Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
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 faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory actors.
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.
Byram Woman Sentenced to over 20 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Falsification of Records in a Federal InvestigationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Byram woman was sentenced to 250 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as a concurrent sentence of 21 months for falsification of records in a federal investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, beginning as early August 1, 2017, and continuing until April 2019, communications between Kristy Dier, 37, and her codefendants were intercepted wherein they negotiated and conducted the sale of ice-methamphetamine throughout the state of Mississippi from as far as Aberdeen to Biloxi, Mississippi. In total, Dier is responsible for the distribution of approximately 22 pounds of ice-methamphetamine.
During the conspiracy, from December 1, 2017, through December 19, 2017, Dier also elicited help from a codefendant to falsify income and business records and file the records with the Hinds County Court to obstruct the forfeiture of drug proceeds seized from Dier by law enforcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Police Department, Richland Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Internal Revenue Service.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Drama Queen,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi. “Drama Queen” 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Chris Wansley.
Nigerian Woman Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Nigerian citizen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, between 2018 and 2022, Uyoyo Mercy Abire, 28, and her coconspirators used online romance scams, online charity scams, and other types of fraud to defraud victims of their money. The money received as a result of these scams was then transferred between the conspirators, and ultimately, much of the money was transferred overseas. Between November 2018 and April of 2019, Abire herself transferred over $100,000.00 to coconspirators through her U.S. bank account.
Abire is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2023. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Eichner originally prosecuted the case, and it is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner.
Kemper County Men Found Guilty of Conspiring to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Three Kemper County men were found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric Delaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
Donovan Sherill Bourrage, 45, of DeKalb, Orlando Bourrage, 48, of DeKalb, and Cordaryl Ford, 36, of Porterville, were charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Donovan Bourrage was also charged in an additional count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine for his actions on a separate occasion. Cordaryl Ford entered a plea of guilty to his charge on the first day of trial in U.S. District Court in Jackson. After a week-long trial, Donovan Bourrage was found guilty of both counts and Orlando Bourrage was found guilty of his charge.
According to court documents, in May 2020, Donovan Sherill Bourrage, Orlando Bourrage, and Cordaryl Ford, conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Kemper County area. Specifically, on May 28, 2020, agents intercepted a package shipped from California to Mississippi destined for delivery to Cordaryl Ford, who had previously agreed to sell methamphetamine to Donovan Bourrage and Orlando Bourrage. Both Donovan and Orlando intended to resell the methamphetamine in the Kemper County area. The package contained marijuana, cocaine and approximately 9 pounds of methamphetamine. Then in July of 2020, after the anticipated delivery was thwarted, Donovan Bourrage reached out to a known narcotics trafficker in federal custody at the Stone County Detention Center in Wiggins, Mississippi to obtain methamphetamine. The detainee elicited the help of his cousin, who ultimately met Donovan Bourrage to deliver the negotiated pound of methamphetamine. Donovan Bourrage would meet the detainee’s cousin again to obtain an additional half-pound of methamphetamine.
Cordaryl Ford will be sentenced on August 28, 2023. Donovan Bourrage and Orlando Bourrage will both be sentenced on September 5, 2023. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“HSI will continue to direct its full range of investigative authorities toward those who smuggle deadly drugs into our communities,” said HSI New Orleans acting Special Agent in Charge Eric Delaune. “This verdict demonstrates the resolve of HSI and all our law enforcement partners to hold those who traffic in drugs accountable for their actions.”
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Orlando Land,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Neshoba and Kemper County, Mississippi areas. “Orlando Land” 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.
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. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Carla Clark.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 211 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.
According to court documents, Zane Michael Bonner, 44, was found to be in possession of a cellular telephone at his rehabilitation center residence in Hattiesburg from which forensics recovered over 2,500 visual depictions of child sexual abuse material of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Bonner had a previous conviction for possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.
Bonner was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on January 10, 2023 to possession of child pornography.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Bonner was ordered to pay $11,000 to victims and a $5,000 fine, as well as $5,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Division, and the Forest County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Biloxi Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Biloxi man was sentenced to 136 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess 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.
