Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Heidelberg Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Aaron Grant Willis, 25, of Heidelberg, Mississippi, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was sentenced on February 5, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 18 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for sexual contact with a minor under the age of twelve, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
Willis was also ordered to pay a $5,000.00 fine and register as a sex offender. The crime occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.
Former Hattiesburg Public Works General Manager Pleads Guilty to Federal Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - John T. "Tim" Pittman, 54, a former Public Works General Manager for the City of Hattiesburg, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy involving a kickback scheme which defrauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrick Munday with the USDA Office of Inspector General.
Pittman’s father, T.L. Pittman, Jr., owns multiple apartment complexes throughout the State of Mississippi which were financed through the USDA. T.L. Pittman, Jr., through his company Century Management, Inc., hired a contractor to do work for one of his USDA-financed apartment complexes with the agreement that the contractor would kick back part of the contract to T.L. Pittman, Jr. Century Management then awarded various contracts to the contractor, who kicked back money to T.L. Pittman, Jr. and his son, John T. "Tim" Pittman for the awarding of such contracts.
Pittman will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett on May 18, 2015, at 1:45 p.m. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst is prosecuting the case.
“Operation Yeti ICE” Defendants Enter Guilty Pleas in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Seven individuals who were indicted as a result of DEA’s "Operation Yeti Ice" investigation have entered guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Dan Jordan III, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
AOperation Yeti Ice@ is an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. The drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompassed the states of California and Mississippi.
Jennifer Higgins McLemore, 35, of Pearl, pled guilty on January 28, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. She will be sentenced on April 21, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million.
Walter Pernillo, 42, of San Bernardino, California, pled guilty on January 28, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. He will be sentenced on April 21, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million.
Terry Garth, 35, of Newton, pled guilty on January 28, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. He will be sentenced on April 21, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison for the conspiracy charge, ten years in prison for the firearm charge, and a maximum fine of $1 million.
Steven Ochoa, 29, of San Bernardino, California, pled guilty on January 29, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He will be sentenced on April 20, 2015 and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.
Jennifer Toole Kidd, 30, of Newton, pled guilty on January 30, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She will be sentenced on April 20, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Jakeivia Fairley, 24, of San Bernardino, California, pled guilty on January 30, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She will be sentenced on April 20, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.
Beatrice Williams McEntee, 56, of Forest, pled guilty on February 2, 2015 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She will be sentenced on April 23, 2015 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.
This OCDETF operation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sherriff’s Office, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, Forest Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk is prosecuting the case.
The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Four Sentenced in Theft from Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – LaKeith Dentrell Smith, Damian O’Neil Towne, Theodore Dempsey Towne, and Princeton Scott Knox were sentenced on January 29, 2015 by Chief District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., in a case involving the theft of 46 firearms, including machine guns from a federal firearms licensee, announced U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Phillip Durham.
LaKeith Dentrell Smith, 21 of Pascagoula, pled guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $112,751.90
Damian O’Neil Towne, 25 of Gautier, pled guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $112,751.90.
Theodore Towne, 20 of Gulfport, pled guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $112,751.90.
Princeton Scott Knox, 34, of Gautier, pled guilty to misprision of a felony by not reporting the theft and acting to conceal the discovery of the crime. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
"This case illustrates the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels working together to get dangerous criminals off the streets and make our communities a safer place to live," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
"Burglary and theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers are considered to be a top investigative priority for ATF because these brazen acts are a precursor for future
violent crimes," stated ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Phillip Durham. "Let these harsh sentences be a warning for anyone considering this type of criminal behavior. ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping the community safe and will not rest until the crime is solved and the stolen firearms are recovered."
The case was investigated by the Moss Point Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss –Otis McGee, 31, of Choctaw, Mississippi, pled guilty on January 29, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate, to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. The crime occurred on the Tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. McGee will be sentenced on April 26, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon is prosecuting the case.
D’iberville Man Sentenced to Prison for Oil Spill Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Jason Richard Woodcock, 34, of D’Iberville, was sentenced on January 26, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Woodcock was also ordered to pay restitution to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) in the amount of $105,383.76 and to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) in the amount of $17,092.00.
The investigation revealed that Woodcock and co-conspirators filed fraudulent oil spill claims with the GCCF in support of Woodcock and other individuals’ fraudulent claims scheme for alleged lost earnings and profits as a result of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on or about April 20, 2010. Woodcock alleged loss of employment as a marketing representative at JW Consulting LLC in Gulfport and he conspired to submit other oil spill claims for other individuals from another non-existent company known as "Gulf South Seafood". Through mailings and wire transactions, the conspiracy resulted in the actual loss of $105,383.76, with the total intended loss to the GCCF being $420,816.88.
This case was investigated by special agents of the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
This case was also brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at
(866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at [email protected] or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Octavious Burkes-Palmer, 37, of Raleigh, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 51 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Burkes-Palmer was arrested by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office on November 13, 2013 after they responded to a 911 call concerning an attempted robbery. He was later indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty to the charge on January 26, 2015.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry L. Rushing
Local Attorney Pleads Guilty to Failing to File Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. -- Robert Harrison pled guilty on January 20, 2015 in U.S. District Court to one count of failing to file a tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and
Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation.
Harrison will be sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on April 2, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. in Jackson. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a $25,000 fine.
During tax year 2007, Mr. Harrison was an attorney who received in excess of $200,000 in gross income. For 2007, the requirement to file a federal income tax return for Head of Household filing status was $11,250, which would have required him to file a tax return. However, the defendant failed to file a tax return for tax year 2007.
"As we approach tax filing season, it is important for people to have confidence that when they file their tax returns and pay their taxes, their neighbors and co-workers are doing the same," stated Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jerome R. McDuffie, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. "Robert Harrison willfully disregarded his legal requirement to file tax returns and will ultimately face the consequences of his actions. It is my hope that Americans who file accurate, honest, and timely returns will be further assured that the government will hold accountable those individuals who blatantly disregard the law."
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Davis praised the efforts of special agents from the IRS – Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Helen Wall and Mike Hurst are prosecuting the case.
Former Usm Student Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - Miles Justin McNairy, 25, of Aberdeen, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on January 20, 2015 to 80 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special in Charge Donald Alway and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. Upon completion of his prison sentence, McNairy must register as a sex offender.
At the time of his arrest, McNairy was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He was charged with downloading and sharing images of child pornography which he had transported to Hattiesburg from his home in Aberdeen. He pled guilty to the charges on October 17, 2014.
"There is no more noble calling than protecting our children", said Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. "Cases like this one underscore our resolve to decrease the vulnerability of our youth to sexual exploitation. The success of this investigation and prosecution by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and the U. S. Attorney’s Office is evidenced by the significant sentence rendered against this subject. Partnerships among law enforcement agencies, such as this one between the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, have never been stronger. We work collectively as a team, and are dedicated to protecting Mississippi’s children."
