Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Meridian Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian woman was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Mia Francine Sims, 54, sold narcotics to individuals on several occasions from her Meridian residence over a period of months, beginning in July of 2019. A joint team of Meridian Police officers and FBI agents conducted a search warrant on the residence and discovered a handgun, along with relatively small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine. Though Sims was not home at the time of the search, witnesses confirmed that Sims was the only resident of the home. Further investigation revealed that Sims had two prior felony drug convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Sims was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. She pled guilty on April 22, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Meridian Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Alien Sentenced for Federal CrimesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former Jackson resident, who is an alien from India, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison and pay $4,710 in restitution for money laundering and firearms offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.
An original indictment naming ten defendants in the United States and abroad, charged Lovepreet Singh, an Indian national then residing and working as an interstate truck driver based in Indianapolis, IN, with acts supporting a conspiracy defrauding multiple victims, as part of an international tech support and telemarketing fraud scheme
According to the indictment and testimony in court, beginning in 2015 and continuing through 2018, Singh conspired with nine other defendants, located across the United States and in India, to commit the federal offenses of wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud, in addition to offenses of money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and passing fictitious obligations.
Conspirators in Mississippi and elsewhere would obtain the telephone numbers and email addresses of computers belonging to various individuals throughout the United States. Conspirators established and operated various business entities such as World Tech Assistance, and US Support Inc., in Mississippi and elsewhere in the United States. Conspirators engaged telephone calling centers in India, which would place calls to the United States numbers and appear to be coming from United States-based toll-free numbers. Conspirators would call victims in the United States, advising the victims that malware and ransomware were infecting the victims’ computers and devices, and that the victims should contact the conspirators for assistance.
Conspirators misrepresented themselves as “Apple Support” or “Microsoft” or other legitimate and known technical support services, and offered their assistance to remove the software, in return for payment. Victims responded to the conspirators’ phone calls and pop up messages to send monies and payments, by wire, check and other means. Victims also granted conspirators access to the victims’ bank accounts and to the victims’ computers, permitting the conspirators to further enrich themselves by fraudulent appropriation and taking of the money and property of the victims.
Victims sent money and payments to conspirators in Mississippi and in India. Conspirators in Mississippi would also send payments and monies to their co-conspirators in India.
In March, 2021, Singh pled guilty to one count of money laundering, in that Singh admitted to receiving and transmitting money obtained by his codefendants as a result of the fraud scheme, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United States Marshals Service who assisted with the nationwide search and arrests of defendants.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
Jury Convicts Two of Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, a jury in federal court convicted two men of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to the evidence presented, Antony Daniel Abreu, 33, of Queens, New York, and Darrell Young, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arranged to purchase 17 kilos of cocaine from an individual in Gulfport. The defendants shipped a car from Philadelphia that contained a hidden compartment in the trunk in which they hid cash. At the time of their arrest on April 20, 2020, the defendants were staying in an AirBnB rental in Gulfport where law enforcement found saran wrap, duct tape, dryer sheets and other materials for packing the cocaine. Overall, law enforcement seized over $200,000 as part of this operation. Prosecutors utilized phone dumps from 8 different seized cell phones along with recorded phone calls to show the conspiracy stretched as far as the Dominican Republic.
Abreu and Young are scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2020. Each faces a mandatory minimum 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 United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca commented, “Thanks to the efforts of the agents of Homeland Security Investigations and the officers of the Harrison County Sheriff’s office, these major drug dealers are out of circulation. They will no longer peddle poison throughout the nation.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Annette Williams prosecuted the case.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act RobberyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jonathan Nash, 21, of Hattiesburg, was involved in the armed robbery of a Valero gas station in Hattiesburg on March 4, 2019. During the robbery, a firearm was discharged and approximately $400 was taken from the cash register. Nash admitted his involvement in the robbery during a subsequent interview jointly conducted by the ATF and Hattiesburg Police Department.
Nash was originally indicted for this offense on March 16, 2021. He will be sentenced on November 10, 2021, in Hattiesburg, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hattiesburg Felon Convicted of Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on April 25, 2019, Derrick Keys, 34, of Hattiesburg, was the driver of a vehicle pulled over by Hattiesburg Police Department officers near Mobile Street in Hattiesburg. During the stop, Keys began to flee in the motor vehicle, leading police on a miles-long chase through a residential zone. Keys eventually abandoned his vehicle and began to flee on foot. Hattiesburg Police officers found Keys a short distance later, as well as a firearm that he discarded while fleeing on foot. Keys later admitted to possessing the firearm.
Keys was originally indicted for this offense on March 16, 2021. He will be sentenced on November 10, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Florida man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on May 14, 2021, Martin Gerardo Perusquia, 55, of Hollywood, Florida, was driving on I-10 in Jackson County when he was pulled over for a traffic violation by an agent with the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team who was also a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy. During the traffic stop, the agent found that Perusquia was in possession of a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver with ammunition. A search of his criminal history revealed that Perusquia had previous convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and bank robbery. An ATF expert examined the firearm which was determined to have been manufactured outside of Mississippi, and had traveled in interstate commerce. The firearm is being forfeited to the federal government.
Perusquia is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A higher maximum penalty can apply if he is determined to be an Armed Career Criminal, in which case, the penalty would be enhanced to not less than 15 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Jackson County Metro Enforcement Task Force, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe
Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime
reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent
crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Toomsuba Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Toomsuba man pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Kristopher Calvin Branch, 44, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department on July 27, 2020, during an unrelated investigation concerning trespassing. Branch had a small caliber pistol in his pocket. Branch has four prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Branch to possess any firearm.
