deputized as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the federal matter are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse by a deputy with the Rankin County Sherriff’s Office, call the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, email tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI Jackson Field Office at 601-948-5000.
Six Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Plead Guilty to Torturing and Abusing Two Black MenRead the Press Release
Two federal criminal informations were unsealed today charging six former Mississippi law enforcement officers with a total of 16 felonies stemming from the torture and physical abuse of three Rankin County residents in two separate unrelated incidents. Those 16 felonies include civil rights conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.
In federal court this morning, six defendants, five former members of the Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) – Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin, 52, Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon, 28, Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton, 46, Deputy Hunter Elward, 31, Deputy Daniel Opdyke, 27 – and one former member of the Richland, Mississippi, Police Department – Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield, 31 – pleaded guilty to all charges against them.
The defendants admitted that on Jan. 24, without a warrant or any exigent circumstances, they kicked in the door and entered a home in Braxton, Rankin County, Mississippi where two Black men, M.J. and E.P., were residing. The defendants handcuffed and arrested the men without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime, called them racial slurs, and warned them to stay out of Rankin County. Further, the defendants punched and kicked the men, tased them 17 times, forced them to ingest liquids, and assaulted them with a dildo. During the incident, Dedmon fired his gun twice to intimidate the men.
At the conclusion of the incident, Elward surreptitiously removed a bullet from the chamber of his gun, forced the gun into M.J.’s mouth and pulled the trigger. The unloaded gun clicked but did not fire. Elward racked the slide, intending to dry-fire a second time. When Elward pulled the trigger, the gun discharged. The bullet lacerated M.J.’s tongue, broke his jaw and exited out of his neck.
As M.J. was bleeding on the floor, the defendants did not provide medical aid, but instead gathered outside the home to devise a false cover story and took steps to corroborate it, including: planting a gun on M.J.; destroying surveillance video, spent shell casings, and taser cartridges; submitting fraudulent drug evidence to the crime lab; filing false reports; charging M.J. with crimes he did not commit; making false statements to investigators; and pressuring witnesses to stick to the cover story. Three of the defendants admitted in court that they were members of “The Goon Squad,” a group of RCSO officers who were known for using excessive force and not reporting it.
Additionally, during their court appearances this morning, Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke each also pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging them with three additional federal felony offenses, including deprivation of rights under color of law and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The charges arise out of an incident on Dec. 4, 2022, in which Dedmon beat and tased a white man and fired a gun near his head to coerce a confession, while Elward and Opdyke failed to intervene.
“The defendants in this case tortured and inflicted unspeakable harm on their victims, egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect, and shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who abuse the public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The physical and emotional impact of their crimes resulted from a calculated, deliberate, and egregious course of conduct that required a significant response from authorities. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers who violate the public trust by abusing the power given to them by virtue of their position.”
“These former law enforcement officers have committed heinous and wanton acts of violence disgracing the badge which so many others have worn with pride and honor,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “They violated their oaths and have become the criminals they were sworn to protect us from.”
“Our citizens deserve credible law enforcement to safeguard the community from crime. The actions of these deputies and the officer significantly deprived the citizens of that protection and eroded the trust earned each day by honest law enforcement officers throughout the nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating those who misuse their authority, violate the color of law, or inject biases in the execution of their duties.”
“Without a relationship of trust between law enforcement officers and those they swear to serve and protect,” said Mississippi State Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Our fight for justice and against crime is doomed to fail. This brutal attack caused more than physical harm to these two individual victims, it severed that vital trust with the people. This abuse of power will not be tolerated. The Attorney General’s Office is committed to delivering justice for these victims and all Mississippians, and we are grateful for this strong partnership we have with our U.S. Attorney’s Offices and FBI Field Office. Working together, it is my hope that we can help these victims heal and restore confidence in our criminal justice system.”
The defendants face state charges arising out of the same incident, including home invasion, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, and obstruction of justice.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the federal case. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated the state case.
Criminal Chief Erin O. Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section; and Mississippi Deputy Attorney General Mary Helen Wall, who was deputized as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the federal matter are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse by a deputy with the Rankin County Sherriff’s Office, call the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, email tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI Jackson Field Office at 601-948-5000.