"Cases like this one exemplify why we are glad to be a part of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, and shows how joining forces produces positive results," said Attorney General Jim Hood.
This case was investigated by FBI Child Exploitation Task Force which includes the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the University of Southern Mississippi Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May, 2006, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Through Project Safe Childhood, federal, state and local law enforcement officials have formed partnerships to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mississippi Army National Guard Captain Convicted of Defrauding the ArmyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - Jamie Jackson, 44, of Mendenhall, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, of six counts of theft of government funds and six counts of wire fraud for carrying out a scheme to defraud the Army out of recruitment incentive payments, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
The evidence presented at trial showed that in 2006 the National Guard Bureau instituted a recruiting program called the Guard Recruiter Assistance Program (GRAP) to incentivize current service members to tell their friends and family about the benefits of joining the National Guard. Soldiers who contacted potential recruits and connected them with a National Guard recruiter were eligible to receive up to $2,000 in incentive payments if their recruit joined the Guard and went to basic training.
Jackson, a Captain working at Camp Shelby, was not eligible to participate in GRAP because he was working full-time for the Guard. The evidence at trial showed that Jackson created a GRAP account in the name of his nephew, an enlisted Guardsman who was eligible for GRAP payments, and began entering the names of potential recruits into the GRAP system, as if his nephew was assisting them in their recruitment. The evidence showed that Jackson got the names and personal information of these potential recruits when he tutored them to help them pass the ASVAB military entrance exam. After the recruits passed the ASVAB and joined the Guard, the incentive payments were sent to a bank account Jackson controlled. Three of the recruits testified at trial that Jackson's nephew had not assisted in the recruiting. Two of the recruits had never met Jackson's nephew at all.
Jackson will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on April 9, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for one count of theft of government funds and up to one year in prison for each of the remaining five counts of theft of government funds. Additionally, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the six wire fraud counts, a fine of up to $250,000 per count, and a forfeiture judgment equal to the amount of money he illegally obtained. He will also be required to pay restitution to the Army.
The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Defense Criminal Investigation Service and the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Gilbert and Chris Wansley.
Adams County Correctional Facility Inmate Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss –Ricardo Gonzalez-Porras, a federal inmate from Mexico, pled guilty today, before U.S. Senior District Judge David C. Bramlette, III, to second degree murder, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, announced.
The offense occurred on May 20, 2012 at the Adams County Correctional Center. During the riot, several correctional officers were assaulted and one Correctional Officer (CO) died as a result of injuries he received during these assaults. Other COs were taken captive and held hostage for several hours by participants in the riot. Total damage to ACCC was estimated to be $1,305,142.00.
U.S. Senior District Judge David C. Bramlette, III will sentence Gonzalez-Porras on April 7, 2015. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pat Lemon and Jerry Rushing are prosecuting the case.
Former Chancery Judge and Nephew Sentenced for Federal Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. -- Joe Dale Walker, 61, a former chancery judge from Monticello, and his nephew Chad Teater, 42, of Magee, were each sentenced in federal court today to 5 months in prison followed by 5 months home confinement for federal obstruction of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special in Agent in Charge Donald Alway. In addition, the defendants will be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.
Beginning in 2010, Walker was the elected Chancellor for the Thirteenth Chancery Court District of Mississippi, covering Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith Counties. In June 2011, Walker directed the attorney he had appointed for a conservatorship to solicit bids from local contractors for the construction of a home for the ward. Five bids for construction of the home were obtained, including a bid from Walker’s nephew, Chad Teater doing business as C.T. Construction. Walker reviewed the bids in his chambers and, upon discovering that Teater’s bid was much lower than the other bids, Walker instructed Teater to raise his bid. Teater subsequently submitted another bid which was $23,500 more than his original bid but still lower than the other bids. Due to his nephew’s involvement as a bidder for the Newsome house, Walker transferred the case to another Chancellor for the limited purpose of accepting and approving bids for the construction of the Newsome home. After signing an order awarding the contract to Teater, the case was transferred back to Walker.
Prior to August 7, 2013, a grand jury subpoena was served upon a witness to appear before a Federal Grand Jury and to bring any and all documents relating to the Conservatorship. On August 7, 2013, Walker met with the witness and was informed of the Federal Grand Jury subpoena. During this meeting, Walker and the witness discussed the original bid from Teater, the fact that it was lower than the other bids and that Walker had instructed the witness to tell Teater to raise his bid. Walker also asked the witness about the original bid and any existing copies. Walker then told the witness that Teater’s original bid needed to be "somewhere else" in response to the Federal Grand Jury subpoena. When interviewed by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on March 25, 2014, Walker denied ever talking with the witness about two bids submitted by Teater and denied ever telling the witness to get rid of the bid. Teater likewise was subpoenaed to the federal grand jury, where he proceeded to lie about the incident, and he subsequently lied to FBI agents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
Former Harrison County Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit BriberyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Harrison County Supervisor Kim Savant, 65, of Gulfport, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with his role as a board member of the Harrison County Utility Authority, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie with IRS Criminal Investigation.
A criminal Bill of Information was filed against Savant on November 14, 2014, charging him with conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden on March 26, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.
From January, 2011, through January, 2013, Savant was a Supervisor for Harrison County, Mississippi, and was a member of the board of the Harrison County Utility Authority (“HCUA”). The HCUA was responsible for managing water, wastewater, storm water and solid waste services in Harrison County, among other things. During this period of time, Savant conspired with another person to commit bribery, that is, Savant performed official actions such as voting for the awarding of HCUA contracts, payments, emergency work and other work worth millions of dollars to a particular company in exchange for Savant receiving $1,500.00 cash per month from a representative of that company.
“When public officials turn to financial gain in exchange for official acts, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “Public corruption, particularly among our elected officials, undermines the public’s confidence in our system of government. I thank the Assistant U. S. Attorneys, FBI, and IRS - Criminal Investigation for their efforts in the investigation and prosecution of this case.”
Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated: “All those entrusted to serve the public, whether appointed or elected, should be held to the very highest standards of fiscal responsibility and integrity. It is vitally important that federal funds go toward their intended use and the execution of the mission-critical business. IRS - Criminal Investigation will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in the investigation and potential prosecution of individuals involved in program fraud and the misuse of public monies.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS - Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst is prosecuting the case.Gautier Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Firearms Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss –Aubrey Knox, 35, of Gautier, was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release in a case involving the theft of 46 firearms, including machine guns, from a federal firearms licensee, U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
Knox entered a guilty plea on September 24, 2014, to conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States for his role in purchasing six of the stolen firearms.
This case was investigated by the Moss Point Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Embezzle and Commit Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – Jerry Wayne Woodland, 52, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to steal food and food-related items from the Forrest County Detention Center and conspiracy to commit mail fraud to cover it up, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Don Alway.
