Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Diquan Barnes, 32, was stopped by a Jackson Police Department officer after running a red light. A firearm was subsequently located in his vehicle. Barnes is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of previous felony convictions, including armed robbery, armed carjacking, and attempted armed robbery.
Barnes was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2024. He pled guilty to the federal charge on July 1, 2025.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Canton Man Convicted by Jury for PerjuryRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A federal jury convicted a Canton man for false statements before a court.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, William “Bill” Byrd McHenry, Jr., provided false statements on November 18, 2021, during a judgment debtor examination. The examination, which was taken by the Receiver for Arthur Lamar Adams and Madison Timber Properties, LLC, was to determine the assets he had available to satisfy at least part of a $3,473,320 judgment that had been entered against him. The judgment was to be used to satisfy, at least partially, investors who had lost money in the Madison Timber Properties multi-state Ponzi scheme involving more than one hundred million dollars and hundreds of victims spanning a number of years. During a judgment debtor examination, McHenry was asked directly about certain assets and whether he had sold them during the pendency of his own personal bankruptcy, which he filed after the $3,473,320 judgment. He falsely denied selling any such assets.
McHenry is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff and Matt Allen are prosecuting the case.
Magee Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Magee man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, February 18th in federal court to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, joint operations between the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Santos Vidal Estrada, 34, was distributing dangerous narcotics from his rural residence in Simpson County. Following multiple operations, a federal search warrant at Estrada’s home on October 23, 2025, found large quantities of methamphetamine with purity rates of 100%. A criminal complaint was filed on October 24, 2025 and Estrada was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 5, 2025.
Santos Estrada is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of not less than ten years and not more than life in prison, not more than a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any period of incarceration. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline). HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Pearl River Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A tribal member pleaded guilty on February 18, 2026, to the charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury of another tribal member on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Gabriel Billie, Director of Choctaw Public Safety for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
According to court documents, Amery Ketcher, 30, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, stabbed the victim with a knife which resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim.
In March of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Ketcher on the assault charge. Ketcher pleaded guilty to the assault and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026. Ketcher faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
###Mississippi Man Indicted for Arson of Beth Israel Synagogue and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish LifeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison, Mississippi, was charged by superseding indictment Tuesday, February 10, 2026, with civil rights and arson offenses related to the burning of the Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life building. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet K. Dhillon, United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents from his arrest, Pittman is alleged to have used gasoline to set fire to the religious building in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 10, 2026. The fire resulted in extensive damage to a significant portion of the building and rendered it inoperable for an indefinite period time.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This superseding indictment shows that we will investigate and we will prosecute such vicious attacks that strike at the core of our country’s long tradition of religious liberty.”
“I applaud our law enforcement partners for their swift response to this heinous act of hate-fueled violence,” said United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger. We Americans should not fear for our safety because of our faith. The superseding indictment demonstrates our commitment to that cause.”
According to its website, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1860, and it has operated in its present location since 1967. On September 18, 1967, the then-new temple on Old Canton Road was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life provides services to Jewish communities in 13 states and comprehensive religious school programs to 70 Jewish congregations and offers traveling rabbinical services.
Pittman was charged in the three-count indictment with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), which prohibits arson of property used in interstate commerce or used in an activity affecting interstate commerce, Title 18, United States Code, Section 247, which prohibits damaging or destroying religious real property because of the character of that property, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(h), which prohibits the use of fire during the commission of a federal felony.
The FBI, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Jackson Police Department, and Jackson Fire Department are investigating the case.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Allen, Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Taylor Payne.
A criminal indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mississippi Man Indicted for Arson of Beth Israel Synagogue and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish LifeRead the Press Release
Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison, Mississippi, was charged by superseding indictment Tuesday, Feb. 10, with civil rights and arson offenses related to the burning of the Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life building.
According to court documents from his arrest, Pittman is alleged to have used gasoline to set fire to the religious building in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 10. The fire resulted in extensive damage to a significant portion of the building and rendered it inoperable for an indefinite period time.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This superseding indictment shows that we will investigate and we will prosecute such vicious attacks that strike at the core of our country’s long tradition of religious liberty.”
“I applaud our law enforcement partners for their swift response to this heinous act of hate-fueled violence,” said U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We Americans should not fear for our safety because of our faith. Yesterday’s superseding indictment demonstrates our commitment to that cause.”
According to its website, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1860, and it has operated in its present location since 1967. On Sept. 18, 1967, the then-new temple on Old Canton Road was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life provides services to Jewish communities in 13 states and comprehensive religious school programs to 70 Jewish congregations and offers traveling rabbinical services.
Pittman was charged in the three-count indictment with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), which prohibits arson of property used in interstate commerce or used in an activity affecting interstate commerce, Title 18, United States Code, Section 247, which prohibits damaging or destroying religious real property because of the character of that property, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(h), which prohibits the use of fire during the commission of a federal felony.
The FBI, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Jackson Police Department, and Jackson Fire Department are investigating the case.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner for the Southern District of Mississippi and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Taylor Payne.
A criminal indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Possession with the Intent to Distribute over 50 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Billy Thomas Pike, Jr., 67, possessed with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
In July of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Pike for his role in the distribution of methamphetamine. On October 15, 2025, Pike entered a plea of guilty to the charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The conviction was a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Trails Task Force which is comprised of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Police Department, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, and various state and local law enforcement agencies.
United States Attorney Kruger commended the work of the Safe Trails Task Force, the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, and the Choctaw Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
McComb Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Wildlife LawRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A McComb man was sentenced on January 8, 2026, to 1 year of federal probation and fined $3,000 for violating federal misdemeanor wildlife law.
According to court documents, Jeffery Budziszewski, 66, possessed and sold three-toed box turtles in violation of Mississippi law and exported the turtles to the state of New York where the turtles were repackaged and exported to the country of China, in violation of federal law.
The Lacey Act, a federal law, prohibits exporting, transporting, and purchasing in interstate or foreign commerce any wildlife taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law or regulation of any State or in violation of any foreign law. Three-toed box turtles are indigenous to the Mississippi River Valley and are susceptible to decline due to unlawful commercial exploitation, high nest mortality, delayed maturity and/or the illegal exotic pet trade.