Antonio Centrea Leger, 25, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, in July of 2021, as part of the investigation into the death of an airman at Keesler Air Force Base, a drug trafficking organization was identified as operating in the sale of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl in Harrison County, Mississippi. As a result of this investigation, Antonio Centrea Leger was identified as a participant, having a leadership role in this drug trafficking organization. Multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and a search warrant of his residence, which yielded 742 fentanyl tablets, led to Leger’s arrest.
Leger was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022. He pled guilty on February 15, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson 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.
Jerry Shannon McAlister, 47, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court records, on July 21, 2021, officers with the Clinton Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop of McAlister. McAlister failed to stop, leading to the pursuit and detention of McAlister. He was found to be in the possession of a firearm. He has multiple previous felony convictions, and it is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess any firearm.
McAlister is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24, 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 Clinton Police Department and the ATF 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.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 125 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.
According to court records, on March 4, 2020, Nicholas Walker, 39, sold 223.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential source in Covington County for $2,000.
Walker was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 16, 2023.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
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 Five Years in Prison for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 64 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, on July 18, 2020, Tremaine Gill, 41, was found with three firearms in his possession by the Jackson Police Department during the execution of a search warrant. Gill has multiple previous felony convictions, and it is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess any firearm.
Gill pled guilty on February 27, 2023, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Federal Prisoner Sentenced for Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A federal prisoner was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for assault on a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca. The sentence will run consecutively to his current federal sentence.
According to court documents, Jason Michael Beasley, 49, was a federal prisoner at the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City and assaulted a federal officer who was in the performance of his duties. Beasley was subsequently questioned and admitted to his illegal actions. He pleaded guilty on February 16, 2023.
The United States Bureau of Prisons investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter prosecuted the case.
Third Defendant Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy to Steal USDA-Mortgaged HousesRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A Jayess woman pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal houses from the United States Department of Agriculture, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General.
According to court documents, Ella Martin, 69, conspired with others to identify and steal USDA-mortgaged properties. The targeted properties were mortgaged through the Brookhaven office of USDA Rural Development, an agency which helps rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing, especially low and very-low income individuals. As an employee of that office, Martin had access to a list of abandoned, foreclosed, nearly-foreclosed, or similarly distressed USDA-mortgaged properties and would create fraudulent warranty deeds designed to convey ownership of those properties to co-conspirators and others. The fraudulent deeds included forged signatures from former homeowners, including at least one deceased individual. The fraudulent deeds were then filed in Chancery Courts around Mississippi with the intent to deprive the actual owners of the use and benefit of the properties and to deprive the United States Government of the actual value of the properties.
Martin pleaded guilty to a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, which criminalizes conspiracies against the laws of the United States. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of five 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.
Co-defendants Barry Martin and Fiesta Kagler entered guilty pleas last year and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2023.
The USDA OIG and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Picayune Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Jourdan Rayshade Bolton, 20, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in December 2021, law enforcement became aware of a possible drug trafficking organization in Pearl River County involving Bolton and a co-conspirator. On February 8, 2022, a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills was conducted with Bolton and his co-conspirator at a Picayune residence in Pearl River County. On July 8, 2022, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence. 60 fentanyl pills were recovered as well as four firearms.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Siblings Convicted, Sentenced in Federal Court for COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Brandon woman was sentenced to two years of probation for theft of unemployment insurance benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and her brother was convicted of conspiring with her to commit wire fraud in obtaining these benefits.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Southeast Region made the announcement.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Aubrey D. Martinez assisted her brother, John Evans, Jr., in applying for benefits with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. As an inmate in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Evans was not entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Evans is serving a 20-year sentence in MDOC custody for armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the pandemic.
Her brother, John Evans, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The pair will be required to pay restitution in the amount of $10,732.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF). In response to the unprecedented scope of Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud, the Department of Justice established the NUIFTF. The NUIFTF is a prosecutor-led multi-agency task force with representatives from FBI, DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, HSI, DHS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, SSA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and other agencies. Members of the NUIFTF are working with state workforce agencies, financial institutions, and other law enforcement partners across the country to fight UI fraud, and consumers should be vigilant in light of these threats and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Pearl River Woman Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River woman was sentenced to 46 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute hydrocodone and methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
According to court documents, Joyce Cauthen, 55, of Pearl River, participated in a conspiracy to distribute hydrocodone and methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. She was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 10, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone.