McAlpin et al. Information Dedmon et al. InformationJackson Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Samuel McCray, 35, was found in possession of a firearm by a Jackson Police Officer on April 16, 2022, during an investigation into a domestic abuse incident. McCray has a prior felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
McCray will be sentenced on November 3, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Terrill.
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.
Former Federal Inmate Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jamaican national was sentenced to 15 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Michael Phillips, 47, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson
According to court documents, on or about July 2, 2017, during an altercation with another inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Phillips punched the other inmate causing him to fall backwards into a metal locker. The other inmate hit the back of his head on the locker, and he died as a result of his injuries.
Phillips pled guilty on April 4, 2023, to involuntary manslaughter.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Robles and Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case.
Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force Against an InmateRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Tom Lee for using excessive force against an inmate, involving the use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury.
According to court documents and information presented in court, on July 11, 2019, Jessica Hill, a corrections officer at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, willfully deprived inmate L.C. of the Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment when the defendant, aiding and abetting others, struck L.C. with a cannister and repeatedly punched L.C. in the head even though L.C. was not resisting. Hill continued to strike L.C., who was lying on the ground in the fetal position, until fellow prison staff intervened to stop Hill’s assault.
“Prison officials who engage in such abuses of power endanger inmates and fellow staff members and will be held accountable for their actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Using violent physical force as punishment will not be tolerated. The Justice Department will continue to vindicate the Eighth Amendment right of prisoners to be free from cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of prison officials.”
“This defendant has now confessed her abusive conduct.” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “She and all others entrusted with the protection of society must conduct themselves with self-discipline and under the law. Clearly, she violated her oath, and now will be held accountable.”
“Our citizens serving time for crimes committed against the public deserve the safety and protection from harm by those officials who are charged with their care,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Ms. Hill’s blatant disregard for the rights afforded under the Eighth Amendment is a disservice to those in the penal system, the corrections officers who take pride in their profession. The FBI remains committed to protecting all citizens we serve.
Hill faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating 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 are prosecuting the case.
Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force Against an InmateRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Tom Lee for using excessive force against an inmate, involving the use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury.
According to court documents and information presented in court, on July 11, 2019, Jessica Hill, a corrections officer at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, willfully deprived inmate L.C. of the Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment when the defendant, aiding and abetting others, struck L.C. with a cannister and repeatedly punched L.C. in the head even though L.C. was not resisting. Hill continued to strike L.C., who was lying on the ground in the fetal position, until fellow prison staff intervened to stop Hill’s assault.
“Prison officials who engage in such abuses of power endanger inmates and fellow staff members and will be held accountable for their actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Using violent physical force as punishment will not be tolerated. The Justice Department will continue to vindicate the Eighth Amendment right of prisoners to be free from cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of prison officials.”
“This defendant has now confessed her abusive conduct.” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “She and all others entrusted with the protection of society must conduct themselves with self-discipline and under the law. Clearly, she violated her oath, and now will be held accountable.”
“Our citizens serving time for crimes committed against the public deserve the safety and protection from harm by those officials who are charged with their care,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Ms. Hill’s blatant disregard for the rights afforded under the Eighth Amendment is a disservice to those in the penal system, the corrections officers who take pride in their profession. The FBI remains committed to protecting all citizens we serve.
Hill faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating 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 are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Uses Civil Forfeiture to Recover $273,082.50 for Fraud VictimRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – On July 7, 2023, U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel entered Final Judgment of Forfeiture against all funds held in a Bank First account totaling $273,082.50, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca. According to the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bank First bank account—opened in February 2023—had been the recipient of fraud proceeds deposited by the perpetrator of a business email compromise scheme (BEC).
“Victims of fraud often feel embarrassed or ashamed that they were victimized, and often fail to report the crime, fearing that they will appear foolish,” LaMarca said. “In reality, it is the perpetrators of the fraud who should be ashamed. Victims should know that people from all walks of life fall victim to criminals using a variety of methods to trick people and steal their money.”
A BEC is a sophisticated scam, often targeting businesses 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 April 27, alleging that on March 30, 2023, an employee of the victim—a law firm—received an email purportedly from one of the firm’s clients, falsely instructing the employee to wire transfer funds owed by the firm to the client. The spoofed email appeared to be from the firm’s client and listed the account to which the funds were to be transferred.
