Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former BOP Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Committing COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Flora woman pleaded guilty today to carrying out a scheme to defraud the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith with the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Miami Field Office.
According to court documents, Tarshuana Thomas, 34, of Flora, fraudulently applied for two PPP loans. Thomas claimed to be the sole proprietor of a dog breeding and sitting service. From those fraudulently obtained funds, Thomas received $12,586, which she spent on personal, non-business related expenses. Thomas was employed as a Correctional Officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Yazoo City when she applied for the loans.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Dekalb Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Dekalb, Mississippi man pleaded guilty to 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, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Cordexster Antonio Grace, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Deputy on March 12, 2021, during a traffic stop. Grace had a .22 caliber revolver in his jacket pocket. Grace had a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault and was under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Grave to possess any firearm.
Grace pleaded guilty to a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) which criminalize the possession of firearms by convicted felons. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2022 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 Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Federal Jury finds Defendant Guilty of Assault on Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Following a three-day trial, a federal jury in Jackson returned a guilty verdict against a Jackson man for assault on a law enforcement officer and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
De’Vadrick Markevin Booker, 24, was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
The evidence at trial showed that on September 8, 2020, an ATF Agent responded to assist Jackson Police Officers with an ongoing investigation of an exchange of gunfire in a residential area of the city. As the agent drove down a residential street in the area of the gunfire, Booker emerged and fired several gunshots into the agent’s car.
Booker is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2022, and faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica S. Terrill, Kevin J. Payne, and Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Assault on Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for assault on a federal law enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Demario Lamar Cotton, 40, was sentenced on November 2, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, on or about June 26, 2021, Cotton was in a vehicle fleeing law enforcement when he stopped and fired a rifle multiple times at law enforcement vehicles, causing bodily injury to a federal law enforcement officer who was in the performance of his official duties. Cotton was subsequently taken into custody and admitted to his illegal actions when he pled guilty on July 1, 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray prosecuted the case.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man pled guilty to 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, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Patrick Terrell Lewis, Jr., 30, was found in possession of a firearm, a 9 mm pistol, in his vehicle by officers of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office on January 7, 2021. Lewis has two prior felony convictions and was on probation at the time of this incident.
Lewis plead guilty to a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) which criminalizes the possession of firearms by convicted felons. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Memphis man pled guilty to sex trafficking of a minor and interstate sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
Wayne Edwards Settles, 30, pled guilting on October 25, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wayne Edwards Settles, 30, was actively involved with the sex trafficking of a minor and an adult whom he transported from Louisiana to Mississippi to perform commercial sex acts in August and September 2020.
Settles will be sentenced on February 7, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Richland Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Former Tribal Councilmember Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former tribal councilmember for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was sentenced to 84 months in prison for embezzlement, perjury, and suborning perjury, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Kevin Joseph Edwards, 51, of the Standing Pine Community, embezzled $12,178.40 from the Tribe by submitting fraudulent travel documents for reimbursement. Edwards was indicted for the embezzlement in February of 2019. Once indicted on the embezzlement, Edwards was released on bond. While on bond, Edwards possessed a firearm. A petition to revoke his bond was filed in federal court, and during a hearing conducted in the United States Magistrate Court, Edwards committed perjury and convinced another person to commit perjury on his behalf during the hearing.
Edwards entered a plea of guilty to the embezzlement in February of 2021, and later pled guilty to the perjury charges in June of 2022. As stated in court, Edwards admitted to embezzling funds from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and his role in committing and suborning perjury in federal court.
Edwards was sentenced to a prison term of 84 months, to be followed by a term of 36 months supervised release. Edwards was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,178.40. The sentencing took place in the Thad Cochran Federal Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi.
U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne.
Pass Christian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Pass Christian, Mississippi man pled guilty to 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.
According to court records, on March 29, 2022, Michael Dedeaux was stopped for a traffic violation near West North Street and Fitzpatrick Avenue in Pass Christian. The traffic stop led to the seizure of 442 grams of methamphetamine.