U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Hinds County Man Convicted of Trafficking Pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine in the Jackson Metropolitan AreaRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession of crystal methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Director Steve Maxwell of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
According to court documents, Lorenzo Sutton, 43, sold pounds of crystal methamphetamine to Erica Rhodes and others between January 2016 and April 2021 with the intent that the crystal methamphetamine be further distributed throughout the Jackson Metropolitan area for profit.
Sutton is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Rhodes received a 4-year federal prison sentence in January 2022 to run concurrently with a prior 15-year state sentence in the Rankin County Circuit Court for her role in the drug trafficking operation.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Ridgeland Police Department, the Pearl Police Department, the Flowood Police Department, the National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Clark prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Cuban Citizen Sentenced for Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Cuban citizen was sentenced to serve 41 months in federal prison and to pay $18,557.25 in restitution to victims for possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices with the intent to defraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge David Denton of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Henry Herrera Garcia a/k/a Alex Rodriguez Perez, 31, was encountered by a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy at a traffic stop on March 20, 2019, on I-10 in Harrison County. Homeland Security Investigations also participated at the scene of the stop. Various items recovered from the vehicle included a credit card scanner, thumb drives, credit card skimmers, a computer, a hard drive, fraudulent credit cards, and gas pump skimming devices, as well as accessories used for downloading credit cards.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
State Representative Pleads Guilty to Willfully Making False Statements on a Federal Income Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Mississippi State Representative pled guilty to willfully making a false material statement on a federal income tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James Dorsey of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office.
Earle S. Banks, Sr., 68, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court in Jackson. According to admissions by Banks, he failed to report more than $500,000 of income resulting from the sale of real property. Banks admitted that he was aware of his legal duty to report that income, and instead willfully failed to report that income to the IRS on a 2018 Form 1040X tax return. Banks also admitted that the United States Attorney’s Office has sufficient evidence to convict him at trial if he had decided to go to trial instead of pleading guilty. It is against federal law to intentionally file false income tax returns which deliberately report less income than a person actually received.
Banks is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The IRS is investigating the case.
Pelahatchie Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Trafficking HeroinRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pelahatchie man was sentenced to 78 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Director Steve Maxwell of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
According to court documents, John “Mo Money” Moore, 55, possessed heroin with the intent to distribute it on four separate occasions in 2017 and 2018. A joint federal and state investigation resulted in the conviction of Moore in connection with the distribution of large amounts of heroin over several months. Moore supplied heroin to Erica Rhodes of Forest, Mississippi. Rhodes distributed and sold the heroin on multiple occasions in Pelahatchie and in the Jackson metropolitan area.
In January 2023, a jury convicted Moore after a trial in U.S. District Court in Jackson. Rhodes was convicted in Rankin County Circuit Court and received a 15-year sentence for her role in the drug trafficking operation.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Ridgeland Police Department, the Pearl Police Department, the Flowood Police Department, the National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Clark and Charles W. Kirkham are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Uses Civil Forfeiture to Recover $95,325.29 for Fraud VictimRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – On May 10, 2023, U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden entered Final Judgment of Forfeiture against $95,325.29 in U.S. Currency seized from a Merchant and Marine Bank Account, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca. According to the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Merchant and Marine Bank Account had been set up by a conspirator in a business email compromise scheme (BEC) to receive fraud proceeds.
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 Feb. 27, 2023, alleging that on August 31, 2020, the victim’s husband received an email from the title company handling the couple’s closing on the purchase of a home. This email was legitimate and contained accurate wiring instructions, but on September 1, 2020, the victim received a second email with false wiring instructions. The spoofed email appeared to be from the couple’s title company and listed the account to which the funds were to be transferred as a Merchant and Marine Bank Account, which a conspirator had opened on August 31, 2020.
The victim followed the instructions in the fraudulent email and wired funds into the Merchant and Marine Bank Account. On September 2, 2020, the victim realized the fraudulent email after receiving a call from the title company about the closing costs. By that time, a conspirator had already sent a wire transfer, purchased a cashier’s check made payable to herself, and made a sizable cash withdrawal.