The employee followed the instructions in the fraudulent email and wired funds into the account. A few days later, the perpetrator of the fraud used $250,000 of the funds to purchase a Wells Fargo cashier’s check and withdrew $50,000 in cash. Most of these funds were then deposited into the Bank First account.
After a third-party computer company employed by the law firm investigated the wire transfer, the firm discovered that the wire transfer had been sent to the fraud perpetrator rather than the client and contacted law enforcement.
The victim filed a claim in the civil forfeiture proceeding and filed a subsequent answer, in which it explained that it had been the victim of the fraud scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office validated the victim’s claim and asked the Court to enter a Final Judgment ordering the return of the $273,082.50 to the victim and canceling the interests of any other person or entity.
“I want to thank Wells Fargo and Bank First for their cooperation and rapid response which led to a just outcome,” LaMarca said.
The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation. 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.
Alabama Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Bellamy, Alabama man was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Willie Roger Starks, Jr., 30, was found in possession of a firearm by a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Deputy on October 27, 2019, during a traffic stop. Starks had a .40 caliber pistol in his car. Starks has a prior felony conviction for Burglary of a Dwelling and was under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Starks to possess any firearm.
Starks was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on March 14, 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 Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted 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.
Bay St. Louis Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Bay St. Louis man was sentenced to 136 months in prison for possession 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.
Reynard Joseph Elzy, 40, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, a confidential source purchased methamphetamine from Elzy in Bay St. Louis. A search warrant was executed on Elzy’s residence and additional narcotics and a firearm were found. Elzy was on parole through the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time of the offense.
Elzy was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 25, 2023. He pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Vicksburg man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Maurice Duff, 44, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court records, on January 11, 2021, Duff sold 83.62 grams of pure methamphetamine to a DEA confidential source in Hattiesburg.
Duff was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 19, 2022, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He pled guilty on February 16, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Rose and Shundral Cole.
Brandon Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Brandon man was sentenced to 195 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Michael E. Patton, 36, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Jackson. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Patton was ordered to pay $30,000 in court assessments. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court records, on June 29, 2021, agents with the Jackson FBI received information that Michael E. Patton was producing images of child pornography in Brandon, Mississippi. On March 4, 2022, FBI agents arrested Patton and found several images of child pornography on his cellular telephone. Patton had actively been uploading and sharing images of child pornography via the internet to receive more images. Patton was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 22, 2022. He pled guilty on March 13, 2023, to attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Glenda R. Haynes 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.
Camden Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Camden man was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $71,601 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Patrick M. Davis of the U.S. Secret Service, Birmingham Field Office, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Arthur Jerome Eldridge, Jr., 25, of Camden, Mississippi conspired with others to print counterfeit U.S. Treasury Checks, deposit them at area banks, and withdraw funds from those accounts.
Eldridge was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on March 22, 2023, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca praised the investigative efforts and coordination of the U.S. Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office who investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
“The United States Secret Service works to protect and safeguard our nation’s financial infrastructure. This case shows a coordinated effort amongst our Federal partners to help preserve the integrity of the US economy,” said Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the U.S. Secret Service, Jackson Resident Office.
"I established Mississippi’s first Cyber Fraud Task Force with our U.S. Secret Service partners to protect Mississippians from the many ways that bad actors use the online world to commit the kinds of crimes that not only victimize individuals, but wreak havoc on the financial system as a whole," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "This case is a great example of how, working together, we can stop a predator doing more harm to individuals, businesses, and the underlying financial system we all depend upon.”
Mia Peterson, Eldridge’s co-defendant, is scheduled for trial on September 5, 2023. She is charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Christopher Myers, Jr., 21, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court records, in February 2022, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Christopher Myers, Jr. and others, occurring in Laurel, Mississippi. Agents conducted two controlled buys from Myers. In each instance, 10lbs of methamphetamine were purchased.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and 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.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Jamarquis Vasean Tate, 25, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court records, on December 3, 2021, Tate was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by the Hattiesburg Police Department after a reported disturbance at an area hotel. Tate fled from the vehicle, and an officer chased and caught Tate on foot. During the chase, Tate discarded a firearm, which was observed by the officer and recorded on video. Tate was detained and the firearm recovered. Tate has a previous felony conviction, and it is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
Tate is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2023, and he 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.