Dedeaux will be sentenced on January 27, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and $5M 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 Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Stands Ready to Protect Voting Rights on Election DayRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Bert Carraway will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Carraway has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Mississippi, and in that capacity, is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney LaMarca said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney LaMarca stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Carraway will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 601-973-2826.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 601-948-5000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
United States Attorney LaMarca said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 18 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia, Mississippi man was sentenced to 222 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
James Nelson Peeples, Jr., 37, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court records, on July 15, 2018, a Philadelphia woman called the Philadelphia Police Department and reported that a man she knew as “P James” was at her house threatening her with a gun. An officer responded immediately and spoke with the woman. The officer then left the woman’s residence and quickly located Peeples nearby driving a black Honda Accord. The officer stopped Peeples and, as he approached the vehicle, saw Peeples attempting to hide a handgun. Peeples also appeared to be trying to put a bag of marijuana in his pants.
Peeples was arrested and a search was conducted. Methamphetamine, marijuana and three handguns were found. Peeples has multiple felony convictions out of Neshoba County Circuit Court for drug sales and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
A federal grand jury indicted Peeples on January 15, 2020. He subsequently pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney 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.
Final Defendant in Eight-Person Indictment Pleads Guilty to Gun ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Biloxi man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Jamaar Saunders, 29, was the last defendant in an eight-person conspiracy that was originally charged in October of 2021. Saunders will be sentenced on January 26, 2023.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in 2020, the DEA and Gulfport Police Department began investigating a local drug trafficking conspiracy involved in the distribution of oxycodone, marijuana, alprazolam, methamphetamine, and pressed fentanyl pills. As part of the investigation, law enforcement obtained access to the conspirators’ social media and cell phone messages. During the investigation, law enforcement officers learned that various members of the organization, like many drug traffickers, possessed firearms to protect themselves, their drugs, and their proceeds from the sale of drugs. In addition, some members of the conspiracy invested in the purchase of firearms for subsequent resale. Law enforcement officers also discovered that members of the conspiracy transferred firearms between themselves to further the conspiracies goals. With respect to Jamaar Saunders, officers were able to determine that he was involved in the distribution of controlled substances and the acquisition/provision of firearms to at least one other member of the conspiracy.
As a result of this investigation, Jamaar Saunders, Raheem Lane, Mary Matthews, D’Laun Ball, and Malyk Harveston, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sernareo Barnett, Nigel Saunders, and Lafayette Copeland pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Each of these offenses carried a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. In addition, Raheem Lane pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime which exposed him to a consecutive sentence of between 5 years and life imprisonment.
Jamaar Saunders, D’Laun Ball, and Raheem Lane are currently awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have already been sentenced.
As a result of the charges brought in this case, and related cases that were brought against Kristopher Weaver and Tyrik Frazier, law enforcement officers seized: 25 firearms, over $25,000 in cash, six vehicles, fentanyl, alprazolam, marijuana, and methamphetamine. The firearms, cash, and vehicles have been or are in the process of being forfeited.
The DEA and Gulfport Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Biloxi Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Canton Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Mail by a Postal EmployeeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Canton woman pled guilty to the federal crime of embezzling mail, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Scott Pierce, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office.
Sherice E. Davis, 34, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, Davis was a Rural Carrier Associate and delivered mail along a rural route in Hinds County. After receiving complaints of mail theft along Davis’ route, agents with the Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated. On March 9, 2022, agents found Davis in possession of opened mail she did not deliver.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2023. She faces a maximum penalty of 5 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 United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Jackson Wastewater Hauler Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act ViolationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – An employee of Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services, Inc., a wastewater hauling business based in Jackson, Mississippi, pled guilty today for his part in illegally discharging industrial waste into the Jackson sewer system, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4.
During court today, William Roberts, 44, of Pearl, Mississippi, admitted supervising the transportation and disposal of industrial waste from Gold Coast Commodities, Inc., of Brandon, Mississippi, to a site at a commercial entity in Jackson, which, as a result of his negligence, caused the waste to be trucked and hauled to a facility that was not a legal discharge point designated by the Jackson Wastewater Treatment System to receive the waste.