Branch is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27, 2021 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mount Olive Father and Son Sentenced to over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Mount Olive father and son were both sentenced today to 170 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Steven Lawrence Hand, 53, and Steven Tyler Hand, 29, of Mount Olive, sold methamphetamine to an individual on multiple occasions in August of 2019 and both were found to be in possession of additional methamphetamine during a search of their respective residences on July 23, 2020.
The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury and both pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed “Operation: Bulldog,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in south Mississippi. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha D. Middleton prosecuted the case.
Lauderdale Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Lauderdale, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Levi Gibbs, Jr., 51, knowingly and intentionally possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense. On March 27, 2020, officers of the Meridian Police Department stopped a vehicle being driven by Gibbs after an officer observed Gibbs crossing over the center line of the road and speeding. When an officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle, he saw a pistol in an ankle holster on Gibbs’ right leg. The officer checked Gibbs’ criminal record and discovered that Gibbs was a convicted felon. In fact, Gibbs has multiple felony convictions, several of which are for drug crimes. Gibbs is currently under indictment from the Circuit Court of Lowndes County, Mississippi for Armed Robbery. As a convicted felon it is against federal law for Gibbs to possess any firearm.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Meridian Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Moss Point Mayor and Wife Sentenced on Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – The former Mayor of Moss Point, Mississippi, and his wife were sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud relating to the Mayor’s Gala held in 2019, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
Mario King was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $6,937.98 in restitution and an $8,000 fine.
Natasha R. King was sentenced to a three-year term of probation with six months of home confinement. She was also ordered to pay $6,937.98 in restitution and a $5,500 fine.
According to court documents, former Mayor Mario King, 33, and his wife Natasha R. King, 32, began soliciting funds in late 2018 for a Gala to be held on March 23, 2019, in Moss Point. The written solicitation stated that the “gala honors and supports organizations that are making a difference for the mental health community. Proceeds support the efforts of mental health in the City of Moss Point with a focus on the Moss Point School District, converting spaces into a therapeutic and innovative learning environment.”
On March 4, 2019, Mario King and Natasha R. King appeared together on WLOX television and described the event, stating that funds from the Gala were to be used to create safe spaces for mental health counseling in the Moss Point School District.
It was the understanding of those contributing to the Gala, either in the form of tickets purchased or contributions, that the proceeds from the Gala would go to the Moss Point School District. Some of the funds were used to pay for the cost of the Gala, but the remaining proceeds did not go to the Moss Point School District. Instead, the defendants used the proceeds for personal purchases, including the down payment on the purchase of a vehicle, cash withdrawals and the payment of credit card debts involving charges to complete the purchase of a personal pet.
The Kings pled guilty on February 24, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to More than $180-Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Mississippi pharmacist pleaded guilty today for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE and private insurance companies by paying kickbacks to distributors for the referral of medically unnecessary compounded prescription medications that were ultimately dispensed by his pharmacies. The conduct allegedly resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings, including more than $50 million paid by federal healthcare programs.
According to court documents, David “Jason” Rutland, 42, of Bolton, a pharmacist and co-owner of various compounding pharmacies, admitted that he participated in a scheme to defraud TRICARE and other health care benefit programs by distributing medically unnecessary compounded medications by, among other things: adjusting prescription formulas to ensure the highest reimbursement without regard to efficacy; soliciting recruiters to procure prescriptions for high-margin compounded medications and paying those recruiters commissions based on the percentage of reimbursements paid by pharmacy benefit managers and health care benefit programs, including commissions on claims reimbursed by TRICARE; and routinely and systematically waiving and/or reducing copayments to be paid by beneficiaries and members, including utilizing a purported copayment assistance program to falsely make it appear as if Rutland’s pharmacy and its affiliate compounding pharmacies had been collecting copayments.
Rutland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and solicit, receive, offer and pay illegal kickbacks, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 30. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Rutland must also pay restitution and forfeit all assets traced to the ill-gotten gains.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi; Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and DCIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Alejandra Arias of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with assistance from Sara Porter and Dustin Davis from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Jackson Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for brandishing a firearm in the commission of a business robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court records, on August 27, 2020, Timothy Dante Alexander, 28, robbed the Jackson Ice Company gas station on Jefferson Street at gunpoint. Surveillance video shows Alexander entering the store with a gun and walking behind the counter. Alexander pointed the gun at the store clerk and took approximately $1000 cash from the register. Alexander was later apprehended wearing the same clothing in the surveillance video, a backpack as seen in the video, a gun and approximately $1000 in cash.
Alexander was charged in a federal criminal indictment and pled guilty on April 13, 2021. He was sentenced on July 15, 2021 by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves to 84 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jackson Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wansley.
Minden, Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Teressia Garner, 60, of Minden, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on July 9, 2021, to embezzling, and converting government funds to her own use, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca; Douglas Williams, FBI Special Agent in Charge, New Orleans Field Division; Dax Robertson, USDA OIG Special Agent in Charge in New Orleans; and Stephen Street, Louisiana Inspector General
According to court documents, Teressia Garner was the director and registered agent of Safe Haven Development, Inc., a non-profit corporation. Safe Haven entered into an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Education’s Division of Nutrition Support to participate in several Child Nutrition Programs, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Nutrition Program. Funding for these programs is federal government money administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. Safe Haven received federal funding and participated in these programs from 2011 through 2015 by providing meals to those children and adults that are enrolled in participating child- care centers, adult day care centers, and day care homes.