Woodland, a former kitchen employee with the Forrest County Detention Center, was charged in a Criminal Information, filed on November 24, 2014, with conspiracy to steal over $5,000 worth of items from a local governmental agency and to commit mail fraud. Woodland worked for the Detention Center from at least 2002 through 2014. During that time, he conspired with others to embezzle food or food-related items from the jail by transporting or having such items transported to the homes or businesses of Woodland or his co-conspirators.
Woodland and others also conspired to commit mail fraud in order to accomplish their theft by ordering food from various vendors and concealing the purchase of the food by drafting and submitting Forrest County purchase requisition forms that contained fraudulent entries hiding the items. As a result, invoices were mailed and payments were made for the stolen food.
Woodland will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on March 9, 2015 at 10:15 a.m. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst is prosecuting the case.Ridgeland Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – William Marshall Wolfe, 45, of Ridgeland, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to the fraudulent transfer of approximately $1.5 million in real property from the bankruptcy estate of Steadivest, LLC, announced U. S. Attorney, Gregory K. Davis, Acting U. S. Trustee Henry G. Hobbs, Jr. of Region 5, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie, and Inspector in Charge Robert B. Wemyss of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service.
William Marshall Wolfe placed Steadivest, LLC, in bankruptcy in the Southern District of Mississippi on March 23, 2009. On the eve of bankruptcy, Wolfe, as owner and managing officer of Steadivest, LLC, fraudulently transferred real property belonging to Steadivest, LLC, or its related entities, to another company, which he managed and solicited investors, in order to keep the properties from the bankruptcy estate, all in violation of Sections 152(7), Title 18, United States Code.
Wolfe will be sentenced on March 3, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The U. S. Trustee referred this matter to the U. S. Attorney for prosecution. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the U.S. Trustee.
Two Gulfport Men Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Postal Service EquipmentRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – John Wendell Boyles, 51, of Gulfport, and his son, Nicholas Alan Boyles, 24, also of Gulfport, were sentenced in federal court this week pursuant to their earlier plea of guilty to the charge of conspiracy to convert Postal Service property to their own use and unlawfully selling the property over a two-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, and Inspector-in-Charge Robert B. Wemyss of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
From approximately February, 2011, to February, 2013, John Wendell Boyles and Nicholas Boyles devised a scheme to convert Postal Service equipment to their own use and sell the equipment for scrap metal. As a part of their scheme, the Boyles stole Over-The-Road (OTR) Containers, which are made primarily of aluminum, cut them apart and sold the pieces as scrap. OTR containers are used by the Postal Service to organize and carry mail on freight trucks between Post Offices and Postal Distribution Centers.
United States District Judge Sul Ozerden sentenced John Wendell Boyles to 57 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Nicholas Alan Boyles was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Both were sentenced to pay restitution to the U.S. Postal Service in the amount of $2,739,842.00. Additionally, both defendants were ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $242,554.47.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Postal Inspector Doug Wilson was the lead investigator and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case. U.S. Attorney Davis commended the Postal Inspection Service for its diligent work in the investigation of this matter.
Three Jefferson Davis County Men Sentenced to Life in Prison for Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – Allen Haralson, 61, of Hattiesburg, a former kitchen supervisor for the Forrest County Detention Center, pled guilty to conspiracy to steal food and food-related items from the Forrest County Detention Center and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Don Alway.
A Criminal Information was filed against Haralson on November 18, 2014, charging him with conspiracy to steal over $5,000 worth of items from a local governmental agency and to commit mail fraud. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Haralson will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on February 5, 2015 in Hattiesburg.
Haralson was employed as the kitchen supervisor for the Forrest County Detention Center from at least 2002 through 2014. During that time, he conspired with others to embezzle food or food-related items from the jail by transporting or having such items transported to the homes or businesses of Haralson or his co-conspirators.
Haralson and others also conspired to commit mail fraud in order to carry out their scheme by drafting and submitting Forrest County purchase requisition forms that contained fraudulent entries hiding various stolen food items.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst is prosecuting the case.Three Jefferson Davis County Men Sentenced to Life in Prison for Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - Kentorre D. Hall a/k/a Toto, Roger Randale Jones a/k/a Hitman, and Martel Torres Barnes a/k/a Marty Mar, were each sentenced to life in prison plus five years by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in Hattiesburg today, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Phillip Durham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Each of the defendants was also ordered to pay a fine of $75,000.
Hall, 31, a quadriplegic from Prentiss, Jones, 27, also of Prentiss, and Barnes, 23, of Bassfield, were each convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine; maintaining a residence to manufacture, store or distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess and use firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the District Attorney’s Office of the 15th Circuit Court District, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams.Commissioner of Mississippi Department of Corrections and Local Businessman Indicted by Federal Grand JuryRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Christopher B. Epps, former Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, and Cecil McCrory, a former Mississippi legislator, former Justice Court Judge, former Chairman of the Rankin County School Board, and a local businessman, were arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on a 49-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss, and Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering.
CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE INDICTMENT:
Epps and McCrory were charged in the indictment with:
COUNTS
CHARGE
PRISON
FINE
SUPERVISED RELEASE
1
Honest Services
Wire Fraud Conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1349
20 years
$250,000
3 years
2-13
(Epps only)
Bribery
18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(B)
10 years
$250,000
3 years
14-22
(McCrory only)
Bribery
18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(2)
10 years
$250,000
3 years
23
Money Laundering Conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)
20 years
greater of twice the value of property involved or $500,000
3 years
24-27
Honest Services
Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346
20 years
$250,000
3 years
Epps was also individually charged in the indictment with:
COUNTS
CHARGE
PRISON
FINE
SUPERVISED RELEASE
28-41
Illegal Structuring of
Financial Transactions
31 U.S.C. § 5324(a)(3)
5 years
$250,000
3 years
42-43
Money Laundering
18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i)
20 years
greater of twice the value of property involved or $500,000
3 years
44-49
Filing False Tax Returns
26 U.S.C. § 7206(2)
3 years
$100,000
1 year
FACTS OF THE CASE:
According to the indictment, from 2007 through March 2014, McCrory gave Epps bribes and kickbacks in exchange for Epps awarding or directing the award of MDOC contracts, leases, or work to McCrory’s companies or to companies employing McCrory as a consultant. McCrory secretly paid Epps either in cash, through checks paying off Epps’s home mortgage, through wire transfers paying the loan on Epps’s beach condominium, or through wire transfers to investment accounts owned by Epps. Epps illegally structured the deposits of cash received from McCrory into Epps’s various bank accounts, or used such cash to purchase cashier’s checks, all in amounts less than $10,000. This structuring alone reached almost $1 million from January 2008 through June 2014. Epps further concealed these crimes by filing false tax returns from 2008 through 2013, whereby he failed to report such income on his tax returns.
In addition, the government has placed a lien on and is seeking to forfeit Epps’s home in Flowood, Mississippi, and his condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The government also seized Epps’s 2010 Mercedes Benz S550 and 2007 Mercedes Benz S65 V12 AMG, as well as almost $1 million in cash from various bank and investment accounts controlled by Epps.
