Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Canton City Alderman IndictedRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Calvin Louis Smith, 56, a Canton City Alderman, was arraigned today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson pursuant to a federal indictment charging him with bribery in connection with a series of transactions of the City of Canton, Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen.
Davis is scheduled for trial on July 9, 2013 before District Judge Henry T. Wingate. If convicted of the charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The public is reminded that an indictment is an allegation that a defendant has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.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.
Kidnapping Suspect Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Shamaruis Ruffin, 25, and Wanda Faye Dancy, 51, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball today pursuant to a criminal complaint charging her with kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen.
The court found that Ruffin and Dancy should be detained pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing scheduled for May 9, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
According to the complaint, on May 2, 2013, Ruffin was asked by Jesse Mae Brown Pollard if she would ride with her and babysit for her. Ruffin agreed to do so.Pollard drove to the East Kemper Elementary School. Ruffin overheard Pollard talking to Wanda Dancy on the telephone (Dancy is a secretary at East Kemper Elementary School). Ruffin heard Dancy telling Pollard where the victim was located in the school and what she was wearing. Ruffin was told to go to the library in the school and tell Mrs. Simmons that she was there to get the victim and that “Mrs. Wanda said it was alright”. Ruffin did as she was directed. On the way out of the school, Ruffin passed by the office and Dancy waved at her and smiled. Ruffin and the victim got in the vehicle with Pollard and drove away.
Ruffin, Pollard and the victim drove down several roads in Alabama. At some point, Ruffin wanted to get out of the car so they stopped and Ruffin got out of the vehicle. Ruffin contacted an acquaintance to pick her up. The acquaintance picked Ruffin up somewhere near Interstate 20/59 East of Livingston, Alabama and Ruffin returned home.
The penalty for kidnapping is a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Kemper County Sheriff’s Office and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in this case.
The public is reminded that a Criminal Complaint is 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:
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.
Kidnapping Suspect Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - Jesse Mae Pollard, 54, of Northport, Alabama, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball today pursuant to a criminal complaint charging her with kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen.
The Court found that Pollard should be detained pending action of the federal grand jury, specifically finding that probable cause exists to show that Pollard committed the crime charged in the Complaint.
According to the Complaint, a black female entered East Kemper Elementary School in Scooba, Mississippi and took six (6) year old Jashayla Hopson out of school. Later that evening, video surveillance cameras at a hotel in Bessemer, Alabama indicate that Jesse Mae Pollard was at the hotel with Jashayla Hopson. Jashayla was held in the hotel room overnight and dropped off the next day on the side of the road in Enterprise, Mississippi.
The penalty for kidnapping is a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Kemper County Sheriff's Office and Lauderdale County Sheriff's
Office conducted the investigation in this case.
The public is reminded that a Criminal Complaint is 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:
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.
Forest Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Herbert Jerome Townsend, 31, of Forest, Mississippi, pled guilty in U.S. District Court today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine (“ice”), U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Townsend will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves on July 11, 2013 and faces a maximum punishment of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
This case was the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Operation Brusha” targeting illegal narcotics distribution in Scott County, Mississippi. The investigation was conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Forest Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin O. Chalk 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.
Stolen Funds Returned to TaxpayersRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi has returned over $1 million of forfeited money to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. The forfeited funds were seized from Roger Joe Ladner, 56, of Kiln, Mississippi, in conjunction with his prosecution for a bribery conspiracy and theft of government funds. These funds were forfeited to the United States because they were paid to Ladner as a result of his scheme to defraud Hancock County and FEMA.
Roger Joe Ladner was formerly employed with Hancock County, Mississippi, as the road superintendent. Following Hurricane Katrina, he was given authority by the board of supervisors to award contracts on a ditch cleaning project funded by FEMA. In exchange for awarding the contracts to certain contractors, including two of his brothers, Ladner unlawfully accepted money in the amount of approximately $1.2 million. Sharon Ladner admitted to falsifying documents in connection with a federal investigation by creating a false invoice in the name of her company, Sharon Construction, in an effort to conceal the bribery conspiracy from federal investigators.
Roger Joe Ladner was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bribery. He was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and restitution of $1,134,538 to FEMA. The Court entered a final order of forfeiture directing that the $1.2 million dollars seized be forfeited to the United States government.
Sharon Frances Ladner was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for falsifying documents in connection with a federal investigation. She was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.
Billy Wayne Ladner was sentenced to 39 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for theft of government funds. He was ordered to pay restitution of $590,058 to FEMA.