On December 15, 2015, Teressia Garner planned a Christmas party for the employees of Safe Haven at the Wyndham Garden Shreveport. The defendant paid for the party, totaling $9,578.48 with program funds that had been deposited into the Safe Haven business account. The party included the expense of renting a large ballroom, catered food, and an open bar serving alcohol. The program funds used for the party were intended to be used for the Child Nutrition Programs and not for entertainment purposes.
"Ms. Garner’s greed was evident, stealing money designated for the USDA Summer Food Service and Child and Adult Care Food Programs, which provide nutritional meals for children and adults in low-income families, to pay her own personal expenses. Ms. Garner’s guilty plea sends a clear message and will be a deterrent to others who would attempt to defraud American taxpayers”, said Douglas Williams, FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge. “I would like to thank the efforts put forth by our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi, Office of State Inspector General, State of Louisiana, and the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Agriculture.”
USDA OIG Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson stated: “I want to thank the US Attorney’s office, OIG special agents, and our investigative partners for their hard work on this investigation. When the integrity of nutrition programs for needy children is violated by criminal conduct, the Office of Inspector General will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”
Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street commented: “This is just the latest in a series of successful criminal cases where summer nutrition funds were stolen without a shred of regard for the children the funds were supposed to benefit. It is criminal behavior based in pure greed, and we have zero tolerance for it. The Louisiana OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue criminal consequences for anyone who steals from the public.” Street added, “I want to thank Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Chalk and Meghan McCalla for their outstanding work, as well as our partners at the FBI and USDA OIG.”
Garner pleaded guilty to Theft of Government Funds in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division. She is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter on October 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Shreveport. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The District Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Southern District of Mississippi Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Chalk and Meghan McCalla, Acting Under the Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. §515, to appear in the Western District of Louisiana.
Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Jackson County man pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Ledarrius Jamontaie Forrest, 30, of Moss Point, was arrested on August 21, 2020, after a state search warrant was served at a Moss Point residence where Forrest was the sole occupant. During the search, a rifle, ammunition, and narcotics were found. The firearm, a Norinco, Model MAK90 Sporter, 7.62 rifle, was reported stolen.
Forrest was confirmed to have two state felony convictions from the Circuit Court of Jackson County. He had been convicted of possession of controlled substance, for which he ultimately was sentenced to serve a term of 3 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Forrest is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A higher maximum penalty of 15 years to life can apply if a defendant is determined to be an Armed Career Criminal. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Jackson County Metro Enforcement Task Force, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Member of Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Pleads Guilty to Murder and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia, Mississippi man pled guilty today to federal charges of second degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse of a child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents and statements in open court, on June 8, 2019, Brett K. Hickman, 27, physically and sexually abused a two-year-old child who lived at his home in the Tucker Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation which resulted in the death of the child.
In July 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Hickman, charging him with one count of murder and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
Hickman will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III on November 2, 2021 in Natchez. He faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison on the murder charge and not less than 30 years on the aggravated sexual abuse charge, along with a $250,000 fine on each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division and the Criminal Investigative Division of the Choctaw Police Department, who investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Payne.
Jackson Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Travaris Devon Bishop, 36, was arrested by the Jackson Police Department on January 9, 2020, with a firearm in his possession. The arrest was made during an investigation into criminal activity in a local neighborhood. Bishop had two previous convictions for house burglary and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On August 11, 2021, Bishop was charged in a federal criminal indictment with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty on July 12, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Texas Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – An alien from Honduras was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the crime of transporting and harboring illegal aliens, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.
According to court documents, on March 19, 2019, Dennis Omar Escobar-Castro was driving a Chevy Suburban with Texas license plates eastbound on Interstate I-20 when a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy made a traffic stop for careless driving. Escobar-Castro could produce no driver’s license, and none of the eleven passengers had identification or driver’s licenses, other than South American IDs. Two of the alien passengers were unaccompanied minors.
Castro admitted to agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that he believed all his passengers were nationals of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and that Escobar-Castro had been driving them from Houston, Texas, to Atlanta, Georgia, to take them to work. At least one alien passenger claimed to have paid $1,000 for Escobar-Castro to drive him from Texas to his destination.
An original indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in April 2019, charged Escobar-Castro with transporting and harboring aliens. He pled guilty on March 25, 2021.
Escobar-Castro appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves in Jackson. Judge Reeves sentenced Escobar-Castro to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1200.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with HSI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case, and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office who assisted with the discovery and arrest of defendants. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore Cooperstein and Keesha Middleton.
Former Casino Employee Sentenced for TheftRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A former employee of the Pearl River Resort - Silver Star Hotel & Casino was sentenced today to a probation term of five years, and ordered to pay $10,800 in restitution, for theft by an employee of a gaming establishment on Indian lands, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.
According to court documents, Reginal Brown, 36, was a banquet server at the Silver Star Hotel & Casino in the Pearl River Resort. Between January 2016 and May 2016, Brown used his own password on multiple occasions to take, for himself, approximately $10,800 from the cash recyclers in the facility. Casino management discovered the discrepancy in accounting and on video surveillance of the cash recycler area, then reported Brown to law enforcement. Choctaw Police Department investigators interviewed Brown, who admitted taking the money.