Harold Brittain, the Acting U.S. Attorney in this case, stated:
"The abuse of power and position by public officials has plagued our state for many years. Our tolerance for public corruption is zero. We will hold accountable under the law everyone who bears the responsibility of public service and sells the trust that has been bestowed upon them. We will not tolerate such fraud and abuses by public officials that have cost our citizens so dearly."
"By statute, the FBI is charged with the investigation of public officials alleged to abuse their positions for private gain," stated Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. "This remains a top priority. Mississippi has the right to expect honest, unbiased service and representation from its elected and/or appointed officials at all levels of government. The FBI will continue to work in cooperation with its federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who would violate the public’s trust."
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan said: "Quite often crimes of greed include more than concealing income from the IRS. This case is a prime example of how Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation work with the FBI, the United States Attorney's Office and local law enforcement to bring individuals who have violated the
public’s trust to justice. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to stop those individuals who scheme and conspire with each other to benefit themselves to the detriment of other citizens and their government. This case should send a strong message to the citizens of Mississippi, and those engaged in public corruption, that there is no place to hide and justice will ultimately be served. "
"Postal Inspectors have a long history of relentlessly pursuing those who use the mail in schemes to defraud the public, and public corruption cases like this are particularly troubling," said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss. "We are grateful to have been able to lend our unique expertise to investigate the fraud and to track down assets the defendants allegedly attempted to steal from the American people."
The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor assisted with the investigation. Commenting on the indictments, State Auditor Stacey Pickering said, "It is a very sad day in Mississippi when two men with a history of public service are charged with blatantly committing crimes to increase their personal fortunes. They are accused of deliberately violating public trust while serving in positions of leadership. This case is a textbook example of state, local and federal officials working together to protect taxpayer money."
In announcing the indictment, Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss, and Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering praised the efforts of special agents with the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office, as well as the Leake County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Hurst, Darren LaMarca, and Scott Gilbert, as well as financial analyst Kim Mitchell, are prosecuting the case.
Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Carriere Man Sentenced to Thirty Years in Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – James Allen Myers, 67, of Carriere, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to serve a total of 360 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for one count of transportation of child pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans. Myers was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
Myers lived in North Port, Florida, until 2013 when he moved to Carriere, Mississippi. He was found to be in possession of numerous computer hard drives, CDs, and other computer devices which contained over 20,000 images and videos of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults. HSI agents examined the images and videos found on the electronic devices seized from Myers and were able to identify and locate three victims living in Florida who were depicted in the images found on Myers’ computers.
Myers was found guilty following a three day trial in August, 2014 in Gulfport. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation agents in both Mississippi and Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenda Haynes and Andrea Jones.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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U.S. Attorney Promises Vigilance in Protecting Right of Every American to VoteRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) Mike Hurst will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 4, 2014, general elections. AUSA Hurst has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (“DEO”) for the Southern District of Mississippi, and in that capacity, AUSA Hurst is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Davis said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
United States Attorney Davis said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted. The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, 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 acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them; under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 4, 2014, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Davis stated that AUSA/DEO Hurst will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 601-973-2880.
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’s Voting Section in Washington by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to [email protected] or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.Three Louisiana Residents Sentenced for Federal Lacey Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
GULFPORT, Miss. – Ronald W. Reine, 67, Brian R. Reine, 44, Bruce A. Swilley Jr., 27, and Omni Pinnacle, LLC, all of Slidell, Louisiana, were sentenced in federal court today on violations of the Lacey Act for importing white-tailed deer into Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Director of Investigations Robert T. Oliveri with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Brian Reine, who previously pled guilty to the felony offense of importing white-tailed deer, was sentenced to nine months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and two years of supervised release. His father, Ronald Reine, who previously pled guilty to the misdemeanor offense of importing white-tailed deer, was sentenced to three years of probation, six months home confinement and a $10,000 fine. Bruce Swilley, who previously pled guilty to the misdemeanor offense of importing white-tailed deer, was sentenced to three years of probation, nine months home confinement and a $10,000 fine. Their closely held corporation, Omni Pinnacle, LLC, pled guilty to a felony and was sentenced to five years of probation.
All defendants were ordered to pay restitution to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in the amount of $1.5 million. Each defendant forfeited all interest in the white-tailed deer, a truck and breeding facility.
In the latter part of 2012, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks initiated an investigation into the illegal importation of live white-tailed deer into the state of Mississippi. Omni Pinnacle, a corporation based in Slidell, Louisiana, along with Brian Reine, Ronald Reine and Bruce Swilley, Jr., all residents of Slidell, conspired to import the white-tailed deer onto their property in Lamar County and Pearl River County, Mississippi. From 2009-2012, at least nine shipments of white-tailed deer, with a value exceeding $100,000, were released onto their property known as Half Moon Ranch and Hunter’s Bluff.
Importing live white-tailed deer and falsifying records is a violation of state and federal law. Importing live white-tailed deer can introduce Chronic Wasting Disease into the native deer herds and bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis into livestock. In addition, the importation of white-tailed deer represents a great danger to Mississippi’s hunting heritage and to the $900 million economic benefit white-tailed deer provide to the state.
“The Department of Justice is committed to enforcing the Lacey Act and other federal laws to protect our wildlife resources,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “This office will continue to work closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to enforce the Lacey Act. It is my hope that the $1.5 Million payment in restitution will help mitigate any damage done by these defendants and send a strong message that the illegal importation of white tail deer into our State will not be tolerated.”
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago stated, “We take our mission working with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the citizens of Mississippi in conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats very seriously. We will continue working vigorously investigating those who choose to violate state and federal laws.”
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Director of Investigations Robert T. Oliveri commented, “The importation of white-tailed deer into Mississippi is a violation of both state and federal law and that this sentence should act as a deterrent to others who might consider importing white-tailed deer into the state.”
This case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Division Chief Darren LaMarca.
Three Sentenced in Fraudulent Mississippi Driver’s License CaseRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss – Yolanda Jean Perkins, 48, of Laurel, a former driver’s license examiner for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; Lorena Gomez, 33, of Laurel; and Elmer Enrique Martinez-Velasquez a/k/a Jose Martell Rivera, 32, an illegal alien from Mexico residing in Albertville, Alabama, were sentenced in U.S. District Court on October 27, 2014 for conspiracy to commit ID theft, United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Perkins was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $5000 fine and $2500 in restitution. Perkins was involved in the sale of 167 fraudulent driver’s licenses or ID cards.
Gomez was sentenced to 39 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $5000 fine and $2500 in restitution.
Martinez-Velasquez was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and $2500 in restitution. He was further ordered to be turned over to immigration authorities after his term of imprisonment for possible deportation.
The defendants were ordered to forfeit $4,928 in U.S. currency and one HP Laptop computer. A money judgment in the amount of $28,850 was also ordered.
