Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Siblings Plead Guilty to COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Forrest County man and woman pled guilty to conspiring with each other to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Artista Garner, 36, of Hattiesburg, assisted her brother, Thaddieus Cooper, 31, in applying for benefits with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. As an inmate in the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), Cooper was not entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Cooper was serving a sentence of six years in MDOC custody for armed robbery. Garner used the unemployment funds for her personal benefit and transferred some of the funds to Cooper via his commissary fund.
The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the pandemic.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Cooper and Garner on September 10, 2024. Both Cooper and Garner pled guilty on January 30, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2025, and they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick A. Lemon, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Southeast Region made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF). In response to the unprecedented scope of Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud, the Department of Justice established the NUIFTF. The NUIFTF is a prosecutor-led multi-agency task force with representatives from FBI, DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, HSI, DHS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, SSA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and other agencies. Members of the NUIFTF are working with state workforce agencies, financial institutions, and other law enforcement partners across the country to fight UI fraud, and consumers should be vigilant in light of these threats and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. –A Canton man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' Reservation in Neshoba County, Mississippi.
Joe Santakeye Jones, 51, pled guilty on January 29, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2025, and faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum 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 Patrick A. Lemon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
- US Attorney's Office
Philadelphia Woman Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Stabbing on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Philadelphia woman was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for stabbing a man in the Pearl River community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation.
According to court documents, Telinah Kowi Tek Farve, 24, stabbed a man at a tribal home in the Pearl River Community in March of 2023. Farve was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023, and pled guilty in April of 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), a nationwide initiative that was launched in 2001 and works to reduce violent crime and gun violence. It’s a collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood, please visit www.psn.gov.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for House Burglary on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Philadelphia man was sentenced to three years in federal prison for burglarizing a home in the Tucker community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation.
According to court documents, Sherente Tubby, 23, burglarized the home of a tribal member in December of 2021. Tubby was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022, and pled guilty in September of 2024. He was sentenced on January 14, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), a nationwide initiative that was launched in 2001 and works to reduce violent crime and gun violence. It’s a collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood, please visit www.psn.gov.
Madison Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Madison man was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Reginald Fullwood, Jr., 59, of Madison, participated in a scheme to pay kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for completed doctors’ orders so that he could cause his durable medical equipment company, Jackson Medical Supply, to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement. When Medicare initiated an investigation of Jackson Medical Supply, the defendant opened another entity in the name of a nominee owner and again paid kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for doctors’ orders so that the new entity could continue to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces. Overall, Fullwood caused these entities to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage approximately $12,441,625.30 and the entities were reimbursed approximately $6,448,092.61 for durable medical equipment that was medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement.
Fullwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States on August 28, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sara Porter of the Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.
Pearl River Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River man was sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
In January 2024, Bill Clemons, Jr., 37, was indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in the distribution of methamphetamine. In September 2024, Clemons pled guilty to the charge.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering, Identity Theft, and Contempt of CourtRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 32 years in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and health care fraud; money laundering; aggravated identity theft; mail fraud; and contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay $1,917,231.26 in restitution to the victims in the case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Laron Evans conspired with co-defendant Travious Quinshad Jackson and others to execute a health care fraud scheme involving Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) using interstate wire communications and the U.S. postal system. The scheme used interstate wire communication via the Internet to send Personal Identification Information (PII) of 57 actual people, pretending that they were employees of an imaginary company, to a third-party administrator company located in Maryland.
The third-party administrator company used the stolen PII to create individualized HSA accounts, and corresponding debit cards, for all 57 employee names, and sent debit cards for each employee name in the mail to Vicksburg addresses. The third-party administrator advanced and credited funds to each HSA account created for the supposed employees, which money could then be spent through the debit card at designated retail stores.
Evans, assisted by Jackson and others, spent the debit cards in various stores throughout April and May 2018, buying gift cards, debit cards, and other consumer goods to deplete the HSA accounts. The third-party administrator in the meantime had learned that there was no money in the bank account that Evans had identified for his fake company, when the company sought reimbursement for the HSA accounts.
On July 10, 2018, using proceeds gained from the health care fraud scheme, Evans bought a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban SUV in Forrest County, Mississippi, for $44,335 in cash plus a trade-in vehicle.
On February 13, 2019, Evans appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson for his initial appearance and arraignment in this case. Judge Anderson entered an Order permitting Evans to be released on bond pending trial, subject to conditions forbidding travel without prior permission of the Court before leaving the Southern District of Mississippi.
In April 2019, Evans travelled outside the State of Mississippi without permission of the Court. While outside the State of Mississippi and on his return to Vicksburg, Evans continued to execute health care fraud schemes using the Internet and the U.S. Mail. Evans falsely represented himself as leader and manager of an Orlando, Florida, business, seeking to establish health care benefits including HSA accounts for its purported employees. Evans submitted over the Internet to a third-party administrator company located in Minnesota, bank account information for drawing reimbursement, plus employee information for creation of HSA debit cards. The Minnesota company sent some of the debit cards, during the period April 16-25, 2019, to Evans at his Vicksburg home address through the U.S. Mail. Evans had requested that the Minnesota administrator fund those HSA accounts up to $91,000.
Evans pled guilty on August 1, 2019 to conspiring to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and health care fraud; money laundering; aggravated identity theft; mail fraud; and contempt of court.
Co-defendant Travious Quinshad Jackson pled guilty on June 18, 2019 to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also ordered to pay $302,099.34 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Vicksburg Police Department, and Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
Two Romanian Men Plead Guilty to Possession of Device Making EquipmentRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, both nationals of Romania, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of device making equipment, also known as skimming devices.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning on June 21, 2024, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division began receiving reports from various agencies regarding the discovery of skimmer devices being located at various stores in central Mississippi. The Cyber Fraud Task Force began investigating leads that would determine the location of installed skimmers throughout the Southern District of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Gheorghe, 28, and Neacsu, 29, could be seen on surveillance video at various stores throughout the Southern District of Mississippi placing skimming devices on point-of-sale machines in June and July 2024. The skimmers were adhered using double-sided tape and were equipped with electronics that captured or recorded bank card magstripe track data and PIN numbers.
Included in the information skimmed or stolen by these defendants were SNAP benefits totaling over $80,000. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. These stolen SNAP benefits were used in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can be traced back to the skimming devices in Mississippi.
Gheorghe and Neacsu are scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2025, and face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe:
1. Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible.2. Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.