Roberts entered his guilty plea before United States Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in Jackson. Roberts will be sentenced on December 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. The federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“The defendant’s negligent conduct contributed to the discharge of millions of gallons of untreated industrial waste into the Jackson water system,” said Special Agent in Charge Chuck Carfagno, of EPA-CID Southeast Area Branch. “EPA and its law enforcement partners will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who deliberately violate our nations environmental laws.”
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brandon Police Department, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, with cooperation from City of Brandon and City of Jackson municipal governments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gaines Cleveland.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 180 months in 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, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Benjamin Demon McAbee, 42, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Jackson Police Department on October 27, 2020. McAbee has prior felony convictions for both violent and non-violent offenses. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for him to possess any firearm.
McAbee was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2020, and pled guilty on July 21, 2022, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His lengthy sentence is due to the number and nature of his prior felony convictions.
The ATF and the Jackson 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.
Vancleave Man Sentenced to over 33 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine While Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Vancleave man was sentenced to a total of 404 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Jeremy Green, 37, was sentenced on October 13, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on October 20, 2021, police were called to the residence of Jeremy Green for a domestic dispute. Green’s wife had suffered a fractured nose and had to receive 3 staples to the back of her head, among other injuries. Law enforcement officers were able to arrest Green after a brief stand-off. At the time of his arrest, Green possessed 80 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen .45 caliber pistol. A subsequent investigation revealed that Green possessed the firearm for protection due to his drug trafficking activities and sold a total of 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the month leading up to his arrest.
Green was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 23, 2022. He pled guilty on June 27, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Meridian Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man was sentenced to 52 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 February 3, 2020, Eric Wayne Washington, 50, was found to be in possession of a firearm during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Washington was found in the residence and taken into custody. After Washington identified which bedroom belonged to him, the officers continued their search. A 9mm pistol was found in the bedroom along with methamphetamine. Washington has multiple prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Washington to possess any firearms or ammunition.
The Meridian Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney 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.
Carriere Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful User of NarcoticsRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Carriere man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Jacob Whitehead, 35, was sentenced on October 13, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, in January of 2022, DEA task force officers were called to a residence in Lumberton, Mississippi due to a suspected overdose death. An investigation into the death revealed that the decedent had recently purchased narcotics from Jacob Whitehead. A search warrant was obtained for the home of Whitehead and three firearms were recovered as part of the search. Small amounts of narcotics were also found in the residence. Whitehead admitted to being an unlawful user of narcotics and to possessing the three firearms.
Whitehead was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 23, 2022. He pled guilty on June 28, 2022, to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Canton Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Canton man was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for armed carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
Cordelro DeSean Shoulders, 30, was sentenced on October 13, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Jackson. Shoulders was further ordered to a five-year term of supervised release following his prison term.
According to court documents, during the evening of April 28, 2019, at a Jackson gas station, Shoulders and an unknown man pulled up next to a car occupied by three young women and initiated a conversation. The women agreed to meet Shoulders and the other man at a party nearby. Once the women arrived, and while still in their car, the men approached and pointed guns at the women. The women were ordered out of their car and were made to remove their clothes. Shoulders and the other man took the women’s phones, wallets, and the keys to their car. Shoulders then left in the women’s car while the other man followed. Shoulders was captured and identified on the following day, April 29, after he led police on a pursuit and crashed while avoiding a roadblock. Shoulders was driving the car he had taken from the women.
Shoulders was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on July 7, 2021, to armed carjacking.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Police Department, and Clinton Police Department investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway.
U.S. Attorney LaMarca Announces Justice Department Grant to Support Project Safe Neighborhoods in Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $106,936 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern District of Mississippi. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov
Woodville Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – Two Woodville men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in Wilkinson County, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Warren Jerome Goss, Jr. a/k/a “Jay,” 25, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Michael Jackson a/k/a “Bear,” 45, was sentenced on May 3, 2022, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Both men were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Natchez, Mississippi.