The victim’s husband contacted Merchant and Marine Bank, which froze the remaining funds in the account and placed a stop payment on the cashier’s check. On March 20, 2023, the victim filed a claim in the civil forfeiture proceeding and filed a subsequent answer, in which she explained that she had been the victim of the fraud scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office entered into a Stipulated Settlement Agreement with the victim and asked the Court to enter a Final Judgment ordering the return of the $95,325.29 to the victim and canceling the interests of any other person or entity.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The USAO Asset Recovery Unit team led by AUSA Clay B. Baldwin handled the matter. The Government would like to thank Merchant & Marine Bank for its cooperation in this 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.
Jackson Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson woman pleaded guilty to being a 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, & Explosives.
According to court documents, Betty Butler, 56, possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony. On December 8, 2021, federal and state law enforcement executed a search warrant at her home and found a firearm in her bedroom. Butler has several prior felony convictions for narcotics violations.
Butler is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. Criminal Chief Erin Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, “Bell Ringer”, which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine and cocaine distribution in central, Mississippi. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jackson Felon Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Using 3D-Printers to Manufacture MachinegunsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and engaging in business as a manufacturer of firearms, 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, Kent Edward Newhouse, 41, possessed firearms on or about July 13, 2022 and July 20, 2022, and engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms from April to July 2022. In April 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered through a confidential informant that Newhouse was using 3D-printers to manufacture auto-sears, which are firearm components designed to cause semi-automatic firearms to function as fully automatic machineguns. Under federal law, auto-sears are themselves machineguns. On July 13, 2022, Newhouse sold a confidential informant a firearm and several auto-sears. On July 20, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Newhouse’s residence, where additional firearms and auto-sears were located. The government also obtained videos of Newhouse operating fully functional machineguns. Newhouse was previously convicted of felony sale of controlled substances in Madison County in 2009.
Newhouse pled guilty on September 1, 2022 to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of engaging in business as a manufacturer of firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Andrew W. Eichner prosecuted 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.
Bogue Chitto Woman Pleads Guilty to Murder on Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Bogue Chitto woman pleaded guilty on May 11, 2023, to the murder of a tribal member on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Bethany Thomas, 27, of the Bogue Chitto Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, stabbed the victim with a knife which resulted in his death.
In November of 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Thomas on the charge of murder in the second degree. Thomas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 2023. Thomas faces a maximum possible 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.
U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Red Water Man Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Red Water man was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for assault on a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Errol John, II, 22, assaulted a tribal police officer who was responding to a domestic disturbance at John’s home. Court documents revealed John assaulted the officer by firing a shotgun in the officer’s direction, resulting in a shotgun blast striking the windshield of the officer’s patrol car. Fortunately, the officer was unharmed.
In April of 2021, a federal grand jury indicted John on charges of assault on a federal officer and illegal possession of a firearm. On December 13, 2022, John pled guilty to assaulting a federal officer.
U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Centreville Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Centreville man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess 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.
Phillip Montgomery, 41, pled guilty in U.S. District in Gulfport on May 3, 2023.
According to court records, in late 2021, the DEA conducted an investigation involving a large drug trafficking organization trafficking large quantities of fentanyl in Moss Point, Mississippi. The investigation revealed that individuals were selling fentanyl that was brought to them by Phillip Montgomery. Montgomery admitted in court to bringing 3 kilograms of fentanyl into Jackson County and furnishing it to the individuals involved in the drug trafficking organization in Moss Point so that it could be sold.
Montgomery will be sentenced on August 3, 2023 and faces a minimum of 10 years to life 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 Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson 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 Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Mario Butler, 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 26, 2021, for two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Butler was also charged in a third count with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
Butler subsequently pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, “Hailstorm,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha Middleton prosecuted the case.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 46 months in Prison for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 46 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, Earnest Guise, 41, was found in possession of a firearm by a Jackson Police Officer on June 6, 2021, during an investigation into a reported shooting. Guise has multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Guise pled guilty on November 8, 2022 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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 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.