Mendenhall Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Mendenhall man was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Koda Tye Williamson, 40, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department during the execution of a search warrant on his home for narcotics distribution and illegal firearms possession. Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Williamson has previous felony convictions for manslaughter and methamphetamine possession.
Williamson pled guilty on July 30, 2024. He will not be eligible for parole because there is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Conehatta Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS –On January 13, 2025, a Conehatta man was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for sexual abuse of a minor on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, Brett Keith Thomas, 28, sexually abused a minor who was under the age of twelve years old. The abuse occurred in 2016. Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023, and pleaded guilty in June of 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.United States Attorney Todd Gee Announces Anticipated Resignation from the Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Todd Gee, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today his intention to resign his position as United States Attorney, effective 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said: “The opportunity to serve as a United States Attorney in my home state of Mississippi has been the highest honor of my over 17 years of public service in the United States Department of Justice. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is full of talented professionals dedicated to public safety, fairness, and the rule of law. It has been a great privilege to work with them and my other colleagues in the Department. I thank President Biden for nominating me as United States Attorney, and Attorney General Garland for leading the Department and supporting the Southern District of Mississippi during my tenure.”
Todd Gee was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi on October 3, 2023. He has worked for the U.S. Department of Justice since 2007, including previously serving as a Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia.
Tennessee Man Sentenced for Using Drone to Fly Marijuana into Yazoo City Federal Correctional ComplexRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Tennessee man was sentenced today to 2 months in prison for providing marijuana to an inmate of a federal prison. He will placed on supervised release for 3 years following his release from federal prison.
According to court documents, Mark Anderson, 50, of Tullahoma, Tennessee, flew a drone carrying approximately 195 grams of marijuana over the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City and delivered it by releasing it from the air where an inmate would later retrieve it during the early morning hours of October 2, 2021.
Anderson pled guilty on September 26, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
Law Enforcement Officers Join FBI Task Force Focused on Crime on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Choctaw Police Department Officers Robert York and Jakob Waiter along with Neshoba County Deputy Mark Flake are the newest additions to the Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force (STTF). Robert A. Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Jackson Mississippi Field Office, administered the oath and stated, "“The implementation of the Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force ensures the FBI and partnering agencies work together to protect members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and investigate criminal activity with a federal nexus in and around the Reservation Communities in Mississippi. The Task Force is dedicated in keeping our tribal communities safe by working along-side our partners, training together, and offering resources.”
The FBI Safe Trails Task Force is a collaborative effort between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country. The STTF works with a variety of partners, including DEA, ATF, tribal, state, and local law enforcement. The STTF has been a key part of the FBI’s partnerships in Indian Country for almost 30 years.
In December of 2022, the FBI field office in Jackson gained approval to establish the Mississippi STTF. In addition to the Choctaw Police Department and the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi’s STTF is comprised of officers from Leake County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Carthage Police Department, and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
“The Department of Justice has been working hard to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other law enforcement partners in order to better address violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi.
Law Enforcement Officers Join FBI Task Force Focused on Crime on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Choctaw Police Department Officers Robert York and Jakob Waiter along with Neshoba County Deputy Mark Flake are the newest additions to the Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force (STTF). Robert A. Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Jackson Mississippi Field Office, administered the oath and stated, "“The implementation of the Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force ensures the FBI and partnering agencies work together to protect members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and investigate criminal activity with a federal nexus in and around the Reservation Communities in Mississippi. The Task Force is dedicated in keeping our tribal communities safe by working along-side our partners, training together, and offering resources.”
The FBI Safe Trails Task Force is a collaborative effort between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country. The STTF works with a variety of partners, including DEA, ATF, tribal, state, and local law enforcement. The STTF has been a key part of the FBI’s partnerships in Indian Country for almost 30 years.
In December of 2022, the FBI field office in Jackson gained approval to establish the Mississippi STTF. In addition to the Choctaw Police Department and the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi’s STTF is comprised of officers from Leake County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Carthage Police Department, and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
“The Department of Justice has been working hard to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other law enforcement partners in order to better address violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi.Former Mississippi State Capitol Police Officer Indicted for Excessive Force Against a Handcuffed ArresteeRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Southern District of Mississippi charging former Mississippi State Capitol Police Flex Unit officer Jeffery Walker with felony deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to court documents, Walker used excessive force against a handcuffed arrestee, identified as E.S., including the use of dangerous weapons and force resulting in bodily injury.
On July 27, 2022, Walker, driving an unmarked police car, attempted to initiate a traffic stop involving E.S., who failed to stop and led Walker on a vehicle pursuit. During the pursuit, several Jackson Police Department (JPD) officers followed behind until Walker cut E.S. off, causing Walker to run into a tree and E.S. to swerve into the yard behind Walker’s car. An assisting JPD officer pulled E.S. from the car and handcuffed him without issue. Shortly after taking control of E.S., who was still handcuffed and compliant at this point, Walker slammed E.S.’ head into the hood of E.S.’ car, put him on the ground and kicked him in the head and face area. E.S. suffered bodily injury as a result of Walker’s actions.
If convicted, Walker 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.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Mississippi State Capitol Police Officer Indicted for Excessive Force Against a Handcuffed ArresteeRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Southern District of Mississippi charging former Mississippi State Capitol Police Flex Unit officer Jeffery Walker with felony deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to court documents, Walker used excessive force against a handcuffed arrestee, identified as E.S., including the use of dangerous weapons and force resulting in bodily injury.
On July 27, 2022, Walker, driving an unmarked police car, attempted to initiate a traffic stop involving E.S., who failed to stop and led Walker on a vehicle pursuit. During the pursuit, several Jackson Police Department (JPD) officers followed behind until Walker cut E.S. off, causing Walker to run into a tree and E.S. to swerve into the yard behind Walker’s car. An assisting JPD officer pulled E.S. from the car and handcuffed him without issue. Shortly after taking control of E.S., who was still handcuffed and compliant at this point, Walker slammed E.S.’ head into the hood of E.S.’ car, put him on the ground and kicked him in the head and face area. E.S. suffered bodily injury as a result of Walker’s actions.
If convicted, Walker 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.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trio Pleads Guilty in Reservation MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Three individuals pled guilty today to their roles in a murder on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Reservation.
According to court documents, in September 2023, Michael Jeffrey Shaffer, Sr., 48, and Montero Ray Willis, 22, used a firearm to shoot and kill a tribal member in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Reservation. Deyonkia Alice Willis, 30, acted as an accessory after the fact to the murder. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2023.