According to court documents, an investigation into a drug distribution operation revealed Goss and Jackson conspired to and did distribute methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride in Woodville. Between October, 2019, and June, 2020, undercover ATF agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride from Goss and Jackson.
Goss and Jackson were indicted by a federal grand jury on January 26, 2021. Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway.
Mississippi Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Client ReturnsRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A McComb woman pled guilty today to preparing false tax returns for her clients, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
According to court documents and facts revealed at her plea hearing, Elizabeth Stephens, 41, worked at a McComb tax return preparation business. Between 2014 and 2017, Stephens prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including false W-2 information and Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business Forms. These false expenses and altered W-2s reduced taxable income and maximized the Earned Income Credit, increasing the total refund amount.
Stephens is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 3 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 case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Brookhaven Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Brookhaven man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Richard Butler, 42, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson. Butler was further ordered to a five year term of supervised release following his prison term, and forfeiture of multiple firearms.
According to court documents, on September 25, 2019, following an investigation into sources of methamphetamine, agents with ATF and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics conducted a controlled purchase of 54 grams of methamphetamine from Butler in Brookhaven. Following this purchase, agents, using a cooperating person, purchased additional methamphetamine from Butler. Butler, a convicted felon, possessed a firearm when he was arrested.
Butler was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2021. He pled guilty on June 24, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway.
Conehatta Man Found Guilty in ShootingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Conehatta man was found guilty on several federal charges at the conclusion of a jury trial that began October 3, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Jackson, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Mike Austin Anderson, 36, of the Conehatta Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation used a handgun to shoot another tribal member multiple times.
In June of 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Anderson on the charges of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Hon. Daniel P. Jordan, III., Chief United States District Judge, presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing in the case for January 12, 2023. Anderson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is currently being held in federal custody.
United States 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.
Two Members of the Aryan Circle Convicted of Violent Crimes in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted two members of the Aryan Circle yesterday for violent crimes in aid of racketeering, specifically assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and attempted murder.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, William Glenn Chunn, aka Big Head, 39, of Humble, Texas, and Aaron Matthew Rentfrow, aka Mongo, 40, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, were members of the Aryan Circle, a race-based and violent prison gang with hundreds of members operating throughout the country, both inside and outside of prisons. The Aryan Circle enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through threats, intimidation, and acts of violence including, but not limited to, acts involving assault and murder. Members are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.
“The Department of Justice will do everything in its power to protect victims of violent crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These convictions demonstrate the Department’s commitment to holding white supremacist gangs, like the Aryan Circle, accountable for the acts of violence they commit and seeking justice for those victimized.”
On Aug. 17, 2017, Chunn, who is one of the five highest-ranking Aryan Circle leaders in the nation, along with other Aryan Circle leaders and Rentfrow, who was an Aryan Circle prospect at the time, carried out an attack on an inmate at USP Yazoo City, Mississippi. According to evidence presented at trial, Chunn, through his chain of command, ordered Rentfrow to stab the victim to earn membership into the Aryan Circle. Chunn ordered the attack because the victim was homosexual. Rentfrow complied with Chunn’s order and committed the attack. The victim sustained severe injuries from the attack including rib fractures, multiple puncture wounds to his chest, lacerations to his face and head, and a collapsed lung requiring a chest tube. Rentfrow became a member of the Aryan Circle as a result of this attack.
“Violent crimes committed in our prison systems will be prosecuted, period,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Gangs, such as the Aryan Circle, that prey upon fellow inmates and society have no place in or outside of prisons. Our office is proud to have assisted the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and ATF in providing this measure of justice.”
“Our communities deserve to exist without fear and intimidation inflicted by violent gangs like the Aryan Circle,” said Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “The convictions today are an example of ATF’s priorities to target individuals and organizations that plague our communities with violence. ATF will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to pursue violent criminals and hold them accountable.”