“HSI will continue to work with MBI and our other law enforcement partners to investigate these kinds of cases and ensure that our national security is not compromised by illegal activities like this,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond Parmer with Homeland Security Investigations. Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
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U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis Speaks to Middle School Students in Hattiesburg During National Bullying Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss – U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Williams spoke to students at N.R. Burger Middle School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on October 16 and 17 as a part of the school’s recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month. The officials presented the Southern District of Mississippi’s Legal Enrichment and Decision Making (LEAD) Program. They spoke to the 6th and 7th grade students about the importance of obtaining an education and making good choices which will put students on the path to success. They also spoke to students about bullying, gang avoidance, the dangers of illegal drug abuse, and safely using the internet and social media.
U. S. Attorney Davis said, “The reason we are here today is to emphasize the importance of education and the opportunities it provides for students. The decisions made while in school can make a tremendous difference in their lives as well as their peers.”
Davis continued, “One of my primary goals as a prosecutor is to prevent crimes from happening in the first place. Educating students about the social and legal consequences of their decisions is essential to reducing negative behavior and making our communities safe,” U.S. Attorney Davis said.
Throughout the 2014-2015 school year, US Attorney Davis and the Assistant United States Attorneys of the Southern District of Mississippi will be traveling to middle and high schools throughout the Southern District of Mississippi to present the LEAD program. School districts that are interested in having the program presented should contact Sheila Wilbanks with the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 601-965-4480.
Canton and Gulfport Awarded Doj Hiring Grants to Help Reduce Violence and Protect SchoolsRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Keith Anthony Kiel, 38, of Mobile, Alabama, and Randy Laverne Marshall, 34, of Pritchard, Alabama, were sentenced on October 14, 2014 by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. for a series of eight bank robberies across the Southeast, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.
Kiel was sentenced to a 67 years in federal prison and Marshall was sentenced to 142 years in federal prison. In addition to their prison sentences, Kiel was ordered to pay $205,018.50 in restitution to victims and $1,100.00 in special assessments and Marshall was ordered to pay $191,321.22 in restitution to victims and $1,700.00 in special assessments.
Kiel and Marshall were convicted of bank robberies spanning from March 2008 through May 2013 in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The investigation involved federal, state and local law enforcement from four federal judicial districts. Kiel was convicted on eleven separate criminal counts including bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent felony, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, and witness intimidation. Marshall was convicted on seventeen counts of bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent felony, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
Three of the robberies occurred from March – June 2008 with the other five robberies occurring from December 2012 through May 2013. Most of an approximately four-year gap in the robberies coincided with a period from July 2008 to May 2012 when defendant Randy Marshall was in continuous custody for another conviction.
A chronological list of the eight bank robberies in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida is as follows:
Regions Bank, Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS (3/4/08)
First Federal Savings and Loan, U.S. Highway 90, Gautier, MS (5/13/08)
Regions Bank, Eisenhower Drive, Biloxi, MS (6/19/08)
Merchants & Marine Bank, Mississippi Highway 613, Moss Point, MS (12/13/12)
Wells Fargo Bank, Mobile Highway, Pensacola, FL (1/28/13)
Hancock Bank, Cowan Road, Gulfport, MS (3/20/13)
Bancorp South, Fort Dale Road, Greenville, AL (5/2/13)
Hancock Bank, Main Street, Moss Point, MS (5/17/13)
Marshall was arrested on May 19, 2013, on a state warrant just days after the Hancock Bank robbery in Moss Point, and Kiel was arrested on a federal warrant in September 2013.
Two other co-defendants in the case, Lamarcus Moore and Reginald Robinson of Saraland, Alabama, have been sentenced after pleading guilty to related charges. Moore pled guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, and Robinson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with substantial assistance from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, and the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team. Also assisting in the case were multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with substantial assistance from the Mississippi and Alabama State Crime Labs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden.Three Jefferson Davis County Men Convicted on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - On Monday, October 6, after a week-long trial, Kentorre D. Hall a/k/a Toto, 31, of Prentiss, Roger Randale Jones a/k/a Hitman, 27, of Prentiss, and Martel Torres Barnes a/k/a Marty Mar, 23, of Bassfield, were found guilty on four counts of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine; maintaining a residence to manufacture, store or distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess and use firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Phillip Durham of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Hall, a quadriplegic, was also found guilty of an additional count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants will be sentenced on December 4, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in Hattiesburg. The each face a maximum penalty of life in prison and $10 million fine.
The case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the District Attorney’s Office of the 15th Circuit Court District and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Former Chancery Judge Pleads Guilty to Federal Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. -- Joe Dale Walker, 61, of Monticello, Mississippi, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to a criminal information charging him with obstruction of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special in Agent in Charge Don Alway.
Walker was charged with instructing a federal grand jury witness to destroy documents and then lying to FBI agents. He will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III on January 8, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in Jackson, Mississippi. He faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
From 2010 to the present, the defendant, Joe Dale Walker, was the elected Chancellor for the Thirteenth Chancery Court District of Mississippi, covering Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith Counties. In June 2011, Judge Walker directed the attorney he had appointed for a conservatorship to solicit bids from local contractors for the construction of a home for the ward. Five bids for construction of the home were obtained, including a bid from Judge Walker’s nephew, Chad Teater d/b/a C.T. Construction. Judge Walker reviewed the bids in his chambers and, upon discovering that Teater’s bid was much lower than the other bids, Walker instructed Teater to raise his bid. Teater subsequently submitted another bid which was $23,500 more than his original bid but still lower than the other bids. Due to his nephew’s involvement as a bidder for the Newsome house, Walker transferred the case to another Chancellor for the limited purpose of accepting and approving bids for the construction of the Newsome home. After signing an order awarding the contract to Teater, the case was transferred back to Walker.
Prior to August 7, 2013, a grand jury subpoena was served upon a witness to appear before a Federal Grand Jury on September 4, 2013, and to bring any and all documents relating to the Conservatorship. On August 7, 2013, Walker met with the witness and was informed of the Federal Grand Jury subpoena. During this meeting, Walker and the witness discussed the original bid from Teater, the fact that it was lower than the other bids and that Walker had instructed the witness to tell Teater to raise his bid. Walker also asked the witness about original bid and any existing copies.
When interviewed by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on March 25, 2014, Walker denied ever talking with the witness about two bids submitted by Teater and denied ever telling the witness that Teater’s original bid needed to be “somewhere else” in response to the Federal Grand Jury subpoena.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Jackson Woman Sentenced for Stolen Identity Tax Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Shekeila Jones, 29, of Jackson, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the government in the amount of $55,660.