Jackson Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud InvestorsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Jackson lobbyist Ted Brent Alexander pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to defraud investors in a timber deed investment scheme, announced United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Field Office. Alexander, 57, of Jackson, Mississippi, pled guilty yesterday afternoon before United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to a Criminal Information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Alexander admitted that between 2011 and 2018, he and a co-conspirator participated in a scheme to defraud investors by soliciting millions of dollars under false pretenses and failing to use investor funds as promised. Alexander and his co-conspirator represented to investors that they were in the business of loaning funds to a “timber broker” to buy timber rights from landowners and then to sell the timber rights to lumber mills at a higher price. Alexander and his co-conspirator promised investors a return of 10% or more over twelve or thirteen months on each unit of invested capital. Alexander and his co-conspirator represented to their investors and led their investors to believe that Alexander and his co-conspirator were inspecting each tract of land and were vetting each document, deed, and contract in support of their investments. These promises and representations were material in that they were intended to cause investors to believe that their investments were secured by valid assets and to believe that the financial incentives and interests of Alexander and his co-conspirator aligned with those of the investors. In fact, Alexander and his co-conspirator failed to inspect each property related to the timber rights underlying each investment, and they failed to verify each executed lumber mill agreement related to each investment. Alexander and his co-conspirator made few or no such inquiries, and if Alexander and his co-conspirator had made such inquiries, they would have discovered that the timber deeds, lumber mill agreements, and related documents had been falsified and were not valid.
Alexander and his co-conspirator also represented to their investors that Alexander and his co-conspirator would only profit from each series of the investment if it performed as promised to the investors. This gave the investors the misleading impression that their interests were fully aligned with those of Alexander and his co-conspirator. In fact, in addition to receiving a predetermined percentage of return on the investors’ funds, Alexander and his co-conspirator also received undisclosed payments of approximately 3% for recruiting investments to the timber investment scheme immediately upon transferring the investment funds to the purported timber broker. Alexander and his co-conspirator did not disclose to the investors: (a) the fact of these payments, or (b) the amount of the payments in relation to the investments made, or (c) the timing of the undisclosed payments to Alexander and his co-conspirator before any repayment was made to the investors.
Alexander will be sentenced on August 21, 2023, before Judge Reeves. Alexander faces a maximum sentence of up to 5 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Restitution is mandatory under federal law.
This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Dave Fulcher.
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Hinds County Sheriff Candidate Indicted for Soliciting Bribes and Providing Ammunition to a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A federal grand jury in Jackson returned an indictment charging Marshand Crisler with soliciting bribes and with providing ammunition to 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, Crisler, 54, of Jackson, is charged with having solicited and accepted thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for agreeing to pass information concerning criminal investigations to the person who paid the bribes. Crisler also allegedly agreed to protect a jailed family member of that person and agreed to award employment with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office to that person. These actions are alleged to have taken place during Crisler’s previous unsuccessful campaign for Hinds County Sheriff in 2021. The indictment also alleges that Crisler gave ammunition to a person he knew to be a convicted felon. It is against federal law for a public official to solicit or accept bribes. It is also against federal law to provide firearm ammunition to a known convicted felon.
Crisler will make his initial court appearance today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
If convicted, Crisler faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as to each of the two counts in the indictment.
The FBI is investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Official Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force Against an InmateRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former case manager with the Mississippi Department of Corrections pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court 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, Nicole Moore 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, kicked a non-resisting inmate in the head even though L.C. was not resisting.
“When corrections officials working inside jails and prisons violently assault inmates held in their custody, they will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department stands ready to hold all prison officials accountable for violating the Eighth Amendment right of prisoners to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.”
“Those that abuse positions of power will be dealt with accordingly,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This should be a reminder to those responsible for the care and control of inmates, that they too must abide by the laws of this nation.”
“Our citizens serving time for crimes against the public deserve the safety and protection from harm by those officials who are charged with their care,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby for the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Ms. Moore's blatant violation of this trust is a disservice to those in the penal system, the corrections officers who take pride in their profession and citizens in general. The FBI is committed to protecting all citizens of our community.”
Moore faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 25.