Chunn and Rentfrow were convicted of violent crimes in aid of racketeering assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and violent crimes in aid of racketeering attempted murder. Chunn and Rentfrow are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 18, 2023, and each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF, BOP, and DEA investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Lakeita F. Rox-Love and Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Falsification of an Annual Financial Report Filed by a Labor UnionRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss.- A Laurel man pled guilty to falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Supervisory Investigator Tara Thibodaux of the U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, in New Orleans.
According to court documents, on February 8, 2018, Benton Ryals, Jr. a/k/a B. J. Ryals, 70, while holding the position of financial secretary with the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1437, in Laurel, Mississippi, failed to disclose a material fact in an annual financial report required to be filed by the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1437, with the Secretary of Labor. Specifically, Ryals knowingly failed to disclose in form LM-3, for the union’s fiscal year for January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017, disbursements he received for personal use. Ryals used debit cards and checks written from the branch’s checking account for his own personal bill payments.
Ryals will be sentenced on January 24, 2023, at 1:30 p.m., in Hattiesburg. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $10,000 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 U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Mexican citizen pled guilty to the federal felony offense of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Mellissa B. Harper, Acting Field Office Director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement New Orleans Field Office, made the announcement.
Gonzalo Garcia-Romero, 32, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court documents, on February 3, 2022, Jones County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence near Ellisville, Mississippi, responding to a report of a shooting. Upon arriving at the residence, deputies encountered a woman who said she had been hit on the head by Gonzalo Garcia-Romero. While no one had been shot, the woman said Garcia-Romero fired a pistol near her, and deputies found Garcia-Romero with a 9mm loaded pistol. Garcia-Romero was arrested by deputies. The Jones County Sheriff’s Department notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). ICE/ERO officials responded and determined that Garcia-Romero was illegally present in the United States and had unlawfully returned after being previously removed from the U.S. to his home nation of Mexico.
Garcia-Romero is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2023. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, plus a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney LaMarca praised the coordination and investigation of ICE/ERO, the ATF and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s crime reduction efforts, PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together and develop comprehensive solutions. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Guatemalan national pled guilty to unlawful transportation of an illegal alien within the United States.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Chief Patrol Agent Jason E. Schneider of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, and Special Agent in Charge David L. Denton of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
According to court documents, Yobany Macario-Morales, a citizen of Guatemala who had been living in Texas, was stopped on May 1, 2022, on Interstate 10 in Harrison County by a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy who is a member of the Harrison County Criminal Interdiction Team. The deputy requested assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, and agents arrested Macario-Morales and his two passengers, both of whom were citizens of Mexico who were unlawfully present in the United States.
Macario-Morales is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release and $5,100 in special assessments. After completing any prison sentence, he also is subject to Homeland Security proceedings to remove him from the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Tucker Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Sexual Assault of ChildRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Tucker man was sentenced to 600 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the sexual assault of child less than 12 years of age, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Cameron Hickman, 34, of the Tucker Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, sexually assault a 12-year-old female child.
In August of 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Hickman on the charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years of age. Hickman was found guilty at the conclusion of his jury trial in June of 2022.
United States 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 Burns.
Byram Man Sentenced to over Nine Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Byram man was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, 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.
Dave Venard Thompson, 41, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and cocaine. On March 9, 2018, the FBI learned that two men from California driving a black Dodge Ram truck were in the tri-county area of Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties of Central Mississippi to pick up narcotics. Agents placed the truck under surveillance and saw an occupant of the truck deliver a package to the Post Office in Jackson. On March 12, 2018, local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the truck and found $19,770 in cash hidden in the truck. The postal package that was seized by the Postal Inspector contained almost 1 kilogram of heroin and 1 kilogram of fentanyl.
Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Fire and Ice,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Fire and Ice” 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Madison County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for being a 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, Alreco Hill, 33, was found in possession of a firearm by an officer of the Jackson Police Department on May 8, 2020, during a traffic stop. Hill had a pistol in the right front pocket of his pants. Hill has multiple prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Hill to possess any firearm.
The Jackson Police Department and the FBI 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.