A federal grand jury charged Brown with one count of theft from the Silver Star Casino. He pled guilty in April 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca stated, “Federal law imposes severe penalties for crimes committed in licensed gaming establishments. The great potential for misconduct in these settings calls for constant vigilance and self-discipline of those entrusted with the casinos’ operation.”
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore Cooperstein and Kevin Payne.
McHenry Man Sentenced to over Eleven Years in Prison for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Dexter Kimsey, 26, of McHenry, was sentenced today to 141 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for transporting images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.
Kimsey was also ordered to pay restitution to victims in the amount of $14,000 and an assessment of $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
In June, 2019, HSI Gulfport and the Stone County Sheriff’s Office executed a state search warrant at a McHenry residence where electronic devices belonging to Dexter Kimsey were recovered. Kimsey’s on-line account and cell phone were found to contain still and video format child exploitation visual depictions.
Kimsey was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 23, 2020. He pled guilty on March 31, 2021 to transporting images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Stone County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Council Member Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Roderick Bell, 42, of Philadelphia, an elected member of the Tribal Council for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, entered a plea of guilty today to federal wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
A federal grand jury indicted Bell in February 2019, charging him with one count of theft and one count of wire fraud for defrauding the Choctaw Tribal government. Between April 2017 and October 2017, Bell forged hotel bills and receipts and submitted those documents to the Tribal government in claims for reimbursement for official business travel.
Bell will be sentenced by Judge Carlton W. Reeves on October 6, 2021. He faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore Cooperstein and Kevin Payne.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Jeffery Rivers, Jr., 39, of Jackson, sold almost a half kilogram of methamphetamine on March 2, 2020. The drugs were analyzed by the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory and confirmed to be 437.5 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Rivers pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2021 and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and 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.
The FBI Jackson Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha D. Middleton is prosecuting the case.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Hailstorm,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi.
Former Federal Corrections Officer Sentenced for BriberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former federal corrections officer from Lauderdale County, Mississippi, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for bribery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and James Boyersmith, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General.
According to court documents, in approximately July 2018, Ashley Lovett began accepting payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Federal Prison in Yazoo County, Mississippi, where she was employed as a corrections officer. Lovett was paid approximately seven thousand dollars by inmates and others for delivering the contraband to inmates inside the facility.
Lovett was indicted and pled guilty to accepting bribe payments in exchange for bringing contraband items into the Yazoo City Federal Corrections Complex.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Dave Fulcher.
Mexican Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Mexican national was sentenced today to 14 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for unlawful reentry by an alien after deportation or removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jason E. Schneider, Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
According to court documents, Sergio Rodriguez-Arevalos, 43, was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 10 by a deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Patrol. Border Patrol agents were called in to assist and determined that Rodriguez-Arevalos was not lawfully present in the United States. Rodriguez-Arevalos was arrested and transported to the Gulfport Border Patrol station for processing.
Rodriguez-Arevalos’ fingerprints were scanned into DHS electronic databases and his identity was confirmed based on computerized fingerprint analysis and visual analysis of his prior immigration photographs, and other official information. Official records revealed that in 1998, a U.S. Immigration Judge ordered Rodriguez-Arevalos to be removed to Mexico, and he was physically removed in September, 1998. Rodriguez-Arevalos later reentered the U.S. and was removed an additional three times before reentering yet again and being arrested in December 2020. Further, Rodriguez-Arevalos had been convicted of multiple misdemeanor offenses, including driving under the influence, while illegally residing in the United States.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man pled guilty to being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
According to court documents, Gulfport Police officers and ATF agents executed a search warrant on the residence of Connor Higginbotham, 22, of Gulfport, as part of investigation into stolen firearms. Agents discovered 12 firearms, several of them capable of receiving high capacity magazines. Officers also discovered approximately 300 grams of marijuana and an unregistered silencer. Higginbotham was taken into custody and later admitted to purchasing some of the firearms and knowing they were stolen. Higginbotham also admitted to daily use of marijuana and frequent use of Percocet.
Higginbotham pled guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 23, 2021. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Gulfport Police Department, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Jones County Felon Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Possessing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Laurel man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for being a felon in possession of multiple firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on October 19, 2019, Jacob Daniel Williams, 26, of Laurel, was found in possession of four firearms while passing through a checkpoint being operated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office. The firearms included three shotguns and a pistol. Williams had been convicted of drug possession felonies in Jones County in 2016.
Williams was indicted for this offense on June 23, 2020, and pled guilty on March 23, 2021.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, on January 16, 2019, Raymarcus Hollimon, a/k/a “Smoke Loc,” 30, of Hattiesburg, was encountered by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hattiesburg Metro Narcotics Task Force during a narcotics detail. Hollimon was found in possession of over 190 tablets containing methamphetamine with other drug distribution paraphernalia.
Hollimon was indicted for this offense on June 10, 2020. He pled guilty on March 23, 2021.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case was being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Carson Man Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Carson man was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Charles John Barrett, 37, of Carson, sold methamphetamine to an individual in Hattiesburg on multiple occasions between January and November of 2020.
Barrett was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 20, 2020. He pled guilty on March 23, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Bulldog,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in south Mississippi.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha D. Middleton prosecuted the case.