The defendants will be sentenced at a later date to be determined by the court. Michael Jeffrey Shaffer, Sr., and Montero Ray Willis both face up to life in prison for murder in the second degree. Deyonkia Alice Willis faces up to fifteen years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Tribal Initiative.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhood’s Tribal Initiative refers to the inclusion of tribal law enforcement officials and community leaders within the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a national initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice that aims to identify and address the most pressing violent crime issues in a community by bringing together federal, state, local, tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and community partners to develop comprehensive solutions; essentially, it signifies the program's efforts to actively involve tribal entities in combating crime within their jurisdictions.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over 2 years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 2 years and a month in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2021, Joshua Hart, 42, was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition by the Jackson Police Department when an officer approached his vehicle after observing it being driven erratically and suspiciously. Hart, a passenger in the vehicle, had a previous felony conviction for aggravated robbery out of the state of Texas and an outstanding warrant at the time of this stop. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Hart to possess ammunition or any firearm.
Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2021. He pled guilty on September 9, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Jackson man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On December 11, 2024, after eight days of trial in federal court, Marcus Davis, 44, pled guilty to his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Prosecutors presented evidence and testimony at trial that Davis conspired with another individual to possess with intent to distribute two-and-one-half pounds of methamphetamine over a nine-day period in December of 2019.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shundral Cole and Samuel Goff are prosecuting the case.
Guatemalan National Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Guatemalan national was sentenced to 5 years in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted and deported for a felony.
According to court documents, Marcos Perez-Hernandez, 25, was found illegally present in Rankin County, Mississippi on May 23, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a felony and deported from the United States in 2018. Perez-Hernandez was stopped by a Rankin County Sheriff’s officer for careless driving, driving under the influence and no driver’s license.
Perez-Hernandez pled guilty on September 5, 2024, to illegal reentry after being deported following a state felony conviction for kidnapping in Tennessee.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Field Office Director Mellisa B. Harper of Immigration and Customs (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New Orleans, made the announcement.
The case was investigated by ICE ERO.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Seafood Distributor and Managers Sentenced for Conspiracy and Misbranding SeafoodRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Mississippi seafood distributor and two company managers were sentenced for conspiring with others to mislabel seafood and to commit wire fraud by marketing inexpensive and frozen imported substitutes as more expensive and premium local species.
Quality Poultry and Seafood Inc. (QPS), the largest seafood wholesaler on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, was sentenced to 5 years of probation and ordered to pay the United States $1 million in forfeitures and a $500,000 criminal fine. The Court also ordered that QPS maintain for five years records describing the species, sources, and cost of the seafood it acquires for sale to its customers; that QPS must make these records available to any federal, state, or local governmental authority that regulates or monitors the service and distribution of food for human consumption and to any such agency that regulates the harvesting, storage, labeling, or sale of seafood; and that QPS shall answer truthfully any inquiry from any governmental agency and from any customer as to the species, source, and cost of any seafood it prepares, serves, sells, or advertises for sale.
QPS sales manager Todd A. Rosetti and business manager James W. Gunkel, both of Ocean Springs, were also sentenced today for misbranding seafood to facilitate QPS’ fraud. Rosetti was ordered to serve 8 months in prison followed by 180 days of home detention, one year of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. Gunkel was sentenced to 2 years of probation, 12 months of home detention and 50 hours of community service.
“This large-scale scheme to misbrand imported seafood as local Gulf Coast seafood hurt local fishermen and consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi. “These criminal convictions should put restaurants and wholesalers on notice that they must be honest with customers about what is actually being sold.”
“U.S. consumers expect their seafood to be correctly identified. When sellers purposefully substitute one fish species for another, they deceive consumers and cause potential food safety hazards to be overlooked or misidentified by processors or end users,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kerry Mannion, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above public health.”
In August 2024, QPS pled guilty to participating in a fish substitution scheme from as early as 2002 and continuing through November 2019. QPS recommended and sold to its restaurant customers foreign-sourced fish that could serve as convincing substitutes for the local species the restaurants advertised on their menus. QPS also labeled the cheap imports that it sold to customers at its own retail shop and café as premium local fish. According to court documents, even after agents from the FDA executed a criminal search warrant at QPS to investigate its sale of mislabeled fish, QPS continued for over a year to sell frozen fish imported from Africa, South America, and India for use as substitutes for local premium species.
Mary Mahoney’s, which pleaded guilty in May and was sentenced in November, admitted that between December 2013 and November 2019, it fraudulently sold, as local premium species, approximately 58,750 pounds (over 29 tons) of fish that was not the species identified on its menu. QPS supplied seafood to Mary Mahoney’s and many other restaurants and retailers.
The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case in conjunction with the Mississippi Marine Patrol, a Division of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea C. Jones and Senior Trial Attorney Jeremy F. Korzenik of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division prosecuted the case.
Siblings Sentenced in Murder for Hire CaseRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A brother and sister from Clinton, Mississippi were sentenced today for their actions in a murder for hire plot.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Joshua Druid Bryan, 29, and Regan Emily Bryan, 30, sought to hire a hit man to murder their stepfather in order to obtain life insurance proceeds.
Regan Emily Bryan was sentenced to 65 months in prison. She previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
Joshua Druid Bryan was sentenced to 120 months in prison. He was previously found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, and murder for hire following a trial that concluded on December 15, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The Bureau of ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Matthew Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Gulfport Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Possession of over 80 Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Gulfport man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for possession of over 80 videos of child pornography.
Roy Alexander Johnson, 31, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Johnson was ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution to victims, and $3,000 in mandatory restitution under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents, Johnson was the user of accounts which contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Johnson was identified after CyberTip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to email accounts which were traced to Johnson. The email accounts contained over 80 videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct including minors who had not attained 12 years of age.
Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 14, 2024. He pled guilty on August 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Cyber Crime Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.
Mexican National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Mexican national was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted and deported for an aggravated felony.
According to court documents, Luis Javier Sanchez-Zurita, 38, of Oaxaca, Mexico was found illegally present in Brandon, MS on February 21, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime of violence and deported from the United States in 2017. Sanchez-Zurita was stopped by a Brandon Police officer for carelessly driving, driving under the influence and endangerment of a child.
Sanchez-Zurita pled guilty on August 22, 2024, to illegal reentry after being deported following a state felony conviction for gratification of lust (crime against children).
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Field Office Director Mellissa B. Harper of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New Orleans, made the announcement.
The case was investigated by ICE ERO.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted the case.