Conehatta Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of ChildRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Conehatta man was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for the sexual abuse of child less than 12 years of age, 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.
According to court documents, Kenneth John, 48, of the Conehatta Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation sexually abused a 12-year-old female child.
A bill of information filed in May of 2022 charged John with abusive sexual contact of a minor under the age of 12. John subsequently pled guilty to the charge.
United States 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 Burns.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Sacramento, California man pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Alvin Lucas, 41, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in the summer of 2019, an undercover agent ordered methamphetamine from Lucas, who instructed the undercover agent to send money for the purchase of the methamphetamine to Lucas’s girlfriend. Ultimately, Lucas’s girlfriend sent a package containing the methamphetamine to the undercover agent in Gulfport.
Lucas is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2022. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
Mississippi Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Cross BurningRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – The Justice Department announced that Axel C. Cox, 23, has been charged with hate crime and arson violations for burning a cross in his front yard to threaten, interfere with and intimidate a Black family in Gulfport, Mississippi.
According to court documents, Cox is charged with one count of criminal interference with the right to fair housing and one count of using fire to commit a federal felony. The indictment alleges that on Dec. 3, 2020, Cox threatened, intimidated and interfered with a Black family’s enjoyment of their housing rights. According to the indictment, Cox burned a cross in his front yard, and used threatening and racially derogatory remarks toward his Black neighbors. Cox allegedly chose to burn the cross because of the victims’ race.
If convicted, Cox faces up to 10 years in prison for interfering with the victims’ housing rights and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for using fire to commit a federal felony. Cox also faces a fine of up to $250,000 with respect to each charge.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby for the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Cabell Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Noah Coakley II of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources on the department’s efforts to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Mississippi – A Louisiana man pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Cedric Vontrell Franklin, 39, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, on May 10, 2022, in Gulfport, Mississippi, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Franklin. Officers searched Franklin’s vehicle and recovered a loaded 40 caliber handgun. A search of Franklin’s criminal history revealed he has multiple felony drug convictions.
Franklin will be sentenced on December 19, 2022. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. However, if the Court determines he is an Armed Career Offender, he faces a minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gulfport Police Department
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Return to the United States After RemovalRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Honduran national pled guilty to the federal crime of unlawful return of an alien after deportation or removal.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Jason E. Schneider, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jose Antonio Ferrera-Funez, 32, of Honduras, was arrested on June 22, 2022, on Interstate 10 in Jackson County. A Border Patrol Agent assigned to the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jose Antonio Ferrera-Funez, who did not have a driver’s license. Record checks revealed that Ferrera-Funez was an illegal alien who had been previously removed from the United States on multiple occasions.
Ferrera-Funez is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. After completing any sentence of incarceration, he also is subject to Homeland Security proceedings to remove him again from the United States. 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 Border Patrol, the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Dekalb Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Dekalb, Mississippi man was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Lil’Christopher Jerome Mason, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Meridian Police Department on June 9, 2021, during a traffic stop. Mason had a .380 caliber pistol on the front passenger seat of his car. Mason has a prior felony conviction for Burglary of a Dwelling. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Mason to possess any firearm.
The Meridian Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney 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.
Columbia Man Found Guilty of Multiple Federal Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Alfredric James, 37, of Columbia, Mississippi, was charged in a federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. After a three-day trial, James was found guilty of both counts.
U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on December 9, 2020, James retrieved a pound of pure methamphetamine hidden by two of his conspirators in a barbecue grill at a residence in Hattiesburg. Having been alerted to the transaction, agents attempted to stop James’s vehicle. James fled but was apprehended with the meth after a short pursuit. James was responsible for distributing over 8 kilograms of methamphetamine to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area in a two month period in the Fall of 2020.
James will be sentenced on January 12, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Don’t Tell On Me Bro,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Don’t Tell On Me Bro” 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Hattiesburg Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Shundral Cole.