Under Mississippi law, three-toed box turtles are deemed to be in need of management, and it is unlawful to offer for sale, sell, ship, or transport three-toed box turtles for financial gain without a valid commercial captive propagation permit. Budziszewski propagated captive three-toed box turtles and sold them without the required State permit. Between June and July 2020, Budziszewski exported numerous three-toed box turtles from the state of Mississippi to an individual in the state of New York where the turtles were repackaged and shipped to Hong Kong.
“My office is firmly committed to safeguarding America’s wildlife," said United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger. "The illegal trafficking of three-toed box turtles is precisely the kind of conduct the Lacey Act was designed to prevent. We will continue to enforce the Lacey Act and ensure that those who exploit protected wildlife, undermine conservation efforts, and place profit over the rule of law are held fully accountable.”
"Three-toed box turtles are an important part of Mississippi’s natural heritage, and their removal for illegal trade puts the species at serious risk while undermining conservation efforts,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to pursue every link in these trafficking networks to protect vulnerable species from further decline. We will not allow profiteering to jeopardize our native wildlife."
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Preston Fant made the announcement.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Mormon ChurchRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stefan Day Rowold, 37, of Wiggins, Mississippi was sentenced Feb3, 2025 to 360 months in prison for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship. A jury in the Southern District of Mississippi found Rowold guilty of six counts of federal arson and civil rights charges after a trial in September 2025.
The evidence presented at trial last year showed that on July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Rowold vandalized and set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Evidence at trial also proved that Rowold targeted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of his animosity toward what he believed to be their religious views. Rowold confessed to police that he broke into the building, vandalized the interior walls of the building with hateful messages, and ultimately set a fire in the middle of the church’s multipurpose room. Rowold used the church’s hymnals, paintings, and other religious objects as kindling for his original fire. Rowold also confessed that after he learned that his first fire had failed to burn down the building, he broke into the church again two days later to finish the job, after police had attempted to secure the scene. Rowold then set a second fire against a wall inside the church, trying again to burn the building down.
Due to the damage from the fires, members of the church were unable to hold services in their church building for months. At sentencing, the District Court found that the church suffered $176,564.97 in damages. The Court awarded the church $176,654.97 in restitution.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
U.S. Attorney Kruger said, “This was a deliberate, hate-fueled attack on a place of worship meant to intimidate an entire community. Attacks like this will be met with the full force of federal law. Today’s sentence demonstrates our commitment to protecting the right to worship in safety and without fear.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Bogue Homa Man Sentenced in Reservation Burglary CaseRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Bogue Homa man was sentenced today to three years in prison for a burglary on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Director Gabriel Billie of the Choctaw Police Department of Public Safety made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jaiden Tyler Sullivan, of the Bogue Homa Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians forcefully entered a tribal home on January 26, 2025, and took items of value. Sullivan was subsequently arrested by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
In March of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Sullivan. On November 4, 2025, Sullivan pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary. Sullivan was sentenced to a prison term of 36 months, to be followed by a term of 36 months of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Kruger commended the investigative work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Mormon ChurchRead the Press Release
Stefan Day Rowold, 37, of Wiggins, Mississippi, was sentenced today to 360 months in prison for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship. A jury in the Southern District of Mississippi found Rowold guilty of six counts of federal arson and civil rights charges after a trial in September 2025.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s reprehensible conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Anyone who attacks a house of worship in America will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The evidence presented at trial last year showed that on July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Rowold vandalized and set fire to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Evidence at trial also proved that Rowold targeted the church because of his animosity toward what he believed to be their religious views. Rowold confessed to police that he broke into the church building, vandalized the interior walls of the building with hateful messages, and ultimately set a fire in the middle of a multipurpose room. Rowold used the church’s hymnals, paintings, and other religious objects as kindling for his original arson offense. Rowold also confessed that after he learned that his first fire had failed to burn down the building, he broke into the church again two days later to finish the job, after police had attempted to secure the scene. Rowold then set a second fire against a wall inside the church, trying again to burn the building down.
Due to the damage from the fires, members of the church were unable to hold services in their church building for months. At sentencing, the district court awarded the church $176,564 in restitution.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
U.S. Law Enforcement Assists Bulgarian Law Enforcement in Taking Down Three of the Largest Piracy Sites in the European UnionRead the Press Release
The U.S. government executed seizure warrants against three U.S.-registered internet domains of commercial websites allegedly engaged in the illegal distribution of copyrighted works.
The coordinated law enforcement operation targeted online services that provided illegal copies of copyrighted works—many belonging to U.S. companies and individuals—including movies, television shows, video games, software, e-books, and other content.
According to the affidavits in support of the seizure warrants, the three domains receive tens of millions of visits a year, offer thousands of infringed works, and result in millions of downloads of those works, the retail value totaling millions of dollars. The three domains are among the most popular in Bulgaria—one is often ranked as one of the top 10 most visited domains in Bulgaria —and, given the huge internet traffic they receive every day, seem to make considerable money from advertisements.
The seized domains are in the custody of the United States government. Visitors to the sites will now find a seizure banner that notifies them that federal authorities have seized the domain names and that informs them that willful copyright infringement is a crime. The domain are zamunda.net, arenabg.com and zelka.org.
The Justice Department is grateful for its Bulgarian partners at the National Investigative Service, the Ministry of the Interior’s General Directorate Combating Organized Crime, the State Agency for National Security, and the Prosecutor’s Office, and its domestic partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) New Orleans Field Office, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center). The Justice Department also acknowledges the critical role of Europol, the HSI Athens office, and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Sofia office in coordinating efforts and providing technical assistance.
The Justice Department is providing intellectual property and cybercrime technical assistance to foreign law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial partners in other countries, including Bulgaria, through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) program. Learn more about the Criminal Division’s ICHIP Program, jointly administered by the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section through partnership between the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, here.
The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government’s key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. The IPR Center uses the expertise of its member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, and coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to IP theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public’s health and safety, the U.S. economy and the war fighters. To report IP theft or to learn more about the IPR Center, visit www.IPRCenter.gov.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of the HSI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
HSI is investigating the matter.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Meyers for the Southern District of Mississippi are handling the case. The ICHIP based in Bucharest, Romania provided significant assistance.
Former NATO Official and Turkish Defense Contractor Indicted for Bribery Scheme Related to Military ContractsRead the Press Release
An indictment filed in the District of Columbia was unsealed on Saturday charging a Turkish national and a German national for an alleged bribery scheme involving contracts with the U.S. military and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO is a military alliance of which the United States is a member nation.