Jones pled guilty on June 12, 2013 to conspiring with others to illegally obtain the names and social security numbers of others which they then used to file fraudulent federal tax returns for the purpose of obtaining fraudulent refunds. The refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Jones and her co-conspirators.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Gulfport Man Sentenced for Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill FraudRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Brian K. Lee, 40, of Gulfport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to thirty-four months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for mail fraud in connection with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Lee was also ordered to pay a $2,500.00 fine and restitution in the amount of $47,083.76.
Lee knowingly devised a scheme to defraud the Gulf Coast Claims Facility established by BP Exploration and Production, Inc., to administer, process, and settle certain claims of individuals and businesses that had been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Lee made false representations in a claim form, and in various documents submitted in support of his claim, that he lost earnings and profits from his employment as a customer service representative at Gulf South Seafood as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The investigation revealed no such company ever existed. Lee received $47,083.76 as a result of his fraudulent claim.
This case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones. It was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at [email protected] or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Canton and Gulfport Awarded Doj Hiring Grants to Help Reduce Violence and Protect SchoolsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC— This week the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced nearly $124 million in funding awards across the nation. These awards are aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, local law enforcement positions.
In the Southern District of Mississippi, this year’s grantees are the Canton Police Department which received an award of $127,191, and the Gulfport Police Department which was awarded $494,768.
“The COP grants awarded to Gulfport and Canton demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to the efforts of local law enforcement in the Southern District of Mississippi,” said U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “This program is specifically designed to advance public safety through the implementation of community policing strategies to reduce crime in our neighborhoods.”
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2014 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and community policing plans.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2014 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Columbia, Mississippi Woman Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Rebecca Sue Carpenter, 56, of Columbia, Mississippi, was sentenced on September 25, 2014 to 82 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for filing false federal income tax returns with the IRS, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan with IRS Criminal Investigation. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $809,337.15.
Carpenter previously pled guilty to two counts of filing false federal income tax returns. In 2008, she falsely claimed a tax refund of $392,804, and in 2009 she falsely claimed a tax refund of $399,493, all based upon fraudulent withholdings listed on fictitious forms.
“The defendant in this case stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in income tax refunds to which she was not entitled,” U.S. Attorney Davis said. “No matter how sophisticated, tax fraud is pure theft. Her actions victimized all members of the public and we will relentlessly pursue those who attempt to undermine the integrity of our tax system.”
Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated, “Rebecca Carpenter thought she could get away with cheating the government by filing fraudulent tax returns requesting falsely inflated tax refunds. Well, she was wrong, and today she was sentenced to prison for her actions. On behalf of IRS – CI, I would also like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and AUSA Carla Clark for their work toward the prosecution of this case.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carla J. Clark.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Jackson Man Sentenced for Stolen Identity Tax Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Tony Jones, 31, of Jackson, was sentenced to 105 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for stolen identity tax refund fraud, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the government in the amount of $222,137.13.
Jones previously pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. The conspiracy involved stealing the names and social security numbers of individuals and filing fraudulent federal tax returns for the purpose of obtaining fraudulent refunds. The refunds were electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Jones and his co-conspirators.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
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Gulfport Doctor Found Guilty of Felony Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, following a week-long trial, Timothy Dale Jackson, 50, an orthopedic physician from Pass Christian, Mississippi, was found guilty on four counts of felony tax evasion and one count of obstruction of the due administration of the internal revenue laws, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan with IRS Criminal Investigation.
The evidence at trial showed that Dr. Jackson claimed he had taken a vow of poverty in 2003 with the “Church of Compassionate Service,” an entity located in Utah, claiming that he was therefore exempt from paying any income tax. The evidence proved that he made substantial income practicing medicine but had not filed a tax return or paid any income tax since 2003. It also showed that he used nominee accounts and other devices to conceal his income from the IRS through the “church,” but that in fact 90% of the income was returned to him.
Jackson will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden on December 18, 2014. The maximum penalty for tax evasion is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count. The maximum penalty for obstructing and impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws is three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“Most individuals file truthful tax returns and pay their fair share of taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “The verdict in this case demonstrates that, regardless of one’s occupation or status in life, if you evade paying taxes, you face real consequences including criminal prosecution and a possible prison sentence.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan stated: “Dr. Jackson's actions and intent to evade his income taxes was made clear through the government's presentation of the evidence, and the jury saw that. Anyone who thinks they can continually evade the assessment or payment of their income taxes, and get away with it, should be aware of this case.”
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth Morgan and Jay Golden.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Five Gautier, Mississippi Residents Plead Guilty in Stolen Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Theodore Dempsey Towne, 20, Kenneth O’Neal Knox, 46, Catina Towne Henderson, 36, Princeton Scott Knox, 34, and Aubrey Knox, 35, all of Gautier, Mississippi, pled guilty before Chief District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to charges related to the theft of 46 firearms, including machine guns, from a federal firearms licensee, U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Theodore Dempsey Towne pled guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on December 18, 2014.
Catina Towne Henderson, Kenneth O’Neal Knox and Princeton Scott Knox pled guilty to misprision of a felony by not reporting the theft and committing acts to conceal the discovery of the crime. Misprision of a felony carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. They will be sentenced on December 18, 2014.
Aubrey Knox pled guilty to conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on December 16, 2014.
This case was investigated by the Moss Point Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
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(225) 334-4707
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Meridian Man Sentenced for Possession of DrugsRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss – Joseph Brown, 38, of Meridian, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 78 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of narcotics, United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Brown was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and forfeit a Norinco 7.62.39mm SKS rifle.
The case was investigated by the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
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Jackson Woman Sentenced for Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – S’ade Tyler, 28, of Jackson, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. government in the amount of $62,946.39.
On June 4, 2013, Tyler pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the government by using personal identifying information, including names and social security numbers, which had been stolen from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility located in Rankin County and from other locations. The information was then used by Tyler’s co-conspirators to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. The refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Tyler and her co-conspirators.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
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Canton City Alderman SentencedRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Calvin Louis Smith, 58, a former Canton City Alderman, was sentenced to 66 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
In May, 2014, Smith was found guilty of accepting bribes in connection with a series of transactions made on behalf of the City of Canton, Mississippi.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
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Two South Mississippi Residents Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Craig Lamark Kaho, 44, of McComb, and Latoya Renae Bonds, 30, of Summit, were sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves on charges relating to cocaine distribution in Pike County, Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
Kaho was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).
Bonds was sentenced to 56 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500.00 fine for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
A third defendant in the case, Jermaine Henderson, is scheduled for sentencing on October 1, 2014.
Kaho and Bonds were indicted following an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into drug distribution in the Pike County, Mississippi area dubbed “Operation Lights Out in PG”. The investigation was led by DEA, HIDTA, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, the McComb Police Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk prosecuted the case.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
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(225) 334-4707
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Hattiesburg Contractor Pleads Guilty to Federal Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- Local contractor Mike Miller, 48, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty on September 15, 2014, to a kickback scheme which defrauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp and Special Agent in Charge Mary L. Lewis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on October 22, 2013, against Miller, his company, Michael Miller Construction, LLC, and others, charging them with various crimes including conspiracy to defraud the federal government, theft of government funds, and bid-rigging. Others listed in the indictment were also charged with false statements.