Mississippi Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Client ReturnsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Mississippi man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for preparing false tax returns for his clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Orland Reed worked at a Gulfport tax return preparation business. Between 2012 and 2014, Reed prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including false education credits, dependent information, federal income tax withholdings, and retirement contributions in an effort to generate larger refunds from the IRS than the clients were entitled to receive. At times, Reed also listed a different tax preparer even though he prepared the returns himself.
In addition to preparing false tax returns, on at least two occasions Reed misappropriated portions of his clients’ refunds that were sent by the IRS to the tax preparation business in the form of prepaid debit cards. Specifically, Reed withdrew some of the funds on the cards before delivering them to the clients.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel ordered Reed to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $69,185 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
Former Executive Director of Mississippi Department of Human Services Pleads Guilty for Conspiring to Defraud the State of MississippiRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) official pleaded guilty today for conspiring to defraud the State of Mississippi of millions of dollars in federal funds.
According to court documents, John Davis, 54, of Jackson, Mississippi, and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained and misused federal funds – including funds from two programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – for their personal use and benefit. At Davis’s direction, MDHS provided federal funds to two nonprofit organizations and then directed the two nonprofit organizations to fraudulently award contracts to various entities and individuals for social services that were never provided. In addition, Davis caused the nonprofit organizations to disburse full or almost-full payments pursuant to those sham contracts at or near the beginning of the contract periods, regardless of whether any work had been performed and knowing that no significant services would be provided.
Davis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and 10 years in prison for the theft concerning programs receiving federal funds count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, and USDA-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Adrienne E. Rosen and Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Fraud Section, respectively, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and Andrew Eichner for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
Former Executive Director of Mississippi Department of Human Services Pleads Guilty for Conspiring to Defraud the State of MississippiRead the Press Release
A former Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) official pleaded guilty today for conspiring to defraud the State of Mississippi of millions of dollars in federal funds.
According to court documents, John Davis, 54, of Jackson, Mississippi, and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained and misused federal funds – including funds from two programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – for their personal use and benefit. At Davis’s direction, MDHS provided federal funds to two nonprofit organizations and then directed the two nonprofit organizations to fraudulently award contracts to various entities and individuals for social services that were never provided. In addition, Davis caused the nonprofit organizations to disburse full or almost-full payments pursuant to those sham contracts at or near the beginning of the contract periods, regardless of whether any work had been performed and knowing that no significant services would be provided.
Davis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and 10 years in prison for the theft concerning programs receiving federal funds count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, and USDA-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Adrienne E. Rosen and Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Fraud Section, respectively, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and Andrew Eichner for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case
Pascagoula Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Pascagoula man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Johnny Elliott Washington a/k/a Johnnie Elliot Washington, 54, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on July 13, 2020, Washington sold two firearms to a confidential source at a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi. Washington was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Harrison County, Mississippi. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Washington was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 20, 2021, and pled guilty on May 26, 2022.
The case was investigated by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Purvis Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Purvis man was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, on or about January 10, 2020, Arsenio Tatum, 31, of Purvis, Mississippi, sold approximately a pound of methamphetamine at a residence located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
In addition to the prison sentence, Tatum was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Don’t Tell On Me Bro,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Don’t Tell On Me Bro” 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Hattiesburg Police Department, Columbia Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Return to the United States After RemovalRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Mexican national pled guilty to the federal crime of unlawful return of an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Jason E. Schneider, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
According to court documents, Arce Manuel Gomez-Salazar, 30, of Mexico, was arrested on July 8, 2022, on U.S. Highway 90, in Harrison County. A State Trooper of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol was conducting a vehicle safety checkpoint when he encountered a vehicle driven by Gomez-Salazar. The Trooper asked Gomez-Salazar for his driver’s license, and neither Gomez-Salazar nor his three passengers had a valid driver’s license. None of the vehicle occupants were citizens of the U.S. and all were determined to be unlawfully present in the U.S.
Records revealed that Gomez-Salazar had been arrested by the Border Patrol in Texas, in 2018, and ordered removed to his home nation of Mexico by a U.S. Immigration Judge
Gomez-Salazar is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2022 at 1:30 p.m., and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 1 year of Supervised Release. After completing any sentence of incarceration, he also is subject to Homeland Security proceedings to remove him again from the United States. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Gomez-Salazar’s passengers were administratively processed since none of the passengers had been previously removed from the U.S.