“These defendants allegedly engaged in a years-long bribery scheme that tainted construction contracts with the U.S. military and our allies,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Integrity in federal contracting is vital to ensuring a fair competitive process and protecting the public fisc. These charges demonstrate the department’s mission to eliminate corruption that skews procurement contracts away from the best bidder and toward those who can bribe insiders for preferential treatment.”
"With a global reach and formidable enforcement tools, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and its partner agencies are committed to pursuing those who exploit the American taxpayer," said Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DOD-OIG-DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office. "As the criminal investigative arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, DCIS is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the U.S. military procurement system. Our investigators and analysts work diligently to bring to justice anyone attempting to corrupt this vital process."
“This indictment is a significant step forward in our relentless pursuit of integrity within the procurement processes that support our military and NATO operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Ausfeldt of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Europe Field Office. “Our collaboration with DOD-OIG-DCIS, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the FBI, and our international partners underscores our shared commitment to combat corruption in all its forms.”
“These charges demonstrate that the FBI is committed to investigating activity that manipulates U.S. contracts and ultimately imposes additional, unnecessary costs on American taxpayers," said Acting Assistant Director Mark Remily of the FBI's Criminal Division. "The FBI will work tirelessly to hold the individuals who engage in this type of corruption accountable, no matter where they are.”
According to the indictment, Bahadir Hatipoglu, 50, who resides near Klaipėda, Lithuania, is the owner of companies that received construction contracts with NATO and the U.S. military. Ralf Grywnow, 70, who resides in Zagnańsk, Poland, is a former NATO procurement official. The two men allegedly engaged in a scheme in which Hatipoglu bribed Grywnow in various ways, including by providing Grywnow with cash, a romantic encounter with a woman in Dubai and assistance in constructing and furnishing a house for Grywnow in Poland. In exchange, Grywnow allegedly helped Hatipoglu get contracts with the U.S. military by providing him with falsified reviews that favorably appraised Hatipoglu’s companies’ work with NATO. Grywnow also provided Hatipoglu with preferential treatment in overseeing contracts that Hatipoglu had or sought to obtain with NATO and gave Hatipoglu confidential information related to bids for NATO construction contracts.
Hatipoglu and Grywnow were arrested in Lithuania and Poland, respectively, pursuant to provisional arrest warrants. The U.S. Department of Justice is working with Lithuanian and Polish authorities to extradite both defendants to the United States, where they are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted of any of the charges, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
DOD-OIG-DCIS, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI are investigating the case. Polish and Lithuanian authorities provided significant assistance pursuant to legal assistance treaties with the United States.
Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch, Shy Jackson and Patrick Brown of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Meridian Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Drug Manufacturing and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for drug manufacturing and drug trafficking.
According to court documents, law enforcement recovered over 87 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of fentanyl, and 35 pounds of cocaine, 2 different pill press machines, 13 firearms, and 1 suppressor from a residence occupied by Jabreon Deshon Mosley, 35. From at least October of 2023 until January of 2024, Mosley was utilizing an illegal automatic pill press machine to manufacture thousands of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. These counterfeit pills were then distributed to the streets of Meridian, Mississippi and parts of Alabama.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi; DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw; and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Jackson and Birmingham District Offices, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Kabah S. Ealy prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama also provided assistance during the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Brookhaven Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Brookhaven man was sentenced on January 13, 2026, to 40 months in prison and ordered to pay $928,500 in restitution for defrauding investors.
According to court documents, David Tiler Castillo, 23, falsely represented to investors that he was in the business of making investments in marketable securities, such as stocks, on behalf of others and obtained $928,500 from those investors. However, Castillo invested only about $3,000 of investors' money and used the remainder for his personal benefit, including the purchase of vehicles.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service, Mississippi Secretary of State Securities Division, and Mississippi Attorney General's Office Cyber Crime Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Fulcher prosecuted the case.
Gulfport Man Convicted at Trial of Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – After a three-day trial, on January 14, 2026, a jury in Gulfport, Mississippi convicted, Marcus Agee, 35, of Gulfport, Mississippi of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the evidence and testimony presented during trial, Agee was serving a prison sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas, while running a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Agee directed other members of the conspiracy to make fentanyl sales, transfer the proceeds of fentanyl sales, and store fentanyl through messaging applications, text messages, and video calls on a contraband cell phone. He also arranged for the shipment of fentanyl to Gulfport, Mississippi for distribution.
Ultimately, law enforcement recovered a brick of fentanyl weighing over 900 grams and over 15,000 fake pills, some of which tested positive for fentanyl, which were attributable to Agee’s drug conspiracy. Photos are provided below:
Agee’s sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter McCreight and Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Gulfport Man Convicted at Trial of Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – After a three-day trial, on January 14, 2026, a jury in Gulfport, Mississippi convicted, Marcus Agee, 35, of Gulfport, Mississippi of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the evidence and testimony presented during trial, Agee was serving a prison sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas, while running a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Agee directed other members of the conspiracy to make fentanyl sales, transfer the proceeds of fentanyl sales, and store fentanyl through messaging applications, text messages, and video calls on a contraband cell phone. He also arranged for the shipment of fentanyl to Gulfport, Mississippi for distribution.
Ultimately, law enforcement recovered a brick of fentanyl weighing over 900 grams and over 15,000 fake pills, some of which tested positive for fentanyl, which were attributable to Agee’s drug conspiracy. Photos are provided below:
Agee’s sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter McCreight and Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Former Canton Aldermen Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Andrew Grant, 41, and Eric Gilkey, 58, of Canton, Mississippi were sentenced yesterday to 46 months in federal prison for their roles in a bribery scheme involving former Madison County engineer Rudolph M. Warnock Jr.
In July, a federal jury convicted their co-defendants, Rudolph M. Warnock Jr., and Cleveland Anderson, of multiple felony charges following an eight-day trial. Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment charged Warnock and Anderson with conspiring to commit bribery. Warnock was also charged in Counts 3 and 4 of the indictment with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and the completed offense of honest services wire fraud. Warnock and Anderson were both convicted on all the counts with which they were charged in the indictment. In December, Warnock was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Anderson was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Grant and Gilkey, both former members of the Canton Board of Aldermen, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Anderson and Warnock in the bribery scheme in November 2022. The Canton Board of Aldermen had authority to select and appoint members of the Board of Commissioners of the Canton Municipal Utilities agency (CMU). At Warnock’s behest, Grant and Gilkey appointed Anderson to serve on the CMU Board of Commissioners. It was Anderson who facilitated Warnock’s hiring as the CMU engineer in 2016.