T.L. Pittman, Jr. owns multiple apartment complexes throughout the State of Mississippi which were financed through USDA. Pittman, through his company Century Management, Inc., contracted with Mike Miller to work for one of Pittman’s USDA-financed apartment complexes. Prior to working for Century Management, Miller was told by Pittman that he would have to pay Pittman a kickback in order to be awarded contracts from Century Management. Miller agreed and began paying Pittman cash from the contracts that he was awarded by Century Management. As part of the conspiracy, Miller would pay Tim Pittman, T.L. Pittman, Jr.’s son, the kickback in cash with the understanding that it would be passed along to his father, T.L. Pittman, Jr.
Between February 2008 and November 2008, Miller submitted various false bids in the names of fictitious companies purporting to be legitimate bids competing with Miller’s bid for work for Century Management at Liberty Place Apartments. These false bids submitted by Miller were all higher than Miller’s own bid in order to ensure Miller was awarded the contract. As a result, Miller was awarded the contract for Liberty Place Apartments, and ultimately paid more than $50,000 pursuant to the contract, some of which he used to kickback cash to T.L. Pittman, Jr., paying such cash through T.L. Pittman, Jr.’s son, Tim Pittman.
Miller will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett in Hattiesburg on December 4, 2014, at 1:45 p.m. The maximum penalty for Conspiracy is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
T.L. Pittman, Jr. pled guilty in May, 2014 and will be sentenced on October 27, 2014. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst is prosecuting the case.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
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(225) 334-4707
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United States Attorney General Recognizes Federal Prosecutor in MississippiRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mike Hurst, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi, was recently recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director’s Awards Ceremony held this week in Washington D.C.
The Southern District of Mississippi was one of 44 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building on Wednesday, September 10, 2014.
In his prepared remarks to awardees, Attorney General Holder said, “Locally, nationally, and internationally, you represent the very best that this Department has to offer. Your work embodies our ongoing commitment – not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens from crime, violence, and terrorism; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law.”
EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson echoed those sentiments, saying to the recipients, “You have persevered, and remained focused and motivated – achieving remarkable results in work that makes a difference in the lives of citizens across our great country. The vast scope of your collective accomplishments is nothing short of exceptional.”
Mr. Hurst was awarded the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as a Criminal AUSA for the outstanding prosecution of the largest and most complex mortgage fraud Ponzi scheme in the history of the State of Mississippi, United States v. Charles H. Evans, Jr. and Jon Christopher Evans. AUSA Hurst’s efforts helped result in the defendants’ guilty pleas to money laundering and bank fraud; sentences of 14 years for Jon Christopher Evans and 20 years for Charles H. Evans, Jr.; a forfeited money judgment in the amount of $18,594,221.58; a loss calculation for sentencing purposes in the amount of $26,660,602.78; and restitution ordered to numerous banks and title insurance companies totaling $25,441,938.48. The case encompassed over $80 million dollars worth of loans involving almost 30 shell or fictitious corporations created by the defendants to launder their illegal proceeds, adversely affecting almost 50 financial institutions, local governments and hundreds of parcels of land in Mississippi and Texas. This prosecution was particularly significant given the sheer size, scope, length, and complexity of the scheme, as well as the difficult legal and logistical issues relating to calculating loss amounts for sentencing and restitution.
“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice has recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Hurst for his outstanding contribution to the Department and its mission,” said U.S. Attorney Davis.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
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Jackson Woman Sentenced for Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Ciara Gooden, age 24, of Jackson, was sentenced to 30 months for conspiracy to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Gooden previously pled guilty to her role in a conspiracy to file fraudulent federal income taxes using the social security numbers and dates of birth which had been stolen from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Mississippi Department of Correntions.. The information was then used by others to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. Those refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Gooden and her co-conspirators. Following her prison sentence, Gooden will be on supervised release for 3 years during which she must pay restitution to the United States Government in the amount of $27,579.65.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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20 Individuals Indicted on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Twenty (20) individuals are facing drug charges in three (3) separate federal indictments unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Floyd Baker, Director Sam Owens of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and US Postal Service Houston Division Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss.
Sixteen (16) of the twenty (20) charged were arrested this morning in central Mississippi and in California. As a result of those arrests four (4) firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition were seized.
The indictments are the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed AOperation Yeti Ice@, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. This drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompasses the states of California and Mississippi.
Charged in the first indictment:Age
City of Residence
Charges
Maximum penalty
Rodney Gerald Henderson
69
Newton, MS/ Rialto, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine, Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine that resulted in the death of another, and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.
Life in prison and a
$97 million fine (total charges in
three indictments)Kafien Kidd
35
Newton, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.
Life in prison and a
$10 million fineJennifer Toole Kidd
30
Newton, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine.
Twenty years in prison and
a $1 million fine.Marcos Jones
35
Newton, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Life in prison and a
$1 million fineWalter Pernillo
42
San Bernardino, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Life in prison a
$10 million fineCliff Williams
36
Meridian, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine
Twenty years in prison and a
$1million fineStacy Shelwood
32
Ocean Springs, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Twenty years in prison and a
$1 million fineAngelina Fortenberry
38
Decatur, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine
Twenty years in prison and a
$1 million finePrincess Grace
35
Meridian, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine.
Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fineTerry Garth
24
Newton, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Fifty years in prison and a
$2.25 million fineCharged in the second indictment:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Charges
Maximum penalty
Rodney Gerald Henderson
69
Newton, MS/ Rialto, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Life in prison and a
$97 million fine (total for
three indictments)Steven Elias Ochoa
29
San Bernardino, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Life in prison and a
$26 million fineMichael Thomas McLemore
38
Pearl, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.
Life in prison and a
$46 million fineJennifer Higgins McLemore
35
Pearl, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.
Life in prison and a
$40 million fineKenneth Waggoner
46
Forest, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine
Twenty years in prison and a
$1 million fineCharged in the third indictment:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Charges
Maximum Penalty
Rodney Gerald Henderson
69
Newton, MS, Rialto, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Life in prison and a
$97 million fine (total
for three indictments)Christopher Raynard Kidd
26
Rialto, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Life in prison and a
$20 million fineRonnie Round
45
Conehatta, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine
Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine.Thomas Odell Mason
55
Little Rock, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine.
Life in prison and a
$11 million fine.Jakeivia Fairley
24
Rialto, CA
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine.
Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine.Beatrice Williams McEntee
56
Forest, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine
Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine.Jamie Tavare Thames
40
Forest, MS
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine
One hundred forty years in prison
and a $13 million fine.