The case was investigated by the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the U.S. Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting an Illegal Alien within the U.S.Read the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Mexican national pled guilty to the federal felony offense of unlawful transportation of an illegal alien within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Chief Patrol Agent Jason E. Schneider of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, and Special Agent in Charge David L. Denton of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Jesus Salgado-Perez, 31, was arrested on June 1, 2022, following a vehicle stop on Interstate 10 in Jackson County by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent assigned to the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team (MET). Salgado-Perez, the driver of the vehicle, did not have a driver’s license and was found, along with his passenger, to be illegally present in the U.S.
Salgado-Perez will be sentenced on December 14, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and $5,100 in special assessments. After completing any prison sentence, he also is subject to Department of Homeland Security proceedings to remove him from the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
The prosecutor for the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty today to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.
According to court documents, Gregory L. Randle, 30, on December 3, 2021, fled from a traffic safety checkpoint resulting in a pursuit by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Law enforcement officers apprehended Randle after a short chase and discovered a firearm and several pounds of marijuana in his vehicle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives continued the investigation into the firearm and the marijuana.
Randle plead guilty to a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) which criminalizes the possession of firearms by convicted felons. Randle also plead guilty to a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) which criminalizes the possession of controlled substances, including marijuana, with the intent to distribute. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 13, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the firearm charge and a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for the controlled substances charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Kurt H. Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Jackson Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 70 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, Jacques Ramon Brown, 40, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Jackson Police Department on July 2, 2021. Brown has several prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Brown to possess a firearm.
Brown pled guilty on May 31, 2022 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jackson 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.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 105 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, Jarius Isaac Cameron, 29, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Jackson Police Department on March 7, 2021, during an investigation into an alleged armed robbery. Cameron has several prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Cameron to possess a firearm.
Cameron pled guilty on May 26, 2022 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jackson 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.
Ocean Springs Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – An Ocean Springs man was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).
Jeffery Vo, 29, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, in September of 2021, the DEA received information regarding a possible drug trafficking conspiracy involving Jeffery Vo. Over the course of the investigation, DEA agents were able to purchase large quantities of MDMA pills from Vo which contained methamphetamine.
Vo was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 8, 2022. He pled guilty on May 16, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Jefferson County Felon Convicted Following Four-Day Trial for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Multiple Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jefferson County felon was found guilty in U.S. District Court following a four-day jury trial of three counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, with one count charging 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
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.
According to court documents, Boris Ward, 49, conducted two controlled sales of a half-ounce of methamphetamine in Jefferson County on June 1st and June 13th, 2018. After the two controlled sales, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and other agencies executed a search warrant at Ward’s residence and recovered 10 firearms and over 540 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine. Ward was previously convicted of a 2022 felony drug crime in Jefferson County.
Ward will be sentenced on January 11, 2023. He faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.
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 are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Two Rankin County Men Indicted for Discharging Industrial Waste into Jackson Sewer SystemRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Two Rankin County men appeared in federal court today on felony charges of illegally discharging industrial waste into the Jackson Sewer System, conspiracy, and making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division’s Southeast Area Branch.
A nine-count federal indictment was unsealed in Jackson on September 2, 2022, charging Thomas W. Douglas, Jr., 61, and John S. Welch, Sr., 64, with carrying out a scheme whereby industrial waste from their company, Gold Coast Commodities, was discharged illegally into the Jackson Sewer System.
The defendants made their initial court appearances today at the Thad Cochran U.S. Courthouse in Jackson.
The case is set for trial on November 7, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Jackson. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on Count 1 of the indictment, three years in prison on each of Counts 2-6 of the indictment, and five years in prison on each of Counts 7-8 as to Douglas and Count 9 as to Welch.
The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the case.
Attorney Jeremy Korzenik with the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay B. Baldwin are prosecuting 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.