The ATF and Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting.
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.
Bogue Chitto Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at a Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Bogue Chittto man pled guilty to shooting at a law enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court records, on March 17, 2020, in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, Shane Alexander Bell, Jr., 27, assaulted a law enforcement officer by firing a handgun at him, resulting in damage to the officer’s home. Fortunately, the officer was unharmed. In November of 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Bell for using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Bell faces a penalty of not less than ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi Launches United Against Hate ProgramRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi launched United Against Hate, an outreach program focusing on preventing, identifying, and reporting hate crimes and incidents, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.
United Against Hate connects community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes, build trust between law enforcement and communities, and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate.
In May of 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced steps towards the Department of Justice’s enhanced efforts to combat and confront hate crimes. He stated, “Hate crimes and other bias-related incidents instill fear across entire communities and undermine the principles upon which our democracy stands. All people in this country should be able to live without fear of being attacked or harassed because of where they are from, what they look like, whom they love, or how they worship.”
On June 29, 2023, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Dease Paige, Glenda Haynes, Tabitha Kingma and Angela Givens Williams, along with colleagues in their office and law enforcement partners who investigate hate crimes, hosted a presentation called “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Acts of Hate” at Pearl A.M.E. Church, 2519 Robinson Street in Jackson, Mississippi. This event gave the U.S. Attorney’s Office an opportunity to connect with faith-based leaders to help effect positive change within our community. Faith-based leaders are usually the first person of contact when individuals or families face these types of hateful behavior. Often hate crimes and incidents go underreported, allowing offenders to continue to spread their hate, fear, and intimidation. This event assisted faith-based leaders in the Jackson area to identify hate crimes, understand the importance of reporting these crimes and most importantly, to discuss strategies to prevent acts of hate.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s online complaint form is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/civil-division webpage. The form can be emailed [email protected] , or concerns can be shared by leaving a voice mail for our Civil Rights Division at (601) 973-2825.
Picayune Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 135 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.
Eric Renard Scott, 39, 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, MS (Pearl River County). In 2018, Eric Renard Scott and two others were identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of meth. On October 24, 2018, a DEA confidential source purchased 27.9g of actual meth at 99% purity from Eric Renard Scott and two of his co-conspirators in Picayune.
Scott was charged in a federal criminal indictment on September 7, 2022 and he pled guilty on February 13, 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
The 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 Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge David Denton of Homeland Security Investigations.
According to court documents, Latasha Wise, 36, conspired with two other individuals to obtain bank loans through fraudulent means. Wise used social security numbers that did not belong to her to obtain bank loans.
Wise is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Madison Police Department and the HSI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
Florida Man Sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Florida man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Vicente Valerio, 32, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, On October 11, 2022, a DEA Task Force Officer (TFO) conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado on Interstate 10 in Gulfport, Mississippi. The driver of the vehicle and sole occupant was identified as Vicente Valerio. Officers searched Valerio’s vehicle and found three bags containing forty bricks of cocaine. Each brick weighed a kilogram of cocaine.
Valerio was indicted on November 1, 2022, and plead guilty on March 24, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the support of the Gulfport Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Jackson Man Sentenced to Serve over Four Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon and Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Jackson man was sentenced to 54 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and 51 months for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The two sentences will be served concurrently.
According to court documents, on March 3, 2020, Deonta Miller, 36, was arrested by the Richland Police Department due to an outstanding arrest warrant. Miller led officers on a short chase which concluded with Miller crashing his vehicle into a hotel located just off Highway 80 West in Hinds County. Miller left a firearm in the car and fled on foot but was taken into custody shortly thereafter. Miller has prior convictions for carjacking and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Miller pled guilty on February 16, 2023 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Additionally, on March 11, 2022, Miller conspired with two other individuals to obtain automobile loans through fraudulent means. Miller used a false name, social security number, driver’s license, and utility bill, to obtain a loan for a car. Miller pled guilty on March 21, 2023 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge David Denton of Homeland Security Investigations, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The Richland Police Department and the ATF investigated the firearm case. The Madison Police Department and HSI investigated the bank fraud case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the firearm case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the fraud case.
The firearm 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.
Jury Convicts Alabama Man of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – On June 14, 2023, a federal jury convicted Curtis Navelle Harrison, 45, of Monroeville, Alabama, of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and less than 40 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”).