“The unlawful distribution of controlled substances violates federal law and constitutes a danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “This operation evidences the commitment of federal law enforcement to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who, through violation of federal criminal laws, pose a threat to the safety of our communities. Through joint law enforcement efforts such as this one, we can make our cities safer for our children and every law abiding citizen. Our thanks go out to the federal, state and local law enforcement officers who contributed to the investigation that led to this prosecution.”
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Floyd Baker stated: “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and how cooperation between federal, state and local agencies is an essential component of efforts by law enforcement to disrupt drug trafficking organizations that operate in our area. The successful indictments/arrest of these defendants should put others who engage in this type of activity on notice: if you sell drugs you will face federal charges and a lengthy prison sentence. These combined law enforcement efforts send a message of our unending resolve to pursue drug traffickers who wreak havoc in our communities.”
MBN Director Sam Owens stated: “The arrest of these suspects, the dismantling of their organization, and the seizure of drugs and assets valued at more than $1 million do much to impede the drug trade in Mississippi.”
USPS Inspector in Charge, Houston Division, Robert Wemyss added: "These indictments are merely the latest in a long tradition of Postal Inspectors relentlessly pursuing anyone who misuses the nation's mail system to distribute illegal, dangerous drugs. I'm proud of the work done by all the agents involved in this investigation, and look forward to their continued enforcement."
This OCDETF operation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sherriff’s Office, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, Forest Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.
The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
The defendants will be arraigned on September 11, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson.
Terry Garth of Newton, Princess Grace of Meridian, Kenneth Waggoner of Forest, and Christopher Raynard Kidd of Rialto, California have not been arrested. Anyone with information on their whereabouts please contact your local police department.
The public is reminded that a criminal indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. It is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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First Guilty Plea in International Conspiracy on Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – The first defendant of eighteen indicted in a nine-count federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Mississippi against defendants in South Africa, Canada, Indiana, California, New York and Wisconsin, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Raymond R Parmer, Jr.
Dennis Brian Ladden, 73 years old, formerly of Wisconsin, entered the guilty plea before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden on Wednesday, August 27, 2014. Ladden faces a maximum of five years in prison, $250,000 fine and three years of post-release supervision. Ladden admitted an on-line relationship led to receiving and attempting to cash a credit card cash advance check fraudulently obtained by co-conspirators using the victim’s personal identifying information and credit card information. He also admitted notifying co-conspirators that he had been contacted by federal agents regarding an investigation.
Sentencing for Dennis Brian Ladden is set for November 19, 2014 before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden.
The indictment alleges a West African transnational organized crime enterprise involved in numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the internet. This mass marketing fraud includes romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, along with bank, financial and credit card account take-overs.
The case in Mississippi is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Jackson Woman Sentenced for Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Ladonna Cooper, age 30, of Jackson, was sentenced to 20 months for conspiracy to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Cooper, a former employee of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, previously pled guilty to stealing personal identifying information, including names and social security numbers, from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility located in Rankin County. The information was then used by others to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. Those refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Cooper’s co-conspirators. Following her prison sentence, Cooper will be on supervised release for 3 years during which she must pay restitution to the United States Government in the amount of $222,137.13.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Jackson Woman Sentenced for Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Pamlia Johnson, age 41, of Jackson, was sentenced to 14 months for conspiracy to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Johnson a former employee of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, previously pled guilty to stealing patient’s personal identifying information, including names and social security numbers, from the Jackson hospital. The information was then used by others to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. Those refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Johnson’s co-conspirators. Following her prison sentence, Johnson will be on supervised release for 3 years during which she must pay restitution to the United States Government in the amount of $82,040.00.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Picayune Woman Sentenced to Twenty One Months in Prison for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Virginia Ann Edelman a/k/a Ginger Edelman, 49, of Picayune, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 21 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to pay $75,325.00 in restitution to the U. S. Social Security Administration and to perform 120 hours of community service.
In May, 2014, a jury found Edelman guilty of stealing $75,325.00 of her deceased mother’s Social Security Survivor’s Insurance Benefits Program (“SIB”) benefit payments. The investigation revealed the theft occurred from May of 2000 through October of 2011.
This case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General - Office of Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Gulfport Man Arrested for Sexual Activity with MinorsRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss - William Richard Pryor, 68, of Gulfport, was arrested by FBI agents pursuant to a criminal complaint charging him with transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp.
William Richard Pryor was formerly employed as a math teacher at Bayou View Junior High School in Gulfport. According to the criminal complaint, beginning in approximately September, 1973 and continuing through the present, Pryor traveled and transported minor children in interstate commerce with the intent that the minor children would engage in sexual activity.
Pryor appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Gargiulo for an initial appearance. He remains in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing on Tuesday, August 26, 2014.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
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Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Two Plead Guilty in Connection with Counterfeit and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Brittany Ann Jackson, 26, of Biloxi, and Dontrelle Deshaun Sanford, 24, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, to charges in an indictment filed against them earlier this year, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Mark McKee, and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan.
Jackson pled guilty to one count of conspiracy (count 1) to pass counterfeit U.S. currency and Sanford pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (count 13). The indictment alleged that as part of the conspiracies the defendants would purchase items, such as Dyson vacuum cleaners, with counterfeit money at Lowe’s stores in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The defendants would then return the items to the stores and receive genuine money for the refunds.
Their sentencings are scheduled for November 20, 2014, before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sanford faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine.
IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Gabriel L. Grchan, stated: “Simply put, counterfeiting currency is a violation of the law; it also causes damage to the local economy and hurts the pocket books of all taxpayers by increasing the cost of goods and services. IRS – CI will continue to seek the prosecution of individuals, such as Brittany Jackson and Dontrelle Sanford, who engage in money laundering through counterfeiting and related financial transactions for illegal purposes.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Former Department of Public Safety Employee and Co-conspirators Plead Guilty to Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - Former Mississippi Department of Public Safety employee Yolanda Jean Perkins, 48, of Laurel, Lorena Gomez, 33, of Laurel, and Jose Martel Rivera, 32, an illegal alien from Mexico, all pled guilty in federal court on August 18, 2014, to conspiracy to commit identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Raymond Parmer, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations.
The conspiracy involved the sale by Gomez and Rivera of authentic Texas birth certificates with matching social security cards to illegal aliens, and the subsequent purchase of Mississippi drivers’ licenses and state IDs, with the assistance of Perkins who worked at the Laurel driver’s license bureau.
“Fraudulent documents threaten the security of all citizens by making it easier for criminals to commit a range of offenses from identity theft to potential terrorism,” said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of HSI New Orleans. “Further, this scheme created a nightmare scenario in which citizens could have been held responsible for driving infractions or criminal acts committed by aliens possessing fraudulent identity documents in their names. These criminals willingly stole identities and threatened national security all in the name of a quick buck. These guilty pleas show HSI and its state partners will continue to investigate and seek prosecution of these cases wherever they occur.” Parmer oversees a five-state area of operations to include Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
The defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on October 27, 2014. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is 15 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.