Alien Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Bribe a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – An illegal alien from Mexico pled guilty today to attempting to bribe a federal officer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Jesus Miranda-Alcantar, 34, was in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because he is an alien illegally present in the United States. On September 17, 2020, an ICE deportation officer drove a van transporting Miranda-Alcantar from the HSI/ICE office in Pearl, Mississippi to the Madison County Detention Center. During the drive, Miranda-Alcantar repeatedly offered to pay the deportation officer thousands of dollars if he would stop the van and let Miranda-Alcantar out by the side of the road. The officer ignored or declined the offers and delivered Miranda-Alcantar to the Madison County jail. Soon thereafter, the officer reported the incident to his supervisor and executed a sworn affidavit recounting the details of the incident.
In a recorded interview on November 4, 2020, after advice of Miranda rights, Miranda-Alcantar confirmed the details and admitted to making the bribe offer. He added that his initial offer had been $5,000 but he then raised it to $8,000.
“Attempts to corrupt our law enforcement remain a major threat,” said Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca. “These arrests affirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting those who seek to corruptly influence and to exacerbate violations of our immigration laws.”
An indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2020, charged Jesus Christian Miranda-Alcantar with offering a bribe to a federal official. Miranda-Alcantar pled guilty today and is scheduled for sentencing on September 23, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case and the HSI Jackson Office assisted with the discovery and arrest of the defendant. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore Cooperstein and Kevin Payne.
Honduran Smuggler and Passenger SentencedRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Honduran national was sentenced today to 9 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for transporting an illegal alien within the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Jason E. Schneider, Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
On January 26, 2021, Ceferino Guardado-Reyes, 38, was stopped by a Border Patrol Agent while driving on Interstate 10 in Jackson County. Guardado-Reyes did not have a driver’s license, and a record check revealed an active deportation warrant out of Texas. The Agent determined Guardado-Reyes and his two passengers were unlawfully present in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was notified, and all three vehicle occupants were taken to the Border Patrol Station in Gulfport for investigation, including fingerprint scans into Homeland Security databases. Border Patrol and HSI officials confirmed the identity of Guardado-Reyes and his two passengers as citizens of Honduras and as illegal aliens to the U.S. It also was determined that Guardado-Reyes was unlawfully transporting or smuggling his two passengers from Texas to Florida.
Guardado-Reyes was charged in a federal indictment with transporting an illegal alien within the United States. He pled guilty on March 16, 2021.
A passenger in the vehicle, Daniel Romero-Mancia, 25, of Honduras, pled guilty on April 8, 2021, and was sentenced to “time served” (4 months and 15 days), followed by three years of supervised release, for making a false statement to a federal officer. Romero-Mancia claimed to be from Mexico instead of Honduras and had produced a false identification document.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Jackson man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, on January 21, 2019, Jackson Police officers responded to a call concerning a suspected house burglary in the city of Jackson. When officers arrived, Albert Thompson, 24, of Jackson, was found at the scene along with two other individuals. All three individuals ran from the officers. Thompson was taken into custody and had a 9mm pistol in his hand. The arresting officer reported that Thompson raised the pistol toward her.
Thompson had four prior felony convictions for burglary of a dwelling in Rankin and Madison counties, and a felony conviction for motor vehicle theft in Rankin County. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Thompson to possess any firearm.
Thompson was indicted and pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Due to the number and nature of Thompson’s prior felony convictions, he faced an enhanced penalty at sentencing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Natchez Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Natchez man was sentenced today to 15 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
According to court documents, Adams County Sheriff’s deputies encountered Roy Ray III, 20, while searching for a wanted person. Although he was not the person deputies were looking for, Ray was in possession of a firearm and deputies knew a warrant had been issued for him over probation violations.
Ray was charged in a federal criminal indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on March 16, 2021.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Minor Following Arrest in Marion County Human Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - A Louisiana man pled guilty in federal court today to attempted enticement of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
During an operation being conducted by law enforcement in Marion County in December 2020, Brandon Brumfield, 24, of Greensburg, Louisiana, engaged with an undercover online chatter posing as a 14-year-old on the online dating website “Plenty of Fish.” While chatting, Brumfield expressed his desire to have sex with the 14-year-old and stated he would drive to Columbia, Mississippi, from Greensburg, Louisiana, to do so. Upon arrival in Columbia, Brumfield was arrested by law enforcement with condoms in his vehicle. Brumfield subsequently admitted to law enforcement that his intent was to have sex with a 14-year-old he had met on “Plenty of Fish.”
An indictment was filed against Brumfield on September 9, 2021. He pled guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Columbia Police Department investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Charles Terry Jones, 41, sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to an individual in Forrest County on July 9, 2019, and again on July 23, 2019.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2021. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
Poultry Processing Plant Manager Pleads Guilty to Harboring Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pelahatchie man pleaded guilty today to harboring an illegal alien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Salvador Delgado-Nieves, 58, of Pelahatchie, worked for Southern Knights Industrial Services as the manager at A&B Inc., a poultry processing plant in Pelahatchie. He was charged with aiding and abetting the harboring of an illegal alien for financial gain as a manager of the employee management company.
Delgado-Nieves pleaded guilty today and is scheduled for sentencing on September 15, 2021. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray is prosecuting the case.