The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Jackson Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson woman pled 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 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, 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.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Madison Police Department and are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
Jackson 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, Nigel Payton, 40, was found in possession of a firearm by a Jackson Police officer on September 28, 2021. Payton has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter in Hinds County and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On February 23, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Payton for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Payton will be sentenced on August 2, 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 Jackson Police Department Officer Indicted for Selling a Firearm to a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A federal grand jury in Jackson returned an indictment charging a former Jackson Police Department officer with selling a firearm to 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, Torrence Donnell Mayfield, 51, of Jackson, is charged with having sold a firearm to a person he knew to be a convicted felon. It is against federal law to sell a firearm to a known convicted felon.
Mayfield made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball who scheduled the case for trial on May 30, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Jackson. If convicted, Mayfield faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The FBI is investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Canton Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Canton man was sentenced to 63 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on November 4, 2021, Ridgeland Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Highland Colony Parkway near Old Agency Road, after receiving numerous 911 phone calls reporting two vehicles exchanging gunfire. Officers were able to locate one of the vehicles involved on the side of I-55 South with numerous bullet holes in the back, which was driven by Tyrone Diario Lewis, 32. Near the vehicle, in the woods, officers located four firearms, which Lewis and his occupants attempted to hide. Through the investigation, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Lewis possessed the four firearms, including an AR-style pistol, which was used during the shooting. Lewis has a prior felony conviction for armed robbery. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Lewis to possess any firearm
Lewis was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 19, 2022. He pled guilty on January 26, 2023 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Ridgeland Police Department and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart 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.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Meridian man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Patrick Terrell Lewis, Jr., 31, was found in possession of a firearm in his vehicle by officers of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office on January 7, 2021. Lewis was stopped by officers while in the parking lot of a motel on suspicion connected to an unrelated investigation. The officers smelled marijuana. One officer then checked Lewis’s vehicle and saw a marijuana grinder inside the vehicle on top of the center console. When the officer looked under the driver’s seat the officer found a 9mm pistol. Lewis has two prior felony convictions and was on probation at the time of this incident.
Lewis pled guilty on October 31, 2022 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 Jessica S. Terrill 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.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Gulfport man pled guilty to 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.
According to court documents, Derrick Patrick Flanagan, 38, 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. One of the reports used the name “John Adams” with a gmail.com email address and the other account was under the name of “Derrick Flanagan” and used another gmail.com email address. 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, unless he is determined to have a qualifying prior conviction under federal sexual exploitation statues, military law, or any state law, to include but not limited to, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, where he would then face a penalty of not less than 25 years nor more than 50 years in prison, and a fine of not more than $250,000. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting 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.
Former Professional Wrestler Charged with Theft of Millions of Dollars in Federal Funds Intended for Needy FamiliesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A federal indictment was unsealed today charging a former professional wrestler with misappropriating millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds intended for needy families and low-income individuals in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Theodore Marvin DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, along with co-conspirators John Davis, Christi Webb, Nancy New, and others, are alleged to have fraudulently obtained federal funds – including from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program – that they misappropriated for their own personal use and benefit.
Davis was the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). As part of the alleged scheme, after federal funds were issued to MDHS, Davis directed MDHS to subgrant the funds to two nonprofit organizations, Family Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc. (FRC) and Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), which were operated by Webb and New, respectively. Davis then allegedly directed Webb and New to award sham contracts to various individuals and entities purportedly for the delivery of social services, including at least five sham contracts that were awarded to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC.
As further alleged in the indictment, under these sham contracts, FRC and MCEC provided millions of dollars in federal funds from MDHS to DiBiase and his companies for social services that DiBiase did not provide and did not intend to provide. DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures.
DiBiase is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, USDA-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Adrienne E. Rosen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and John Meynardie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Professional Wrestler Charged with Theft of Millions of Dollars in Federal Funds Intended for Needy FamiliesRead the Press Release
A federal indictment was unsealed today in Mississippi charging a former professional wrestler with misappropriating millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds intended for needy families and low-income individuals in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Theodore Marvin DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, along with co-conspirators John Davis, Christi Webb, Nancy New, and others, are alleged to have fraudulently obtained federal funds – including from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program – that they misappropriated for their own personal use and benefit.