According to Court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 23, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Louis Booker, Jr. from a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi. Three days later, on July 26, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Booker, Harrison, another adult male, and a minor child fled from the residence. When the individuals were apprehended, officers located a $10.00 bill from the prior buy on Harrison’s person. Approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, firearms, and fentanyl were also recovered from the residence.
Subsequent investigation resulted in the discovery of text messages and social media messages between Harrison and Booker, which demonstrated that they were involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Harrison is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023. He faces a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Booker previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and is awaiting sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lauren Dick prosecuted the case with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Gaines Cleveland.
Five Defendants Sentenced in Connection with Federal Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – Laketia Andrews Crossley, 51, of McComb was sentenced today to 13 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $2,118 in restitution to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security for conspiring to commit wire fraud, conspiring to commit theft of public money, theft of public money, and making a false statement to a federal investigator.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Crossley conspired with Sedrick Pittman, Marcus Parker, Austin Bahm, and Calveshar Isaac to receive federal unemployment insurance benefits. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittman, Parker, Bahm, and Isaac were inmates housed at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The inmates fraudulently applied for federal unemployment insurance benefits by stating on their applications that they were able and available to immediately accept employment benefits.
Due to the overwhelming number of applications for unemployment insurance, these fraudulent applications were not immediately detected, and benefits were approved for the group of prison inmates. The unemployment insurance benefits were sent by mail on debit cards to Crossley. Crossley then converted the funds on the debit cards to funds that she transmitted to Pittman, with whom she had a long-term romantic relationship, via cell phone. When questioned about her actions by special agents of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Crossley made false statements. It is contrary to federal law to fraudulently apply for or received federal unemployment insurance benefits. It is also contrary to federal law to make false statements to a federal investigator.
While Pittman, Parker, Bahm, and Isaac all pled guilty to various charges, Crossley asserted her right to a jury trial. After a three-day trial at the federal courthouse in Natchez, a jury found Crossley guilty of all charges. The other four defendants were sentenced prior to Crossley’s sentencing hearing.
Pittman received a sentence of 14 months in federal prison, which will be served consecutively to undischarged terms of imprisonment on state offenses from Pike County, Mississippi.
Parker received a sentence of six months in federal prison, which will be served consecutively to an undischarged term of imprisonment on state offenses from Pike County, Mississippi.
Bahm received a sentence of four months in federal prison, which will be served consecutively to undischarged terms of imprisonment on state offenses from Pike County, Mississippi.
Isaac received a sentence of five months in federal prison, which will be served consecutively to undischarged terms of imprisonment on state offenses from Walthall County, Mississippi and Pike County, Mississippi.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent in Charge for the Southeast Region of the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The DOL-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and Charles W. Kirkham are prosecuting the case.
Pascagoula Woman Sentenced for Embezzlement of Labor FundsRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Pascagoula woman was sentenced to three years of probation and six months under house arrest with electronic monitoring for embezzlement of labor organization funds, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.
According to court documents, from January 2016, through February 2020, Lisa Bennett, 51, an elected business agent and self-appointed secretary and treasurer of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 204, in Pascagoula, embezzled and converted to her own use and the use of others, funds of the OPEIU Local 204 Labor organization. Bennett’s embezzlement included her writing of unauthorized checks from the union’s checking account to herself for lost time she was not entitled to receive and payments of personal cell phone bills for herself and family members. She also doubled her salary without authorization.
Bennett pled guilty in February 2023 to embezzlement of labor organization funds.
At the sentencing hearing on June 12, 2023, the Court also ordered Bennett to pay restitution in the amount of $33,236.93 to the OPEIU.
The case was investigated by the U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Meynardie and Andrea Jones.
Construction Firm CFO Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a Mississippi company pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to report and pay over employment taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Julian Russ of Houma, Louisiana, was the CFO of Community Construction Company LLC, a pipeline-maintenance and construction company based in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. From at least 2012 through October 2018, Russ did not file required quarterly employment tax returns or pay over the taxes withheld from employees’ wages to the IRS, despite knowing of his obligation to do so. In total, Russ caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $6 million.
Russ will be sentenced on September 19, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Curtis Weidler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.