Former JPS Band Volunteer Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A former Jackson Public School band volunteer and bus driver pleaded guilty today to producing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Jerrell Lea’Shun Jackson, 34, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, video recorded himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with minor females beginning in 2017 and continuing through 2018 at his apartment in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Jackson pleaded guilty today to three counts of producing child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2021, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Honduran Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Unlawful Reentry by an Alien Removed After Conviction of a FelonyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Honduran national was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in federal prison for unlawful reentry by an alien deported or removed after conviction of a felony, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jason E. Schneider, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
Williams Perez-Aguirre, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel in Gulfport. Perez-Aguirre also was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence. He may also face Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings. Perez-Aguirre was convicted after pleading guilty on March 8, 2021.
According to court documents, on January 4, 2021, the U.S. Border Patrol stopped a vehicle driven by Perez-Aguirre, who did not have a driver’s license. Record checks revealed he was an illegal alien with a removal history and he was placed under arrest. Both Perez-Aguirre and one of his passengers, Encaracion Aguirre-Lopez were taken to the Gulfport Border Patrol Station for processing.
Records showed that in 2016, Perez-Aguirre was removed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Texas to Honduras. He was later arrested in May 2017 in Arlington, Texas for deadly conduct discharging a firearm at an individual. He was convicted of a Texas state felony and sentenced to two years in prison. He was physically removed again to Honduras on May 17, 2018.
Passenger Encaracion Aguirre-Lopez also pleaded guilty and was convicted of unlawful return of an alien after removal. On May 14, 2021, Aguirre-Lopez was sentenced to “time served” (4 months and 11 days) followed by 1 year of supervised release. Aguirre-Lopez also is subject to removal from the United States
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Darren J. LaMarca, praised the investigative work of the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Vicksburg man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
On March 28, 2020, at 3:30 a.m., Darren Antonyo Mazie, 36, was driving during a city-wide curfew and encountered a Vicksburg Police Officer. Mazie possessed a firearm at the time and was a convicted felon, having been found guilty of burglarizing a business.
Mazie was charged in a federal criminal indictment with possession of a firearm by convicted felon. He pled guilty on March 3, 2021.
The Vicksburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Telemarketing FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Jarvis Kendal Haynes, 30, of Jackson, pled guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and bank fraud as part of a tech support telemarketing scheme, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New Orleans Field Office.
An original indictment naming ten defendants in the United States and abroad, returned by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2019, charged Haynes with acts supporting a conspiracy defrauding multiple victims, as part of an international tech support and telemarketing fraud scheme.
According to the indictment and testimony in court, beginning no later than on or about January 10, 2015, and continuing through on or about December 20, 2018, Haynes conspired with nine other defendants, located both across the United States and in India, to commit the federal offenses of wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud, in addition to offenses of money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and passing fictitious obligations.
As stated in court documents and testimony in open court, Haynes assisted leaders of a fraud ring which sent tech support emails or telephone messages wrongly advising consumers that their computers were infected with malware or otherwise compromised, offering for a price to help free their computers. Once given permission to access victims’ computers, conspirators either in the United States or abroad would help themselves to personal identification information and bank account passwords from their victims’ computers.
Haynes specifically aided the conspirators by incorporating a company called Rapid Race Experts LLC, and opening bank accounts for the business. Conspirators would then use the business name and the bank accounts to transfer and remove money obtained from victims during the scam.
“Fraud schemes, like the ones perpetrated and executed by these defendants, inflict considerable loss on citizens, companies, and the financial system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca. “Many of these schemes target the elderly and often steal the victims’ entire life savings. These arrests affirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens.”
Haynes pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud, admitting to his role in the fraud scheme financial operations. He will be sentenced by Judge Jordan on September 21, 2021.
Haynes faces maximum penalties for the wire fraud conspiracy of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If the Court finds applicable the Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act (“SCAM Act”), then Haynes’s maximum penalty could extend up to thirty (30) years.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with HSI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case, and United States Marshals Service who assisted with the arrest of the defendant. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty in U.S. District Court yesterday to robbing a local bank, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
Richard Dewayne Jiles, 42, robbed the Trustmark Bank on Medgar Evers Boulevard in Jackson on December 3, 2020. Jiles entered the Trustmark Bank and handed the teller a note stating that she would die if she did not give him $5,000. Law enforcement officers learned from Crimestoppers tips and witness statements that Jiles was the person who robbed the bank. Jiles was arrested in Rankin County after crashing into another vehicle. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 9, 2021.
Jiles pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2021. He 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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wansley is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Woodville Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Woodville man pled guilty in federal court today to selling methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Ricky Oneal Wright, 58, sold 6.5 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual on October 22, 2019.
Wright was indicted and pled guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2021 at 10 a.m. and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
Petal Woman Pleads Guilty to CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – Delma Ruth High, 64, of Petal, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds involving unemployment insurance benefits fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. Lamarca and U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Shawn Wolfe.
In May 2020, a local bank alerted the U.S. Secret Service Jackson Resident Office that unemployment insurance benefits from the State of Washington and Arizona had been deposited into High’s account. This information was provided in relation to High’s actions in the days leading up to her account being closed for fraudulent activity. An investigation into these benefits revealed that they were deposited into High’s account under other individuals’ names. The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
High pled guilty today to theft of government funds. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, and faces up to 10 years in prison. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan M. McCalla and William Dieters prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF). In response to the unprecedented scope of Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud, the Department of Justice established the NUIFTF. The NUIFTF is a prosecutor-led multi-agency task force with representatives from FBI, DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, HSI, DHS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, SSA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and other agencies. Members of the NUIFTF are working with state workforce agencies, financial institutions, and other law enforcement partners across the country to fight UI fraud, and consumers should be vigilant in light of these threats and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Jackson man pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
On May 13, 2019, FBI agents and Jackson police officers executed a search warrant on a house in Jackson. When agents entered, Jekobie Lewis Ransburgh, 23, was sitting on a couch with a digital scale, packaged marijuana and crack-cocaine, and cash. In addition, a handgun was tucked in his pants. Ransburgh told agents the cash was drug proceeds and that he possessed the gun to protect the drugs and cash.