The evidence at trial revealed that Warnock directed payments and rewards to Anderson, Gilkey, and Grant in exchange for preferential treatment that resulted in lucrative city engineering contracts for Warnock. The bribes supplied by Warnock included thousands of dollars in cash, concert tickets, and football tickets in New Orleans, Louisiana. In exchange for those bribes, Anderson, Grant, and Gilkey ceded control of the CMU purse to Warnock.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and David H. Fulcher prosecuted the case.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 42 Months for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Meridian man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to 42 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Neshoba County. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine and serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to court documents, Elton Wayne Fairley, 40, was found by Philadelphia Police Department to be in possession of a firearm on February 24, 2025. The firearm was concealed in the vehicle during a traffic stop in Philadelphia, Mississippi, with a round loaded in the firearm’s chamber and a large capacity magazine. Fairley had a previous felony conviction for narcotics offenses and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Fairley was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2025, and pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025. Fairley will serve his term of imprisonment consecutive to a ten-year state sentence from Lauderdale County.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Philadelphia Police Department; and Meridian Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the ATF as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Kemper County Man Sentenced to 37 Months for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Preston man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to 37 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Kemper County. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine and serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to court documents, Joshua Ryan Burns, 41, was found by Kemper County Sheriff’s Department to be in possession of a sawed-off shotgun and a pistol during a probation home visit in Preston, Mississippi. Burns had previous felony convictions for burglary and aggravated assault which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Burns was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025. Burns will serve his term of imprisonment consecutive to a 16-year state sentence from Neshoba County.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, J.E. Baxter Kruger and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated this case with assistance from the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the ATF as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Centreville Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Centreville man was sentenced on January 13, 2026, to 29 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Alforn Napoleon Lee, 49, of Centreville was found in possession of a firearm after the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, with assistance from the United States Marshal Service apprehended him for a parole violation out of Nevada. As a previously convicted felon, Lee is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on August 11, 2025.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from USMS and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justive.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mississippi Man Arrested for Arson of Beth Israel and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish LifeRead the Press Release
A Mississippi man was arrested Saturday evening for charges related to his alleged arson of Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life building. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
“This disgusting act of anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country, and unlike the prior administration, this Department of Justice will not let anti-Semitism fester and flourish,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I have directed my prosecutors to seek severe penalties for this heinous act and remain deeply committed to protecting Jewish Americans from hatred.”
“Every American has a fundamental right to live and worship free from violence and fear,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI will never waver in our mission to protect Jewish communities from targeted anti-Semitic attacks and will work to hold accountable anyone who engages in these types of violent acts.”
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi said, “This hateful, anti-Semitic attack on the Beth Israel Congregation is disturbing and unacceptable. Mississippians may rest assured that my office will not stand idly by when violence and intimidation threaten our community. We will seek the most serious charges warranted by the evidence and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. We remain fully committed to standing with Jewish Americans and protecting our communities from hatred and harm.”
Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office said, "Houses of worship are sacred. Citizens of Mississippi of all faiths and backgrounds have the right to worship free of violence and intimidation. The heinous actions of Stephen Spencer Pittman, which allegedly sought to destroy the Beth Israel synagogue, will not be tolerated. While Mr. Pittman acted alone, FBI Jackson will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to hold accountable those who seek to infringe on the rights of Americans. The FBI is committed to protecting all places of worship and delivering justice for our communities. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities that could represent a threat to public safety."
According to court documents, Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison, Mississippi, used gasoline to set fire to the religious building in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 10, 2026. The fire resulted in extensive damage to a significant portion of the building and rendered it inoperable for an indefinite period time, as can be seen in these photographs:
Arson Damaged Building Arson Damaged BuildingCCTV footage showed the fire was started by a hooded individual who can be seen walking in the interior of the building pouring contents from what appeared to be a gas container, as seen in this photograph:
CCTV FootageAs a result of his crime, Pittman received burns to parts of his body.
According to its website, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1860, and it has operated in its present location since 1967. On September 18, 1967, the then-new temple on Old Canton Road was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life provides services to Jewish communities in 14 states and comprehensive religious school programs to 70 Jewish congregations and offers traveling rabbinical services.
Pittman appeared in court today to face charges contained in a criminal complaint filed against him for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), which prohibits arson of property used in interstate commerce or used in an activity affecting interstate commerce. If convicted, Pittman faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Jackson Police Department, and Jackson Fire Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Madison Man Arrested for Arson of Beth Israel and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish LifeRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Madison man was arrested Saturday evening for charges related to his alleged arson of Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life building. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
“This disgusting act of anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country, and unlike the prior administration, this Department of Justice will not let anti-Semitism fester and flourish,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I have directed my prosecutors to seek severe penalties for this heinous act and remain deeply committed to protecting Jewish Americans from hatred.”
“Every American has a fundamental right to live and worship free from violence and fear,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI will never waver in our mission to protect Jewish communities from targeted anti-Semitic attacks and will work to hold accountable anyone who engages in these types of violent acts.”
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi said, “This hateful, anti-Semitic attack on the Beth Israel Congregation is disturbing and unacceptable. Mississippians may rest assured that my office will not stand idly by when violence and intimidation threaten our community. We will seek the most serious charges warranted by the evidence and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. We remain fully committed to standing with Jewish Americans and protecting our communities from hatred and harm.”
Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office: "Houses of worship are sacred. Citizens of Mississippi of all faiths and backgrounds have the right to worship free of violence and intimidation. The heinous actions of Stephen Spencer Pittman, which allegedly sought to destroy the Beth Israel synagogue, will not be tolerated. While Mr. Pittman acted alone, FBI Jackson will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to hold accountable those who seek to infringe on the rights of Americans. The FBI is committed to protecting all places of worship and delivering justice for our communities. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities that could represent a threat to public safety."
According to court documents, Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison, Mississippi, used gasoline to set fire to the religious building in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 10, 2026. The fire resulted in extensive damage to a significant portion of the building and rendered it inoperable for an indefinite period time, as can be seen in these photographs:
Arson Damage
Arson Damage
CCTV footage showed the fire was started by a hooded individual who can be seen walking in the interior of the building pouring contents from what appeared to be a gas container, as seen in this photograph:
CCTV Footage
As a result of his crime, Pittman received burns to parts of his body.