Former Jackson Police Department Officer Pleads Guilty to Making a False Statement in the Acquisition of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A former Jackson Police Department officer pled guilty today to making a false statement to a firearms dealer in the acquisition of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements in open court, Torrence Donnell Mayfield, 53, of Jackson, purchased a firearm for another person on October 26, 2021. That purchase was made at a pawn shop which is a Federal Firearms Licensee. Mayfield was required to complete a written form to purchase the firearm. On that form, Mayfield indicated that he was purchasing the firearm for himself, not someone else. That statement was false. It is against federal law to make a false statement to a firearm dealer to acquire a firearm.
Mayfield is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2025, 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.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Herbert S. Carraway and Charles W. Kirkham are prosecuting the case.
Southern District of Mississippi Prosecutors Charge 13% More Cases During Fiscal Year 2024 Due to the Success of the Project Safe Neighborhoods ProgramRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Todd W. Gee announced today the results of efforts to increase federal prosecutions of violent criminals, narcotics traffickers and others during fiscal year 2024. Specifically, during fiscal year 2024, which began on October 1, 2023, and ended on September 30, 2024, prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi charged approximately 315 cases, an increase of approximately 13% over the prior fiscal year, and approximately 451 defendants, an increase of approximately 28% over the prior fiscal year.
This increase in prosecutions is due, in part, to the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s PSN program, federal prosecutors meet regularly with law enforcement agencies and other partners in Jackson, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and elsewhere in order to review local arrests that may be suitable for prosecution in federal court, discuss efforts to investigate and prosecute violent offenders, and take other steps to reduce violent crime.
In addition to increasing the overall number of cases and defendants charged in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s PSN program helped increase the number of firearms-related cases filed by approximately 21%, and tripled the number of cases filed involving illegal machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns and other firearms into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds.
“Our office is working hard with federal, state, and local partners to reduce violent crime, narcotics trafficking and other criminal activity throughout the Southern District of Mississippi,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee. “Violent criminals and drug traffickers need to get the message: move on to other careers, or get ready to spend a large portion of your life in federal prison.”
Some of the case highlights from the PSN program and other violent crime and narcotics trafficking prosecutions in fiscal year 2024 include the following:
U.S. v. Kylin Russell
A video went viral in early 2024 in the Jackson, Mississippi area that showed a young man repeatedly firing a high caliber weapon from the window of a car towards another car at a very busy intersection in broad daylight. Weeks later, on February 9, 2024, a driver of that same car, Kylin Russell, evaded a roadblock and led officers with Capitol Police on a high-speed chase exceeding speeds of 120 miles per hour and lasting over 10 minutes. At the conclusion of the chase, he ran from police until he was caught. He discarded an AR-style firearm as he ran, and after he was detained, two handguns equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs), also known as “switches,” were recovered from his vehicle. Russell pled guilty to firearms offenses and was sentenced to two years in prison.
U.S. v. Rosendo Gonzalez Mora, et. al.
In July 2024, five individuals with ties to Mexico pled guilty to felony offenses related to drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and immigration offenses as a result of a law enforcement investigation involving sales of cocaine in Mississippi to purchase firearms and machine gun conversion devices for delivery to Mexico.
U.S. v. Johnny Ragsdale
On November 23, 2023, Johnny Ragsdale was found in possession of an illegal machinegun after an attempted traffic stop on a vehicle he was driving in Jackson. Ragsdale failed to yield to law enforcement and led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase. The chase ended after Ragsdale collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol was recovered from the vehicle, and a machinegun conversion device (MCD), also known as a “switch,” was attached to the pistol. Ragsdale pled guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun and is awaiting sentencing.
U.S. v. Damonik Shemikal Robinson
On January 2, 2024, Damonik Shemikal Robinson was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by Capitol Police for a traffic offense. Four firearms were in the vehicle, including three with attached machinegun conversion devices (MCD), also known as “switches.” Robinson admitted to owning one of two Glocks with an attached MCD that was recovered from the center console. Robinson pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to five years in prison.
U.S. v. Marcus Powell et al.
In January 2024, over forty people in the Meridian area were charged in ten separate indictments with drug trafficking crimes, including distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and other illegal drugs.
U.S. v. Jarvis Jermaine Hampton
On January 12, 2024, law enforcement officers discovered methamphetamine, a machinegun, and a pill press in the Meridian residence of Jarvis Jermaine Hampton. He pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and is awaiting sentencing.
U.S. v. Ernest Quintez Clark
On October 20, 2023, Ernest Quintez Clark, a convicted felon, possessed a firearm while attending a football game at Meridian High School. Clark had been previously convicted of aggravated assault in Louisiana. He pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
U.S. v. Frederick Leshun Jones
On November 28, 2023, Frederick Jones, a convicted felon, was found in possession of three firearms when members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force went to his Meridian home to serve an outstanding arrest warrant. Jones pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and is awaiting sentencing.
U.S. v. Koda Tye Williamson
On March 5, 2024, Koda Tye Williamson, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm when law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence in Simpson County. Williamson had previous convictions for manslaughter and methamphetamine possession. He pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and is awaiting sentencing.
U.S. v. Russell David Parker
On March 9, 2024, Russell David Parker, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop in Stone County. He pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and is awaiting sentencing.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mary Mahoney’s Old French House and Manager Sentenced for Conspiracy and Misbranding of SeafoodRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Mississippi corporation operating as Mary Mahoney’s Old French House restaurant in Biloxi, Mississippi, and its co-owner and manager, Anthony Charles Cvitanovich, were sentenced today on charges arising from their participation in a long-standing conspiracy to misbrand seafood by substituting inexpensive imported fish for the local premium species they advertised and declared on their menus.
The court accepted the terms of a plea agreement Mary Mahoney’s reached with the government and sentenced the company to five years of probation and ordered it to pay a total penalty of $1,499,000, which included $149,000 as a criminal fine and $1,350,000 in forfeiture for some of the proceeds it had obtained from its fraudulent sales of seafood to its customers. The Court also imposed special conditions of supervision, to include that Mary Mahoney’s maintain for no less than five years, records describing the species, sources, and the cost of the seafood it acquires for sale to its customers, and that it make these records available to any federal, state, or local governmental authority that regulates or monitors the service and distribution of food for human consumption and to any such agency that regulates the harvesting, storage, labeling, or sale of seafood. The Court also ordered as a condition of supervision that Mary Mahoney’s shall answer truthfully any inquiry from any governmental agency and from any customer as to the species, source, and cost of any seafood it prepares, serves, sells or advertises for sale.