Davis was the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). As part of the alleged scheme, after federal funds were issued to MDHS, Davis directed MDHS to subgrant the funds to two nonprofit organizations, Family Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc. (FRC) and Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), which were operated by Webb and New, respectively. Davis then allegedly directed Webb and New to award sham contracts to various individuals and entities purportedly for the delivery of social services, including at least five sham contracts that were awarded to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC.
As further alleged in the indictment, under these sham contracts, FRC and MCEC provided millions of dollars in federal funds from MDHS to DiBiase and his companies for social services that DiBiase did not provide and did not intend to provide. DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures.
DiBiase is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, USDA-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Adrienne E. Rosen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and John Meynardie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to serve 57 months for carjacking and 84 months for brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, for a total of 141 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, David Demazzio Tyler, 32, carjacked an 81-year-old victim at gunpoint in Clinton, Mississippi, on December 2, 2021. Tyler pled guilty to the armed carjacking on January 5, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clinton Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted 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.
Former Hinds County Detention Officer Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Madison man was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, on August 18, 2018, Marcell Anderson, 26, a Hinds County detention officer, attempted to introduce contraband into the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond, Mississippi. Anderson had an electrical taped bundle in his pants containing methamphetamine, marijuana, spice (synthetic marijuana), Xanax pills, rolling papers, and lighters.
Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on January 25, 2023 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Purvis Man Pleads Guilty to Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - A Purvis man pled guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a materially false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.
According to court documents, Terance Dewune Price, 41, was identified in an investigation by the IRS as a tax preparer who, on or about February 5, 2018, in Hattiesburg, aided and assisted in, procuring, counseling, and advising in the preparation and presentation to the IRS, of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040.
Price is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., in Hattiesburg, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations is investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
Jackson, Mississippi Drinking Water and Sewer Overflow Issues - Request for Community StatementsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency want to ensure that all community members have an opportunity to comment on long-term solutions for drinking water and sewer overflow issues in Jackson, Mississippi. Therefore, we are asking Jackson residents and workers to submit Community Statements. The Federal Government, the City of Jackson, and the State of Mississippi will consider comments in the Community Statements when developing long-term solutions.
Please submit Community Statements online (available in both English and Spanish) at https://dojenrd.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cbGlkoP7ik3eZg.
Texas Man Sentenced to over 11 years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Texas man was sentenced to 135 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.
Miguel Mendoza, 33, of Elgin, Texas, was sentenced on April 6, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, on Monday, October 17, 2022, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 10 East in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Mendoza was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. An extensive search of the vehicle revealed a pressure activated access panel for two improvised compartments on each side of the vehicle’s drive shaft. The driver side compartment contained (2) cellophane wrapped packages containing 2.5 kilograms of cocaine. The passenger side compartment contained (2) plastic and aluminum foil wrapped packages containing 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. Tools were located inside the vehicle that were readily available to raise the vehicle and gain access to the compartment.
Mendoza was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on January 17, 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. Attorney Erica Rose.
Copiah County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distribution of Crystal Meth and Heroin Laced with FentanylRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Crystal Springs man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for operating a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin laced with fentanyl in addition to kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine throughout the metropolitan area.
Gregory Jamal Williams, a/k/a “Grip”, 43, was sentenced on April 5, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, from as early as February 2019 through the date of his indictment in November 2020, Williams conspired with others and possessed with the intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine as well as heroin. Evidence demonstrated that the heroin was mixed with fentanyl.
In October 2022, Williams pled guilty to all counts in his federal indictment. Williams’s 30-year sentence includes penalties for acting as a supervisor or manager of the organization’s drug trafficking activities, for possession of firearms in connection with his drug trafficking activities, for committing his drug crimes as part of a pattern of criminal conduct engaged in as his livelihood, and for importation of methamphetamine from Mexico. Williams was previously convicted of various state drug crimes, including sale of drugs within 1500 feet of a church.
Williams’s son and co-defendant, Sage Braddy, is currently serving an 87-month federal sentence for his role in the drug trafficking operation.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerly made the announcement.
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.
This OCDETF case is the result of an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Clark prosecuted the case.