According to its website, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1860, and it has operated in its present location since 1967. On September 18, 1967, the then-new temple on Old Canton Road was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life provides services to Jewish communities in 14 states and comprehensive religious school programs to 70 Jewish congregations and offers traveling rabbinical services.
Pittman appeared in court today to face charges contained in a criminal complaint filed against him for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), which prohibits arson of property used in interstate commerce or used in an activity affecting interstate commerce. If convicted, Pittman faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Jackson Police Department, and Jackson Fire Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rankin County Woman Pleads Guilty to Misappropriation by a VA FiduciaryRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Rankin County woman pleaded guilty in federal court to misusing Veteran’s Administration money intended to benefit her son, a disabled Army Veteran.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Darla Storey, 57, began serving as a fiduciary on March 18, 2016, and was responsible for managing the financial affairs of her adult son who was permanently disabled and wheelchair-bound due to service-connected disabilities. As part of her fiduciary duties, Darla Storey was required to use funds entrusted to her solely for her son’s benefit, to file regular accountings, and to never commingle the funds.
During her five years as a fiduciary, Darla Storey misappropriated the VA funds and instead used them for her own benefit by transferring the money to her personal bank account, purchasing a vehicle the beneficiary never used, paying bills, and taking trips even when the beneficiary was not living with her. She routinely failed to file proper accountings and used more than $100,000 dollars entrusted to her by the VA for her personal benefit.
Darla Storey is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
The Veteran’s Administration - Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
New York Residents Sentenced for Aggravated Identity Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, and Use of False Passports. Defendants Forfeited $261,647.47 in Cash, $43,685.07 in Checks, Counterfeit Credit Cards, and Device Making EquipmentRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi announced the sentencing of four individuals last week in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi for their involvement in an identity theft and bank fraud conspiracy scheme.
Jaivon Davon Taylor, Jadin Winfield, Dennis James Swint, and Nicolas Beltre, all residents of New York state, conspired with each other to use false passports in a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from banks in the Jackson, Mississippi area. These defendants used individuals’ stolen identities to create counterfeit passport cards and credit cards which were then presented to banks to make fraudulent withdrawals. Investigators have linked the stolen identities to mail stolen by another criminal group in Mississippi who have pled guilty to state charges in the Circuit Court of Madson County, Mississippi.
The scheme unraveled when a bank employee noticed attempted bank withdrawal irregularities and notified the Madison County Police Department, who arrested Taylor, Winfield and Swint in a rental vehicle. Beltre was later arrested in New York on a federal warrant from Mississippi.
Taylor was sentenced to 70 months in prison, Winfield was sentenced to 57 months in prison, Beltre was sentenced to 54 months in prison, and Swint was sentenced to 79 months in prison.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David H. Fulcher and Kabah S. Ealy prosecuted the case.
Yazoo City Woman Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A woman from Yazoo City pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kizzie Hill, 47, of Yazoo City unlawfully acquired and used more than $405,900.38 in SNAP benefits from approximately January 2022 through November 2023, by virtue of her employment as a Customer Service Representative for Conduent. Conduent plays a key role in EBT processing by partnering directly with state governments to manage the distribution of benefits such as SNAP. Hill admitted to selling the benefits to others and using them for herself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger.
Hill pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud and will be sentenced on March 27, 2026. Hill’s brother, Adrian Hill, pleaded guilty to the same crime in May 2025, and will be sentenced on February 11, 2026. Both defendants 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.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Wilkins of the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced for Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 26 months in prison for illegal possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, Steven Galey, 50, of was found in possession of ammunition after a call for service for a vehicle in Warren County. Upon arrival, Warren County Sherrif’s Deputies identified the driver as Steven Galey asleep behind the wheel. Thirty-four rounds of ammunition were in plain view on the vehicle’s dashboard. As a previously convicted felon, Galey is prohibited by federal law from possessing ammunition.
Galey was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 13, 2024, for illegal possession of ammunition. He pled guilty on August 19, 2025.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Warren County Sherriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justive.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Romanian National Sentenced to Nine Months in Federal Prison for Installing Skimmers throughout Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Antonio Rafaila, 19, was sentenced today to nine months in federal prison for illegal possession, production, or trafficking in device-making equipment, also known as skimmers. His codefendant, Giovanni Iortoman, 19, was sentenced last week to serve one year in prison for the same crime. Both defendants entered the United States illegally.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of March 31, 2025, employees of a grocery store in Laurel, Mississippi discovered a skimmer attached to a point-of-sale terminal in one of the store’s check-out lanes. A skimmer is capable of reading and recording account information including customer names, account numbers, and personal identification numbers from credit and debit cards. Store employees checked CCTV footage from the store and reported the matter to law enforcement immediately. CCTV footage revealed that two men, later identified as Antonio Rafaila and Giovanni Iortoman, had placed a skimmer device on the point-of-sale machine.
Rafaila and Iortoman used the same tactics at multiple grocery stores in Jones, Rankin, and Madison counties with the intent to steal the personal information of customers for profit. One of the men would purchase items at the grocery store and distract the checkout clerk while the other surreptitiously installed the skimmer. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Fraud Task Force alerted local stores about the two men and their descriptions. The sedan the subjects were seen driving in Laurel was later stopped by Madison County law enforcement almost immediately after the subjects emplaced another skimmer in Madison.
Iortoman presented a Romanian identification card to officers and Rafaila falsely identified himself as Aaron Lipani with a fraudulent Italian passport when questioned. A check of government databases determined that Iortoman and Rafaila were foreign nationals in the country without legal authority. As the defendants entered the United States illegally, they may be subject to deportation upon their release from prison.
A criminal complaint was filed against Rafaila and Iortoman on April 2, 2025. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against them on April 8, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and C. Brett Grantham are prosecuting the case.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe:
- Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible.
- Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.
Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Nigerian national unlawfully present in the United States pleaded guilty on Monday, December 15th in federal court to making false statements while attempting to purchase a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Laurel Echezonam, 25, entered the country unlawfully via the United States Southern Border in 2022. Immigration officials determined that Echezonam was a Nigerian national in the country without approval.