On May 30, 2024, Mary Mahoney’s pled guilty to a felony charging the corporation with conspiracy to misbrand seafood and wire fraud in connection with a scheme that began as early as 2002 and continued through November of 2019. Mahoney’s, founded in 1962, admitted that between December 2013 and November 2019, the company and its co-conspirators at a Biloxi seafood wholesaler fraudulently sold as local premium species approximately 58,750 pounds (over 29 tons) of fish that was actually frozen and imported from Africa, India, and South America.
Mahoney’s co-owner/manager, Anthony Charles Cvitanovich, 55, was sentenced to three years of probation and 4 months of home detention. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. On May 30, 2024, Mr. Cvitanovich pled guilty to a felony Information charging him with misbranding of seafood during 2018 and 2019.
“Misbranding foreign seafood as premium, locally caught fish hurts the Gulf Coast seafood industry and defrauds customers that paid to taste the real thing,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “This investigation and today’s sentence will hopefully send a message that the Department of Justice is serious about holding businesses accountable that mislabel food sources.”
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Environment and Natural Resources Division Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim made the announcement.
The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations initiated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea C. Jones and Senior Trial Attorney Jeremy F. Korzenik of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting the case.
In related charges, the Biloxi seafood wholesaler Quality Poultry and Seafood and two of its managers are scheduled for sentencing on Monday, December 11, 2024.
Saucier Man Pleads Guilty to Producing and Transmitting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Saucier, Mississippi man pled guilty today to production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Tyler Selby, 30, was identified when United Kingdom authorities recovered a video that came from a social media user in the United States. Federal authorities in the United States identified Selby as the person who transmitted the video of an adult male and a minor child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Chat logs related to the video evidenced that Selby knew the video would be transported and transmitted in interstate and foreign commerce via the internet with the use of a live streaming platform.
Selby pled guilty to the use of a minor in his legal custody for the purpose of producing and transmitting a live visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Selby is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2025, and faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United Kingdom West Yorkshire Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Murder on the Natchez Trace ParkwayRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Mexican national pled guilty today to murder on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, on September 23, 2018, Cristian Mitchel Mondragon Gonzales, 29, had an altercation with the victim following a party at a residence where they both lived. The victim left the residence and Mondragon Gonzales sought after him and found him. He convinced the victim to go for a ride with him. He then drove the victim to a location on the Natchez Trace Parkway where they both got out of the car. Gonzales shot the unarmed victim multiple times. The victim was discovered the following morning by an individual walking along a trail on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Mondragon Gonzales pled guilty to second degree murder and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 12, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Natchez Trace Parkway Police, and the Ridgeland Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
Ocean Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – An Ocean Springs man pled guilty to production of child pornography.
According to court documents, in January 2023, Eric Jason Fiorentino, 30, caused a minor in another state to produce visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Using an internet chat platform for texts and live videos, Fiorentino produced and screen captured the images on his cell phone in Jackson County, Mississippi.
Fiorentino is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., and faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Jackson County and Stone County Sheriff’s Offices and the Hesston, Kansas Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.
Meridian Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Social Security FundsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian woman pled guilty to stealing social security benefits intended for two elderly victims totaling $25,364.
According to court documents, Taruars Santae Grace, 46, admitted that she stole Social Security Administration (SSA) retirement benefits intended for two elderly victims. Grace diverted the SSA benefits into bank accounts to which she had access and control. Grace admitted that she spent the benefits for her personal use despite knowing that she was not entitled to the money.
Grace was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. She pled guilty today to theft of government funds.
Grace is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 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.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Rodregas “Rod” Owens of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General - Atlanta Field Division made the announcement.
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Former Hinds County Sheriff Convicted for Soliciting Bribes and Providing Ammunition to a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – On Friday, November 8, 2024, A federal jury convicted Marshand Crisler, a former Hinds County, Mississippi Sheriff, on both counts of an indictment charging him with soliciting and accepting $9,500 in bribes and for knowingly providing ammunition to a convicted felon. The trial lasted three days and the jury deliberated for approximately two hours.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Crisler, 55, was appointed as Sheriff of Hinds County in August 2021. In September, October, and November 2021, Crisler solicited and accepted $9,500 in cash bribes in exchange for agreeing to provide information concerning criminal investigations to the convicted felon who paid the bribes, protect a jailed family member of that felon by moving that family member to a safer place within the Hinds County Jail, and award employment with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office to the felon. Crisler also gave ammunition to that same convicted felon, knowing that the person was a convicted felon. It is against federal law for a public official to solicit or accept bribes. It is also against federal law to provide firearm ammunition to a known convicted felon.
Crisler is scheduled for sentencing on February 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each offense. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“This conviction should serve as notice to public officials in Mississippi who sell their office in exchange for bribes that the Department of Justice will work to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee.
“The steadfast commitment of the FBI and the USAO in protecting the community has been exemplified with the conviction of Mr. Crisler,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff. “Public officials accepting bribes and violating the public’s trust will continue to be aggressively investigated by the FBI.”
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Herbert S. Carraway and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Sues Mississippi State Senate for Race DiscriminationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the Mississippi State Senate for discriminating against a Black former staff attorney in its Legislative Services Office (LSO). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the Senate paid her about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).
Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in compensation and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.
“Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Black employee at issue in this lawsuit was paid about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of federal law. This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.”
The department alleges in the complaint that the Senate discriminated against Kristie Metcalfe by paying her significantly less than every other LSO attorney, all of whom were white. The complaint further alleges that Ms. Metcalfe and these other attorneys had substantially the same job responsibilities and yet she was paid less than these attorneys throughout her eight-year tenure. The LSO is a non-partisan office that provides legal services, such as drafting bills, for all members of the Senate. In the 34 years prior to Ms. Metcalfe’s hire, the LSO employed only white attorneys.
The complaint alleges the pay gap between Ms. Metcalfe and her white colleagues began when she was hired and was perpetuated in several additional discriminatory pay actions. In 2011, Ms. Metcalfe was paid a starting salary significantly lower than any LSO attorney in over 30 years. Just one month after her hire, every attorney but Ms. Metcalfe was given a substantial raise, further widening the pay gap and leaving her with a salary less than half of what her white colleagues were earning. In the following years, the Senate consistently paid Ms. Metcalfe many times less than her white colleagues. Finally, near the end of Ms. Metcalfe’s tenure, the Senate hired a white attorney with no previous legislative experience and a similar number of years of legal experience as Ms. Metcalfe at a salary significantly higher than Ms. Metcalfe’s. At a meeting with Senate officials responsible for setting LSO salaries, Ms. Metcalfe complained about the pay disparity with the new hire, but the Senate denied her request for comparable pay.