Picayune Woman Pleads Guilty to Collecting Benefits Under Two Social Security NumbersRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Picayune woman pled guilty to theft of public money by collecting benefits using two Social Security numbers, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jason Albers of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General, Dallas-Kansas City Field Division.
According to court records, Zenda Marie Bryan, 69, admitted receiving Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits using one Social Security number while simultaneously using another Social Security number to obtain and maintain employment. This conduct occurred in the Western District of Oklahoma, where she was charged in a federal indictment. The charges have since been transferred to the Southern District of Mississippi, where Bryan is now living.
“Ms. Zenda Bryan misused SSA programs and numbers for her own gain; her actions not only defrauded the Disability Insurance Benefit program but also the Supplemental Security Income program, a critical safety net for those in need. This plea will hold her accountable for the fraud she committed against SSA and taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Albers. “I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Southern District of Mississippi and the Western District of Oklahoma for their work in prosecuting this case.”
Bryan will be sentenced on July 17, 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.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gaines Cleveland of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Joynes of the Western District of Oklahoma.
Mississippi Landman Pleads Guilty to Submitting False Corporate Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Jackson, Mississippi, landman pleaded guilty today to submitting a false tax return on behalf of his business, Gulf States Royalty, Ltd.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jeffrey Randall 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 reported more than $2 million dollars in false business expenses on Gulf States’s 2008 corporate income tax return (Form 1120). 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.
Randall is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26 and faces a statutory maximum of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court 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 made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Richard (R.J.) Hagerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
Former Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A former federal inmate pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Michael Phillips, 47, a citizen of Jamaica, pled guilty on April 4, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about July 2, 2017, Phillips killed another inmate during a fight in a prison housing unit at the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Mississippi, where both Phillips and the other inmate were incarcerated. During the course of the fight, Phillips threw a punch causing the other inmate 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 will be sentenced on July 7, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of eight 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.
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.
Brandon Resident Sentenced to 50 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Brandon resident was sentenced to serve a total of 50 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
Emilio Bellizzia a/k/a Juan Emilio Bellizzia, 44, a legal resident of the United States from Mexico, was sentenced on April 4, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
Beginning in April 2021, and continuing through June 2021, FBI agents from Milwaukee and Jackson, along with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, investigated groups of individuals who were engaged in the receipt, possession, distribution, and production of child sex abuse material. On September 15, 2022, agents executed a federal search warrant at Bellizzia’s home in Brandon and found several electronic devices containing child pornography. Bellizzia attempted to flee to Mexico the following day.
Bellizzia was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on January 6, 2023 to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Bellizzia was sentenced to serve two concurrent 30 year sentences for two counts of production of child pornography and a consecutive sentence of 20 years to serve for possession of child pornography, for a total of 50 years, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. 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.
Clinton Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Clinton man was sentenced to 84 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 Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives (ATF).
According to court documents, Stanley Cavett Jr., 35, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Clinton Police Department on November 4, 2019. Cavett has several prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Cavett to possess a firearm.
Cavett pled guilty on January 6, 2023 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The ATF and the Clinton Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill 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.
Former Postal Worker Sentenced for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Canton woman was sentenced a 12 month term of probation for the federal crime of mail theft by a postal employee, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Scott Pierce, Inspector in Charge with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office.
According to Court documents, Sherice E. Davis, 34, of Canton, was a Rural Carrier Associate and delivered mail along a rural route in Hinds County. After receiving complaints of mail theft along Davis’s route, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General agents investigated. On March 9, 2022, agents found Davis in possession of opened mail she did not deliver.
Davis was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2022, and she entered a guilty plea in October 2022.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
Jefferson County Felon Sentenced to over 24 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Multiple Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Jefferson County felon was sentenced to 295 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Boris Ward, 50, conducted two sold methamphetamine in Jefferson County on June 1st and June 13th, 2018. After the two sales, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and other agencies executed a search warrant at Ward’s residence and recovered 10 firearms and over a half kilogram of 100% pure methamphetamine. Ward was previously convicted in Cook County, Illinois, of two counts of armed robbery, two counts of attempted murder and distribution of cocaine. He was previously convicted in Jefferson County, Mississippi, of escape from a correctional facility and possession of cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Andrew W. Eichner prosecuted 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.