On June 7, 2024, and June 8, 2024, Echezonam traveled from his residence in Vicksburg, Mississippi to purchase a firearm at different firearms dealers. When Echezonam completed the required firearms purchase form, he made false statements regarding his immigration status to deceive the firearms dealer into selling him the firearms. Echezonam was denied the firearms based on his immigration status and was subsequently apprehended by immigration officials.
Laurel Echezonam is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson if the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Murray and C. Brett Grantham are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Jackson Woman Sentenced in Federal Court for SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Jackson woman was sentenced last week in federal court to five years’ probation for stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nya Irving, also known as Nya Carter, 25, unlawfully acquired and used SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits in October and November 2023. Irving was a Customer Service Representative for Conduent from September 26, 2022, to November 20, 2023.Irving used her position to access and obtain SNAP and TANF benefits belonging to recipients throughout the United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, and Tennessee without authorization.
Irving also provided EBT card data to her friend, Velton Taylor Williams, Jr., who was sentenced in September to five years’ probation for his role in the scheme. Irving and Williams used the stolen SNAP and TANF benefits for their personal gain. Irving obtained $41,587.87 in SNAP and $975.19 in TANF benefits without authorization. TANF benefits are intended for low-income families with children under the age of 18. Williams and Irving were both ordered to pay restitution.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Wilkins of the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
Ukrainian-Israeli Man Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Fake Brokerage SchemeRead the Press Release
A Ukrainian-Israeli national pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with his participation in a large-scale, fake stock-brokerage organization. Yaroslav Shilkloper, 49, a dual citizen of Ukraine and Israel, was a member of a criminal organization that used a sophisticated phony brokerage business to scam U.S. citizens out of millions of dollars.
“The defendant helped operate a sham brokerage organization in order to steal millions from American investors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Using lies and fake trading platforms, he exploited public trust in U.S. financial institutions and drained millions of dollars from hard-working citizens. The plea today underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding accountable foreign actors who exploit and defraud American citizens.”
“This case demonstrates Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) commitment to protecting Americans from complex financial fraud schemes that cross international borders,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of HSI. “Through close collaboration with our law enforcement partners here and abroad, we were able to disrupt a sophisticated criminal enterprise and ensure that stolen funds were returned to victims. HSI will continue to pursue those who seek to exploit our financial systems and bring them to justice.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Shilkloper and his co-conspirators defrauded victims in the United States of at least $2.8 million dollars by promising high rates of return on investments made through their “K6 Investing,” “Neotron Holding, LTD,” and “Goldex Technology” companies. As part of the scheme, the defendant provided access to a digital platform that allowed victims to see what they believed were real-time investment performance data. However, the victims’ money was instead laundered through a series of bank accounts in Ukraine, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Czech Republic, and elsewhere, all controlled by Shilkloper and his co-conspirators. When victims attempted to withdraw their money, they were prevented from doing so, threatened with legal action, or manipulated into sending more money to the fraud ring.
Shilkloper is the first of three defendants charged in the case to be arrested and plead guilty. He was extradited from Poland after being arrested there in 2023. If the judge accepts his plea, Shilkloper will pay a fine of $250,000, pay at least $800,000 in additional restitution, and face up to four years in prison. As part of this case, Shilkloper and co-conspirators, with assistance from the Republic of Georgia, have already forfeited nearly $2.8 million dollars that was returned to the defrauded victims.
HSI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Ben Tonkin and Justin G. Bish of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Polish law enforcement partners to secure the arrest and Sept. 30, 2024 extradition of Shilkloper.
Pearl River Man Sentenced in Reservation MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced today to 380 months in prison for the use of a firearm during the murder of another tribal member, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert A. Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge, of the F.B.I. Mississippi Field Office.
According to court documents, Brian Keith Bell, 56, of the Pearl River Community used a handgun to shoot the victim at a tribal home in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation which resulted in the death of the victim.
In April of 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Bell on charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. On September 10, 2025, Bell was found guilty of second-degree murder, and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence at trial. During the trial, the jury heard testimony that, following a verbal altercation, Bell used a handgun to shoot the victim in the chest.
U.S. Attorney Kruger 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 Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Device-Making EquipmentRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – An Ohio man pleaded guilty last week to illegally possessing credit card encoding devices.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of April 28, 2024, Sean Matthew Langston, Jr., 33, of Columbus, Ohio, was arrested in Rankin County following a traffic stop wherein he and his co-defendant, John Carleton Johnson, Jr., were found to be in possession of approximately 322 gift cards, seventeen reencoded instruments containing stolen bank card data, and two magstripe encoding devices. Langston and Johnson could be seen on CCTV footage at various retail stores throughout the Jackson metropolitan area purchasing gift cads with known cloned instruments.
Langston pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession, production, or trafficking in device-making equipment with intent to defraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Langston and Johnson on February 20, 2025. Johnson pleaded guilty on June 30, 2025, and was sentenced to serve two years in federal prison and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 on November 3, 2025.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Flowood Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Venezuelan National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank TheftRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Venezuelan national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to steal funds from multiple Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in Jackson County, Mississippi.
According to records and information presented to the Court, Favian David Aparicio-Linares, 19, was arrested in Jackson County, Mississippi on November 9, 2025, after concerned citizens alerted the Pascagoula Police to two suspicious individuals near a Bank on Market Street in Pascagoula. When officers arrived on scene, Aparicio-Linares and the other individual fled. But Aparico-Linares was apprehended. In addition to apprehending Aparicio-Linares, officers also recovered multiple electronic devices from the vehicle in which Aparicio-Linares and the other suspect fled.
Examinations of these devices demonstrated that Aparicio-Linares and the other suspect traveled from out of state to Mississippi to steal funds from ATMs. Law enforcement agents were also able to determine that Aparicio-Linares and the other suspect were going to use malware to force the ATMs to dispense he funds contained within each machine.
The Defendant will be sentenced on April 28, 2026. He faces a maximum of 5 years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, with the assistance of the Pascagoula Police Department, are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline). HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Former Canton Municipal Utilities Commissioner and Former Canton City Engineer Sentenced to 7 and 12 Years Prison for Bribery Scheme in FederalRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Rudolph M. Warnock, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, and Cleveland Anderson of Canton, Mississippi were sentenced today to 144 months and 84 months in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a bribery scheme.
In July, a federal jury convicted Warnock and Anderson of multiple felony charges following an eight-day trial.
Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment charged Warnock and Anderson with conspiring to commit bribery. Warnock was also charged in Counts 3 and 4 of the indictment with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and the completed offense of honest services wire fraud. Warnock and Anderson were both convicted on all the counts for which they were charged in the indictment.
Their co-defendants, former City of Canton Aldermen Eric Gilkey and Andrew Grant, are scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2026. Grant and Gilkey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in November 2022, and face a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and David H. Fulcher are prosecuting the case.
Hinds County Man Sentenced for Two Counts of Attempted Production of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS –Joe Lewis, a resident of Hinds County, Mississippi was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison for two counts of Attempted Production of Child Pornography. After release from prison, Lewis will be on supervised release for 10 years and must register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Joe Lewis, 55, under the pretense of mentoring middle school aged boys, would send money to his victims via Cash App and demand that victims expose their pubic areas to him during FaceTime sessions that Lewis recorded.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Jackson ‘s Office (“FBI”) was contacted by the Jackson Police Department (“JPD”) for assistance in investigating Joe Lewis and identifying other victims. JPD’s investigation began when the mother of one of the minors reported to JPD that an older man had being sending her son money via Cash App. The FBI forensically examined Lewis’ electronic devices and found that Lewis had also been sending obscene sexually explicit abuse materials to young boys in and around Jackson. During the course of the investigation the FBI Jackson was able to locate other minor victims.
“Those who hurt and endanger our children by committing these despicable crimes will not be tolerated and will be held accountable”, said Baxter Kruger, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This lengthy sentence ensures this defendant can never again hurt and abuse children. My office is committed to working with the FBI, Jackson Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement agencies to help protect children.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Rob Eikhoff said, “Those who prey on minors shatter their innocence. Protecting children and holding vile predators, like Joe Lewis, accountable is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. FBI Jackson, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Jackson Police Department stand together to protect our children and ensure justice is served for all who seek to harm them.”
This case was brought as part of 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted the case.
Romanian Man Sentenced to One Year in Federal Prison for Installing Skimmers throughout Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – Giovanni Iortoman, 21, was sentenced on December 8, 2025 to 12 months in federal prison for illegal possession, production, or trafficking in device-making equipment, also known as skimmers. His codefendant, Antonio Rafaila, 19, pleaded guilty to the same charge on August 6, 2025, and will be sentenced on December 18, 2025. Both defendants entered the United States illegally.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of March 31, 2025, employees of a grocery store in Laurel, Mississippi discovered a skimmer attached to a point-of-sale terminal in one of the store’s check-out lanes. A skimmer is capable of reading and recording account information including customer names, account numbers, and personal identification numbers from credit and debit cards. Store employees checked CCTV footage from the store and reported the matter to law enforcement immediately. CCTV footage revealed that two men, later identified as Antonio Rafaila and Giovanni Iortoman, had placed a skimmer device on the point-of-sale machine.
Rafaila and Iortoman used the same tactics at multiple grocery stores in Jones, Rankin, and Madison counties with the intent to steal the personal information of customers for profit. One of the men would purchase items at the grocery store and distract the checkout clerk while the other surreptitiously installed the skimmer. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Fraud Task Force alerted local stores about the two men and their descriptions. The sedan the subjects were seen driving in Laurel was later stopped by Madison County law enforcement almost immediately after the subjects emplaced another skimmer in Madison.
Iortoman presented a Romanian identification card to officers and Rafaila falsely identified himself as Aaron Lipani with a fraudulent Italian passport when questioned. A check of government databases determined that Iortoman and Rafaila were foreign nationals in the country without legal authority.
A criminal complaint was filed against Rafaila and Iortoman on April 2, 2025. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against them on April 8, 2025.
Rafaila is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As the defendants entered the United States illegally, they may be subject to deportation upon their release from prison.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and C. Brett Grantham are prosecuting the case.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe:
- Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible.
- Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, December 3rd in federal court to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement identified Roman Walker, 35, as a distributor of narcotics from Hinds County, Mississippi. Court filings reflect that Walker was distributing a “menu” of narcotics, business hours, and prices for different drugs he was selling. On or about January 24, 2023, while executing a search warrant of Walker’s residence, law enforcement discovered large quantities of narcotics including more than 11,000 fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder packaged for distribution into the metro Jackson area.
Roman Walker is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and DEA Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw made the announcement.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating the case with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
- Jackson County Probation Officer Sentenced for Extorting State Probationers and Witness Tampering
Mississippi Businessman Pleads Guilty to $19M Health Care Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Mississippi businessman pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to defraud Medicare by paying kickbacks for fraudulent doctors’ orders and then using those orders to bill the government insurer over $19 million through seven different durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies.
According to court documents, Willie De Gibbs, 53, of Toomsuba, Mississippi, and Cutler Bay, Florida, was the sole owner of three DME supply companies and was the beneficial owner of and controlled, sometimes through straw owners, four other DME supply companies. He sought to defraud Medicare by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary orthotic braces for beneficiaries that did not request or need them.
Gibbs pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026, 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.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi; Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On October 15, 2025, a Neshoba County man pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute.
According to court documents, in November of 2023, Billy Thomas Pike, 67, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Pike was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Robert Eikhoff, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement. The conviction was the result of the investigatory teamwork of local state and tribal law enforcement officers who comprise the FBI’s Safe Trails Task Force.
The FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) is a collaborative effort between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country and surrounding communities. The STTF works with a variety of partners, including tribal, state, and local law enforcement. The STTF has been a key part of the FBI’s partnerships in Indian Country for almost 30 years and has been a presence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation since 2022.
“The Task Force is dedicated to keeping our tribal and surrounding non-tribal communities safe by working along-side our partners, training together, and policing our communities together.” said Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark, who has three members from his department who also serve as Task Force Officers. Director of Choctaw Public Safety Gabriel Billie explained that “the Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force ensures the FBI and partnering agencies work together to protect members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and investigate criminal activity with a federal nexus in and around the Reservation Communities in Mississippi.”