Through this lawsuit, the department is seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Ms. Metcalfe, in addition to injunctive and other appropriate relief.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Jackson Area Office investigated and attempted to resolve Ms. Metcalfe’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Justice Department for litigation. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the Employment Litigation Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/ and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
Trial Attorneys Louis Whitsett and Young Choi of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Graves III for the Southern District of Mississippi are handling the case.
Justice Department Sues Mississippi State Senate for Race DiscriminationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the Mississippi State Senate for discriminating against a Black former staff attorney in its Legislative Services Office (LSO). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the Senate paid her about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).
Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in compensation and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.
“Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Black employee at issue in this lawsuit was paid about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of federal law. This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.”
The department alleges in the complaint that the Senate discriminated against Kristie Metcalfe by paying her significantly less than every other LSO attorney, all of whom were white. The complaint further alleges that Ms. Metcalfe and these other attorneys had substantially the same job responsibilities and yet she was paid less than these attorneys throughout her eight-year tenure. The LSO is a non-partisan office that provides legal services, such as drafting bills, for all members of the Senate. In the 34 years prior to Ms. Metcalfe’s hire, the LSO employed only white attorneys.
The complaint alleges the pay gap between Ms. Metcalfe and her white colleagues began when she was hired and was perpetuated in several additional discriminatory pay actions. In 2011, Ms. Metcalfe was paid a starting salary significantly lower than any LSO attorney in over 30 years. Just one month after her hire, every attorney but Ms. Metcalfe was given a substantial raise, further widening the pay gap and leaving her with a salary less than half of what her white colleagues were earning. In the following years, the Senate consistently paid Ms. Metcalfe many times less than her white colleagues. Finally, near the end of Ms. Metcalfe’s tenure, the Senate hired a white attorney with no previous legislative experience and a similar number of years of legal experience as Ms. Metcalfe at a salary significantly higher than Ms. Metcalfe’s. At a meeting with Senate officials responsible for setting LSO salaries, Ms. Metcalfe complained about the pay disparity with the new hire, but the Senate denied her request for comparable pay.
Through this lawsuit, the department is seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Ms. Metcalfe, in addition to injunctive and other appropriate relief.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Jackson Area Office investigated and attempted to resolve Ms. Metcalfe’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Justice Department for litigation. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the Employment Litigation Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/ and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
Trial Attorneys Louis Whitsett and Young Choi of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Graves III for the Southern District of Mississippi are handling the case.
Mississippi District Attorney, Mayor of Jackson, and Jackson City Council Member Charged with Bribery and Other OffensesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Mississippi charging Hinds County District Attorney, Jody E. Owens II, 43; Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 41; and former President and current member of the Jackson City Council, Aaron Banks, 47, all of Jackson, with participating in a bribery scheme to enrich themselves. Owens, Lumumba, and Banks are scheduled to make their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac in Jackson.
“The indictment alleges that Jackson’s mayor, the district attorney in Jackson, and members of Jackson’s city council conspired to accept bribes in exchange for official acts benefiting purported real estate developers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Officials who abuse their positions of authority to enrich themselves undermine public confidence in government. The Justice Department is committed to restoring that confidence by working with its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute public corruption.”
“Leaders who are awarded the public’s trust should be focusing on the needs of the Jackson community, not looking to line their own pockets and benefit themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “As alleged in the indictment, from campaign donations generated through laundered money to stacks of cash bribes, the members of this conspiracy allegedly offered and accepted bribes in exchange for official acts. The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting bribery and other forms of public corruption.”
“Our citizens are entitled to decisions based on the best interests of the public, not corrupt public officials,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “No one is above the law, and the FBI is committed to ensuring that those who cross the line and violate the public’s trust are held accountable for their unlawful actions.”
As alleged in the indictment, between approximately October 2023 and May 2024, Owens facilitated bribe payments to public officials in Jackson on behalf of two FBI undercover employees posing as real estate developers (the Developers) in exchange for at least $115,000 and the promise of future financial benefit. Owens instructed the Developers that, for their project to succeed, they needed to secure the support of certain public officials in Jackson through bribery. Those public officials included Mayor Lumumba, Councilman Banks, and former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee. Owens instructed the Developers how much, where, and when to bribe those officials.
As part of the scheme, Mayor Lumumba accepted a bribe payment of $50,000 from the Developers in exchange for exerting his influence and taking official action relating to the Developers’ proposed project in downtown Jackson. As directed by Owens and Lumumba, the bribe payments were concealed as five $10,000 campaign-donation checks from third-party entities and individuals, including Owens. Lumumba then laundered that money through his campaign account before cashing out a portion of the payment.
The indictment also alleges that, as part of the scheme, Councilman Banks solicited a $50,000 bribe in exchange for his votes in support of the Developers’ proposed project in downtown Jackson. Banks accepted an initial payment of $10,000 in cash, along with a promise to provide funding for the employment of a family member and a protective detail service.
As part of the scheme, former Councilwoman Lee allegedly accepted a $10,000 debt repayment, $3,000 in cash, and a shopping trip worth approximately $6,000 in luxury goods in exchange for her votes in support of the Developers’ proposed development project in downtown Jackson.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that, on May 22, an FBI agent approached Owens, identified himself as an FBI agent, and asked Owens about his involvement in the bribery scheme. During the interview, Owens made material false statements to the FBI agent.
Owens is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering, and, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge; three counts of federal program bribery, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each charge; one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of unlawful activity, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; one count of honest services wire fraud, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; one count of money laundering, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; and one count of lying to federal officers, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge.
Lumumba is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering, and, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge; one count of federal program bribery, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the charge; one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of unlawful activity, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; one count of honest services wire fraud, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; and one count of money laundering, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge.
Banks is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering, and, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge, and one count of federal program bribery, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Nicholas W. Cannon and Madison H. Mumma of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles W. Kirkham and Kimberly T. Purdie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mississippi District Attorney, Mayor of Jackson, and Jackson City Council Member Charged with Bribery and Other OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Mississippi charging Hinds County District Attorney, Jody E. Owens II, 43; Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 41; and former President and current member of the Jackson City Council, Aaron Banks, 47, all of Jackson, with participating in a bribery scheme to enrich themselves. Owens, Lumumba, and Banks are scheduled to make their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac in Jackson.
“The indictment alleges that Jackson’s mayor, the district attorney in Jackson, and members of Jackson’s city council conspired to accept bribes in exchange for official acts benefiting purported real estate developers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Officials who abuse their positions of authority to enrich themselves undermine public confidence in government. The Justice Department is committed to restoring that confidence by working with its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute public corruption.”