Ransburgh was indicted and pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 16, 2021, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the Jackson Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Council Member Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A former member of the Tribal Council for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Randy Lamar Anderson, 46, of Conehatta, admitted to forging hotel bills and receipts, and submitting those documents to the Tribal government in claims for reimbursement for official business travel. The total loss to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was calculated at over $12,500.
An original indictment returned by a federal grand jury in February 2019 first charged the former elected lawmaker with defrauding the Tribal government (one count of theft and two counts of wire fraud). A superseding indictment, returned by the federal grand jury in November 2019, alleged that Anderson, while subject to the conditions of his release on bond, committed additional crimes against other Members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians residing in the Conehatta community on Reservation lands, and attempted to deter them from reporting his criminal conduct.
Since the original indictment issued, Anderson’s term on the Tribal Council expired, and Anderson did not run for reelection to the Council.
On December 7, 2020, Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Today, Chief Judge Daniel P. Jordan III sentenced Anderson to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $12,501.31.
“As long as public corruption continues to be an issue in our State, I can promise you that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be here to root it out, prosecute it, and ensure that justice is done. I want to personally thank the agencies involved for working with us to catch those who violate our corruption laws,” said Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Payne.
Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Return of an Alien After RemovalRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty to unlawful return of an alien after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jason E. Schneider, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
According to court documents, Julio Pablo-Chan, 39, of Guatemala, was arrested on February 26, 2020, on Interstate 10 in Jackson County. An agent of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team (SMMET) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Pablo-Chan, who did not have a driver’s license. The deputy requested assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol and a Border Patrol Agent responded on-site. The agent informed Pablo-Chan that due to his immigration history, and the fact that he did have proper immigration documents to enter, pass through or remain in the U.S. legally, he was being placed under arrest.
Pablo-Chan was transported to the Gulfport Border Patrol Station, where an agent with Homeland Security Investigations joined the investigation. Pablo-Chan’s identity was positively confirmed and records revealed that Pablo-Chan had illegally entered the United States and been removed from the United States back to his home nation of Guatemala in August 2011 and again in December 2018.
Pablo-Chan pleaded guilty to unlawful return of an alien after removal, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2021. He faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. After completing any sentence of incarceration, he also could face Homeland Security proceedings to remove him again from the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Quitman Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Choctaw CasinoRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Quitman man was sentenced today to 192 months in federal prison for the armed robbery of a Choctaw casino, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
On July 9, 2020, William Christopher Belk, 33, of Quitman entered the Bok Homa Casino located on the Choctaw Indian Reservation near Sandersville, Mississippi, armed with a handgun. Once inside, Belk pointed the handgun at a casino security officer, took several items of property from the casino officer, then fled the scene in a resort vehicle. Shortly after leaving the casino property, a Sandersville Police officer spotted the casino vehicle and attempted to arrest Belk. Belk fired upon and injured the officer, then drove away toward Laurel, Mississippi. Laurel police officers eventually spotted the vehicle and were able to arrest Belk on state charges including assault on a police officer.
In August 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Belk, charging him with robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and theft from an Indian gaming establishment. In February 2021, Belk pled guilty to robbery and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne.
Mexican National Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - A Mexican national was sentenced today to 10 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi; Diane Witte, Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement & Removal Operations in New Orleans; and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Cano-Elvira, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was being held by Jones County officials on a state charge after his arrest for felony domestic violence. On September 7, 2020, Jones County deputies had been dispatched to a domestic disturbance at Cano-Elvira’s residence. When deputies arrived, they were told Cano-Elvira had a rifle in the residence. Cano-Elvira fled on foot, and deputies found a Remington, Model 597, .22 caliber rifle, readily accessible in the unlocked closet of his bedroom. Deputies confiscated the firearm, and Cano-Elvira was arrested the following day when he surrendered to deputies at his residence. The Remington rifle later was turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
As part of the investigation, Cano-Elvira’s fingerprints were scanned into Homeland Security databases. A positive match of his fingerprints was made with prior immigration records including fingerprints and photographs, and he was identified as a removed alien. A removal order had been issued, and Cano-Elvira had been removed from the U.S. to Mexico in April 2014. Thereafter, he illegally reentered the United States and was encountered by Homeland Security officials, on May 3, 2014. His original order of removal was reinstated, and he was again physically removed from the United States to Mexico on May 31, 2014. At the time of his last removal in 2014, Cano-Elvira was prohibited from entering the U.S. for 20 years.
Cano-Elvira was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel in Hattiesburg to 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also may face Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings. He pled guilty to the charge on February 4, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca praised the coordination of ICE and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department who investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Murder on Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians pleaded guilty today to the 2017 murder of a female tribal member on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, on July 1, 2017, Stuart Brian Nickey, 37, of the Bogue Homa Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, beat his tribal member girlfriend in the face with his fists which resulted in her death.