Pike is scheduled to be sentenced in January of 2026 and faces a maximum penalty of not less than ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, Choctaw Police Department, the FBI all investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer and Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Jackson County, Mississippi man pleaded guilty on October 6, 2025, to one count of assault on a federal law enforcement officer and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, in September 2024, a federal task force officer and a Harrison County Sherrif’s Investigator were conducting surveillance outside of the Boomtown Casino in Biloxi when they noticed an older model, silver Honda Accord pull out of the parking lot with no lights on. The officers began following the vehicle and noticed one of the passengers sticking out of the window and looking back at the officer’s vehicle. Around this time, three shots were fired from the suspect’s vehicle striking the windshield of the officers’ vehicle. At least one of the bullets went through the windshield and struck one of the officers in the ear. The officer also had glass from the windshield fly into his eye.
The officers radioed for backup and the suspect’s vehicle was eventually stopped. One of the passengers in the vehicle was identified as Cori Davis.
During the investigation, officers located a nine-millimeter Glock pistol in the vicinity of the defendant’s route of travel. Agents also recovered three nine-millimeter shell casings matching the firearm nearby. The firearm had three rounds of ammunition missing. It was determined that Cori Davis was the purchaser of this firearm, and his DNA was found on a holster for this firearm. After Davis was arrested, he admitted to being the person who shot at the officers.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced February 10, 2025, and faces up to twenty years in prison for assault on a federal law enforcement officer and up to life in prison discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the D’Iberville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.
Clinton Man Found Guilty of Illegal Machinegun PossessionRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On October 2, 2025, following a two-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted a Clinton man for illegal possession of a machinegun. The trial and jury verdict occurred during the government shutdown.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lennell Antonio Moore, Jr., 28, was stopped by Capitol Police for a traffic violation in Jackson. Officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located three Glocks pistols with attached machinegun conversion devices (MCDs a/k/a switches). Two were in the center console, directly next to Moore, along with a drum magazine that held approximately 40-rounds of ammunition.
Moore is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2026. Moore faces a maximum penalty of ten years. He is currently being held in federal custody.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Capitol Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Allen and Amber Jones.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Clarksdale Man Sentenced to 30 Months for being a Felon in Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Clarksdale man was sentenced on November 4, 2025, to 30 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Hinds County. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine and serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to court documents, Kyler Seamster, 29, was found by law enforcement agents to be in possession of a stolen firearm during a street level narcotics operation executed by Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics throughout Jackson in 2024. Seamster had previous felony convictions for grand larceny and residential burglary in Tallahatchie County.
Seamster was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 24, 2025, and pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025. Seamster will continue serving a concurrent 15-year state sentence for trafficking in stolen firearms out of Madison County.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated this case with the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the ATF as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Canton Woman Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Canton woman pleaded guilty last week to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nya Irving, also known as Nya Carter, 25, unlawfully acquired and used SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits in October and November 2023. Irving was a Customer Service Representative for Conduent from September 26, 2022, to November 20, 2023.Irving used her position to access and obtain SNAP and TANF benefits belonging to recipients throughout the United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, and Tennessee without authorization.
Irving also provided EBT card data to her friend, Velton Taylor Williams, Jr., who was sentenced last week to five years’ probation for his role in the scheme. Irving and Williams used the stolen SNAP and TANF benefits for their personal gain. Irving obtained $41,587.87 in SNAP and $975.19 in TANF benefits without authorization. TANF benefits are intended for low-income families with children under the age of 18.
Irving pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Deuchler of the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced in Federal Court for SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced Thursday in federal court to five years’ probation for stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Velton Taylor Williams, Jr., 31, of Hattiesburg unlawfully acquired and used SNAP benefits in November 2023. Williams admitted to selling the benefits to others and using them for himself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. Williams also admitted to using TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash benefits intended for low-income families with children under the age of 18.
Williams was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $38,963.14.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and acting Special Agent-in-Charge is Matthew Deuchler of United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Guatemalan national was sentenced on September 11, 2025 to 11 months of incarceration for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed from the country. The defendant will be transferred to ICE custody following his release.
According to court documents, Mateo Ramos-Perez, 32, was found by law enforcement officials to be unlawfully present in the country on or about June 25, 2025 in Scott County after having previously been convicted in federal court of misuse of a social security number and removed from the United States on November 8, 2012 and December 4, 2019.
Ramos-Perez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2025 and pleaded guilty on September 11, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Brian Acuna, Acting Field Office Director of ICE/ERO in New Orleans, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security investigations as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Former Federal Correctional Officer Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Act with a Federal PrisonerRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A former Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for Engaging in Sexual Acts with a Federal Prisoner at the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
In January of 2025, Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General agents learned that Parker M. Triplett, age 25, had engaged in sexual acts with a federal prisoner. Triplett was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 8, 2025.
Triplett pled guilty on June 25, 2025, and was immediately taken into federal custody of the United States Marshal Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement. The Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kabah S. Ealy prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Man Convicted of Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal jury in Gulfport, Mississippi, convicted Stefan Day Rowold on six counts of federal arson and civil rights charges for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship.
On July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Rowold vandalized and set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Evidence at trial showed that Rowold targeted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of his disagreement with what he believed to be their religious views. During a confession, Rowold admitted to breaking into the building, vandalizing the interior walls of the building with hateful messages, and ultimately setting a fire in the middle of the church’s multipurpose room so they could not hold services. Rowold used the church’s hymnals as kindling for his original fire.
Rowold also confessed to breaking into the building two days later to finish the job, and after police had attempted to secure the scene. The second time he broke in, Rowold set another fire using cardboard and a piece of firewood.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 14, 2026. Rowold faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison on each of the arson charges, a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison for each of the civil rights charges, and a minimum penalty of ten years in prison for the use of fire to commit a federal felony offense.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Meridian Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, MS man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for his operation of a large drug trafficking organization in the Meridian area. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, Marcus Tremaine Powell, 40, conspired with at least 15 others charged with him in the Meridian area to distribute illegal drugs, including kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as large amounts of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, and marijuana. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Powell’s sentence was increased because of his lengthy criminal history in state court and because (1) Powell was manager or supervisor of the drug trafficking operation that involved 5 or more people; (2) during the criminal activity a firearm was possessed; (3) Powell used or directed the use or threat of violence; and (4) when fleeing from law enforcement, Powell recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to others.
Marcus Tremaine Powell was one of approximately 50 Meridian drug dealers arrested in January 2024 who were charged in a series of 9 federal indictments. Powell was charged in two of those indictments. He pled guilty in both indictments to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a series of illegal drugs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Reidell, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Phillip Pope, and Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun, III, made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Clark and Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).