“Leaders who are awarded the public’s trust should be focusing on the needs of the Jackson community, not looking to line their own pockets and benefit themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “As alleged in the indictment, from campaign donations generated through laundered money to stacks of cash bribes, the members of this conspiracy allegedly offered and accepted bribes in exchange for official acts. The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting bribery and other forms of public corruption.”
“Our citizens are entitled to decisions based on the best interests of the public, not corrupt public officials,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “No one is above the law, and the FBI is committed to ensuring that those who cross the line and violate the public’s trust are held accountable for their unlawful actions.”
As alleged in the indictment, between approximately October 2023 and May 2024, Owens facilitated bribe payments to public officials in Jackson on behalf of two FBI undercover employees posing as real estate developers (the Developers) in exchange for at least $115,000 and the promise of future financial benefit. Owens instructed the Developers that, for their project to succeed, they needed to secure the support of certain public officials in Jackson through bribery. Those public officials included Mayor Lumumba, Councilman Banks, and former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee. Owens instructed the Developers how much, where, and when to bribe those officials.
As part of the scheme, Mayor Lumumba accepted a bribe payment of $50,000 from the Developers in exchange for exerting his influence and taking official action relating to the Developers’ proposed project in downtown Jackson. As directed by Owens and Lumumba, the bribe payments were concealed as five $10,000 campaign-donation checks from third-party entities and individuals, including Owens. Lumumba then laundered that money through his campaign account before cashing out a portion of the payment.
The indictment also alleges that, as part of the scheme, Councilman Banks solicited a $50,000 bribe in exchange for his votes in support of the Developers’ proposed project in downtown Jackson. Banks accepted an initial payment of $10,000 in cash, along with a promise to provide funding for the employment of a family member and a protective detail service.
As part of the scheme, former Councilwoman Lee allegedly accepted a $10,000 debt repayment, $3,000 in cash, and a shopping trip worth approximately $6,000 in luxury goods in exchange for her votes in support of the Developers’ proposed development project in downtown Jackson.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that, on May 22, an FBI agent approached Owens, identified himself as an FBI agent, and asked Owens about his involvement in the bribery scheme. During the interview, Owens made material false statements to the FBI agent.
Owens is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering, and, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge; three counts of federal program bribery, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each charge; one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of unlawful activity, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; one count of honest services wire fraud, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; one count of money laundering, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; and one count of lying to federal officers, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge.
Lumumba is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering, and, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge; one count of federal program bribery, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the charge; one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of unlawful activity, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; one count of honest services wire fraud, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge; and one count of money laundering, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charge.
Banks is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering, and, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge, and one count of federal program bribery, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Nicholas W. Cannon and Madison H. Mumma of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles W. Kirkham and Kimberly T. Purdie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
owens_et_al._indictment_filed.pdfTucker Man Sentenced for Enticement of a Minor on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Tucker man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, Antonio Deron Wallace, 36, used the internet to entice a minor under the age of sixteen to engage in sexual activity. Wallace was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2021, and pled guilty in March of 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.
Canton Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Canton man was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on January 2, 2024, Damonik Robinson, 23, was found in possession of a firearm after Capitol Police conducted a traffic stop on Madison Street near Fortification Street in Jackson. There were four firearms found in the vehicle, three of which were equipped with attached machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches,” which convert semi-automatic handguns to automatic weapons. At the time of this possession, Robinson already had a previous felony conviction for drug and gun possession. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Robinson was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024. He pled guilty on July 18, 2024, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. The rapid fire of firearms converted to machineguns presents a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement. According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there was a 570% increase in the number of machinegun conversion devices taken into ATF custody between 2017 and 2021.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF and Capitol Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Crystal Springs Man Sentenced to over 9 Years in Prison for Brandishing a Firearm During a Carjacking in JacksonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Crystal Springs man was sentenced today to 110 months in prison for brandishing a firearm while carjacking a woman in front of her home in Jackson.
According to court documents, Christopher Lawrence Murray, 31, brandished a pistol during a carjacking in the Jackson area. In May of 2021, Murray and another man approached a woman sitting in her car in front of her home. Working in tandem, both men pointed pistols at the woman and demanded she hand over her cellular phone and the keys to her car. The woman, at gunpoint, complied with the demands and the men left in the woman’s car.
Murray was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 6, 2023, and he pled guilty on July 31, 2024, to brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
In an effort to focus resources on carjacking in Jackson, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jackson Police Department and the Capitol Police Department formed a carjacking task force in April of 2024. In keeping with the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, the task force represents a strategic enforcement priority for the department, focusing federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun after High Speed Chase and Collision with a Train CarRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun.
Johnny Ragsdale, 20, pled guilty on October 24, 2024 in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, Ragsdale was found in possession of an illegal machinegun after an attempted traffic stop on a vehicle in Jackson. Ragsdale, the driver, failed to yield to law enforcement and led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase. The chase ended after Ragsdale collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol was recovered from the vehicle, and a machinegun conversion device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. The rapid fire of firearms converted to machineguns presents a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement. According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there was a 570% increase in the number of machinegun conversion devices taken into ATF custody between 2017 and 2021.
Ragsdale is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2025, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The ATF and the Capitol Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber S. Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sixteenth Defendant Sentenced for Prison Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Long Beach, Mississippi man was sentenced to 99 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Johnson Tran, 47, was sentenced on October 17, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in 2018, agents with the DEA received information from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that drug laced letters and greeting cards were being sent to inmates in the Bureau of Prisons from the Southern District of Mississippi. The drug laced letters and cards were intercepted at prisons in Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
DEA and BOP officials were able to determine that inmates were ordering the drug laced letters and cards from Johnson Tran via prison email accounts and jail calls. The inmates would typically order the drugs using coded language. The letters or greeting cards were laced with FUB-AMB and 5F-MDMB-PICA, which are Schedule I controlled substances and synthetic cannabinoids. Many of them were sent through the postal service in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Tran’s base of operation was Harrison County, Mississippi.
Agents were also able to determine through the review of financial records that Tran would ultimately receive payment for the drugs that he sent into prison via U.S. Department of Treasury checks drawn from the inmate’s prison accounts and/or peer-to-peer money transfers from associates or family members of the inmates. When Tran’s associates would receive funds on Tran’s behalf, Tran would give them a portion of the funds they received as payment for their services.
In addition to Johnson Tran, fifteen other defendants have been sentenced in the case:
Chaze Lowery and William Hernandez previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Lowery was sentenced to 48 months in prison and Hernandez was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
Jermaine Jones pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 62 months imprisonment.