A federal grand jury in September of 2017 indicted Nickey on the charge of murder in the second degree. Nickey pleaded guilty to the indictment and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Lynn Murray.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Causing Misuse of a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - A Guatemalan national was sentenced to “time served” (effectively 9 months in prison), for the federal crime of causing misuse of a social security number, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Jack Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
Angel Perez-Valezquez, 19, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and may face Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings. Perez-Valezquez was convicted after pleading guilty on March 31, 2021.
On August 25, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security, Border Enforcement Security Task Force in Gulfport, received information from the Hattiesburg Police regarding the arrest of Perez-Valezqez who had been working at the Mar-Jac Poultry Plant, under an assumed identity. Hattiesburg Police had been contacted by a victim living in another state who reported an Internal Revenue Service W-2 Form for 2019, in the victim’s name from Mar-Jac Poultry. The victim said he had never been to Hattiesburg and had never worked for Mar-Jac Poultry.
Homeland Security Investigations agents determined that Perez-Valezquez worked at Mar-Jac Poultry under the victim’s name. Perez-Valezquez wore and displayed an employee ID card bearing his photograph and the victim’s name. He knew that the card had been falsely made and that his wages were paid using his false identity. He also knew that the name and Social Security Number he used were key parts of the identity information, and that deductions from his wages were made each pay period for taxes and Social Security using the false identity. Each time Perez-Valezquez was paid, he caused his employer, Mar-Jac Poultry, to report false information to the Social Security Administration, using the victim’s name and Social Security Number.
Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca praised the investigative work and coordination of Homeland Security Investigations and the Hattiesburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.
Two Jackson Men Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Two Jackson men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in a large multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme that adversely affected hundreds of victims across multiple states over a number of years, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin.
Ted Brent Alexander, 55, and Jon Darrell Seawright, 49, both of Jackson, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha G. Isaac today for their initial appearance and arraignment on the indictment. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial on July 6, 2021, before United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves in Jackson.
Both Alexander and Seawright are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud; one count of securities fraud; and four counts of wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud investors, all in connection with a Ponzi scheme promising guaranteed returns to investors who thought they were lending money to a ‘broker” enterprise purchasing timber that was then marketed to multiple lumber mills.
According to the indictment, from January 2011 through December 2018, Alexander and Seawright misled their investors to believe that Alexander and Seawright were the principal actors in the venture, while downplaying and concealing from investors the true fact that the “broker” was Madison Timber Properties, LLC, a company wholly owned by Arthur Lamar Adams, and there were no real contracts for timber and lumber mills. Adams was previously convicted and sentenced for his role in the Ponzi scheme.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Alexander and Seawright represented to their investors that the two men would inspect each property underlying each investment, and they would verify that supposed lumber mill agreements were in existence and valid. Alexander and Seawright failed to do any of those things. Throughout the fraud scheme, Alexander and Seawright persuaded their investors to maintain their investments and to invest additional funds, by asserting that Alexander and Seawright had their own personal funds invested in the venture.
Alexander and Seawright represented to their investors that the investors would be first repaid all of their principal and interest before Alexander and Seawright would receive fees, and therefore Alexander and Seawright would only earn money from each investment if they performed as promised to their investors. In fact, in addition to receiving a percentage of return on the investors’ funds, Alexander and Seawright also received payments from the broker for recruiting investors into the scheme. Alexander and Seawright did not disclose to the investors (a) that they were receiving those payments, or (b) the amount of the payments, or (c) that Alexander and Seawright were getting paid before any payment was made to the investors.
The indictment alleges that, during the course of their scheme and artifice to defraud, Alexander and Seawright solicited over twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) from more than fifty (50) investors.
Following the 2018 criminal prosecution of Arthur Lamar Adams, the United States District Court appointed a receiver, who is actively seeking to recover and maximize assets for restitution to investor victims. Information regarding the Receiver’s activities can be found at the receiver’s website, madisontimberreceiver.com. Although we cannot provide further details at this time, please be assured that all those involved are working diligently to investigate this matter and to locate and preserve assets that can be used for restitution to defrauded investors.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Scheme Designed to Fraudulently Obtain GI Bill Funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to two counts of wire fraud in a scheme to steal federal funds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Breen with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
Anthony Kelley, 59, of Jackson, owns Trendsetters Barber College in Jackson, Mississippi. Trendsetters was certified by the VA and Mississippi’s State Approving Agency to offer courses which would be covered by GI Bill benefits for veterans enrolled in the school’s programs. Beginning at least as early as October 2016 and continuing through March 2019, Kelley offered a Master Barber course that was not an accredited course of study approved by the state’s Board of Barber Examiners. Kelley fraudulently represented that this course was an approved course of study and, as a result, was allowed to collect GI Bill money from veterans enrolled in the program. At least two veterans were enrolled in the Master Barber program using their GI Bill benefits and, as a result, the VA made interstate wire transfers of federal funds to Kelley based on his fraudulent representations.
“The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to protecting the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other critical programs that provide benefits to our nation’s veterans,” said Department of Veterans Affairs OIG Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Breen of the South Central Field Office. “The defendant’s guilty plea is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the U.S. Attorney’s Office staff and the VA OIG case agent that led to the successful outcome of this important investigation.”
An Information was filed against Kelley on April 22, 2021 charging him with two counts of wire fraud.
Kelley will be sentenced on August 24, 2021 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.