Jorge Pena, Trae Short, Bobby Huneycutt, Clarence Plato, Ryan Douglas, Salomon Ayala, Stanley Spriggs, Corderius Trammell, Jonathan Estrada, Marcus Thames, and Allen Butler all pled guilty to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by conspiring to introduce contraband to a federal correctional facility. Their sentences ranged from time served to 52 months in prison.
Ryan Schmittaur pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 4 years of probation and a $3,000.00 fine.
A seventeenth defendant, Ashley Magee, pled guilty to engaging in an unlicensed money transmission business by accepting and transferring money on behalf of Johnson Tran and the inmates. She will be sentenced on January 7, 2025, and faces a maximum of 5 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Prisons.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Election Day Efforts for the November 2024 General ElectionRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - United States Attorney Todd Gee announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Bert Carraway and Samuel Goff will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSAs Carraway and Goff have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the Southern District of Mississippi, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Gee said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Gee stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Bert Carraway and Samuel Goff will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. They can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 601-973-2826 or 601-973-2855.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 601-948-5000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Gee said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty in Car Dealership Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Louisiana man pled guilty today to two counts of conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to use the stolen identity of others to purchase expensive vehicles in the Jackson, Mississippi metro area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately May 2023 through June 13, 2023, Paul Anthony Robinson, 33, of New Orleans, and his coconspirators, obtained the identity information of credit-worthy individuals, created false identity documents in the names of those individuals, then posed as those individuals at automotive dealerships in order to apply for vehicle financing. Robinson and his coconspirators filled out credit applications and purchased or attempted to purchase expensive vehicles from dealerships in the Jackson metro area. The conspirators fraudulently purchased two vehicles worth a total of more than $127,000, and had plans to fraudulently obtain more vehicles before law enforcement intervened.
Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Robinson’s coconspirators, Sarah Elizabeth Calderon, Joshanique Elouise Bailey, David L. Jones, Jr., and Anna Waldei, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Their cases are still pending trial. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Neshoba County Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Shooting a Tribal Member on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man was sentenced to 138 months in federal prison for assault with intent to do bodily harm and use of a firearm during a crime of violence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, in September 2022, Jessie James Clay, Jr., 42, used a handgun to shoot a tribal member, causing serious bodily injury, at a residence in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Clay was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023, and he pled guilty on July 18, 2024.
United States Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Simpson County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Using Excessive Force Against a Handcuffed ArresteeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Simpson County Sheriff’s Deputy appeared for an arraignment today following an Indictment filed in Jackson on criminal charges related to his use of excessive force against an arrestee.
According to court documents, Adrian Durr, 43, of Magee, used excessive force against an arrestee in the custody of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office. The Indictment alleges that while the arrestee was handcuffed to a bench that was bolted to the floor and shackled with leg irons on his ankles, Durr struck the arrestee in the head with the handgrip of his taser. After striking the arrestee with his taser, Durr kicked the arrestee in the head rendering him unconscious. At all times, the arrestee was handcuffed and hobbled with leg irons on his ankles.
“Law enforcement officers in Mississippi and throughout the nation are required to take care of the safety and welfare of the people they arrest,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “Unlawful physical assaults on arrestees are federal crimes that the Justice Department will prosecute.”
“Our citizens deserve credible law enforcement to safeguard the community from crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff. “The actions of Mr. Durr significantly deprived the citizens of that protection and eroded the trust earned each day by honest law enforcement officers throughout the nation. The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating those who misuse their authority and violate individual’s rights in the execution of their sworn duties.”
Durr is charged by Indictment with Deprivation of Civil Rights Under Color of Law. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.
Vicksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Marquette Cornell McCroy, 42, was found in possession of a firearm in Vicksburg following a traffic stop. McCroy, who was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, had previously been convicted of a felony and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
McCroy threw the firearm on the ground as he attempted to flee the vehicle on foot.
McCroy is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2025, 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.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Vicksburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Pelahatchie Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pelahatchie man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Brad O’Neal Lee, 41, sold a firearm to a pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was alerted to the sale. Lee is a convicted felon, and is therefore prohibited by federal law from possessing any firearms or ammunition. Lee’s previous felony convictions are for residential burglary, false pretense, and uttering a forgery, for which he served several years in state prison.
Lee will be sentenced on February 5, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mississippi Man Charged in Sextortion Scheme Involving more than 40 VictimsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was arrested today in Jackson on federal charges relating to an alleged “sextortion” scheme that targeted multiple victims, including minors.
According to a nine-count indictment unsealed this week, Marquez Cameron Jones Weston, 22, allegedly operated a “sextortion” scheme in which he engaged in cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion, attempted production of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography over the internet. As part of the scheme charged in the indictment, Weston attempted to and did extort money and nude and sexually explicit photographic images from at least 47 different identified female individuals over the internet, with more unidentified. Several of these females were minors. The indictment alleges Weston committed these crimes from July 2023 through February 2024.
“We are seeing a troubling increase throughout the nation of ‘sextortion’ as criminals, like this defendant, use information they gain through on-line communications, hacking, or other means to blackmail juveniles and other victims into giving them pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “I encourage parents to be aware of who their children are communicating with on-line, and all internet users to be cautious about sharing their personal information on-line.”
“Today’s arrest demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the FBI, USAO and our law enforcement partners in protecting our communities from being victimized by sextortion,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff. “Marquez Cameron Jones Weston’s deliberate actions in targeting the innocence of our youth will not be tolerated. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate and bring predatory individuals, like Mr. Weston, to justice.”
Weston made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew S. Harris of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
In February, a federal grand jury named Weston in a separate indictment charging him with possession of child pornography. If convicted of that charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Sam Houston State University Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:
- Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
- Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
- Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
- Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
- Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
- Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone.
If you, your child, or someone you know is being exploited via sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or report it online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Additional resources can found at Sextortion and Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI. If you believe you are a victim in this particular case, please also contact the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee recently recorded an Internet Safety PSA warning about the dangers of online predators.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Plead Guilty to Possession with Intent to Spend Counterfeit Currency on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Three defendants pled guilty to possession with intent to spend counterfeit currency in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
According to court documents, in March of 2024, Christopher Nolan, 39, Astra High, 43, both of Philadelphia, and Bailey Gonzales, 25, of Pascagoula, possessed with intent to spend counterfeit currency in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Gonzales and High pled guilty in U.S. District Court today. Nolan pled guilty on September 12, 2024.
The three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2025, and they each face a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis of the U.S. Secret Service made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the Choctaw Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.