Donald Ray Ladner was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and two years of supervised release, for theft of government funds. He was ordered to pay restitution of $291,790 to FEMA.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. 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 Bank Ceo Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. -- Larry Barnette Hill, 58, of Meadville, Mississippi, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to bank fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen announced.
Larry Barnette Hill served as CEO of People’s Bank of the South in Bude, Mississippi. From 2004 through 2012, he fraudulently withdrew money from the bank’s Payroll Clearing Account and deposited those funds into the bank accounts of his family members and into a “shell” bank account he created for his personal benefit and the benefit of others. Hill also used the bank’s credit card for personal expenses without the bank’s authorization, and took third-party checks issued in the name of People’s Bank to make payments on a personal loan that he held at another bank and to embezzle funds into other accounts he owned and controlled for his own benefit or the benefit of others.
Hill concealed his fraudulent activities by creating false general ledger tickets which appeared to be for bank expenses in order to disguise his fraudulent activities within the budget of the bank. He also falsely inflated the bank’s budget each month in order to disguise additional money he was embezzling.
The total amount of loss in this case is still being calculated, but is estimated to be from $600,000 to over $1 million.
Hill will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tom Lee on July 11, 2013, at 9:30 a.m.
The maximum penalty for bank fraud is 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, and the maximum penalty for money laundering is 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
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:
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 Bank Teller Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. -- Kelly Taplin, 31, of Byram, Mississippi, pled guilty in federal court today to aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen announced. She will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on July 11, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. and faces a mandatory penalty of two years in prison and a maximum possible fine of $250,000.
Taplin admitted that, while working as a teller at Trustmark National Bank in Byram, she used the name, social security number, and date of birth of a Trustmark customer to obtain a $2,550 loan in that customer’s name without the customer’s knowledge or consent. She then used the loan proceeds for her personal benefit.
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:
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 Woman Pleads Guilty to Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Ladonna Cooper, 30, of Jackson, pled guilty in federal court today to conspiring to defraud the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Resident Agent in Charge Allen Bryant of the U.S. Secret Service, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Damon Rowe of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Cooper, a former employee of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, admitted to conspiring to defraud the government by 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.
Cooper will be sentenced on July 18, 2013 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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.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 Bank Teller Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - Heather Brewer, 30, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, pled guilty in federal court today to embezzlement from a federally-insured bank, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen announced. She will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on June 27, 2013 at 9:30 a.m., and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Brewer admitted that, from December 2010 through June 2012, while working as a bank teller for BankPlus in Ridgeland, she embezzled approximately $59,470.00 from her teller drawer, another teller drawer, and from the ATM which she was responsible for balancing and replenishing with cash.
The 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:
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.
Two Mississippi Men Sentenced on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Antonio Latorn Shelton, a/k/a “Chuck”, 38, of Jackson, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,700.
Willie Milton Cage Jr., 28, of Vicksburg, was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by six months home confinement and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
This case was the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in the City of Jackson. It was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Group with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, U.S. Marshal Service, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Vicksburg Police Department, Jackson Police Department and Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Ahmad Williams, 29, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to serve 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Williams was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.
On April 25, 2011, Jackson Police Department (“JPD”) officers tried to arrest Ahmad Williams on an outstanding capital murder warrant. When they exited their vehicle to make the arrest, Williams fired two shots at them with a .45 caliber pistol, one of which struck and injured a JPD officer. Williams was arrested, and a review of his criminal history revealed that he had been previously convicted of multiple felonies.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jackson Police Department. It was 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:
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Conviction of Former Mississippi Director of Driver Records Upheld on AppealRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - The criminal conviction of James Smith, former Director of Driver Records for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, was affirmed today by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.
Smith’s appeal followed his conviction by a jury at the conclusion of a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III in August, 2011. Smith was found guilty of making false statements concerning commercial driver records that he altered using his authority as Director of Driver Records. The records were maintained in a database linked to the Commercial Driver’s License Information System, which Congress established so that records of commercial license holders can be accessible nationwide.
As Mississippi Director of Drivers Records from 2005 to 2010, Smith was responsible for overseeing records of persons holding commercial driver’s licenses and had the ability to access and change their driving records. He was found guilty of falsifying records for commercial driver’s license holders. In his appeal, Smith challenged the federal jurisdiction and the materiality of the false statements. The Court of Appeals rejected both of Smith’s claims on appeal. The Court determined that Smith’s manipulation of commercial driving records fell within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and that the changes Smith made to the driving records were material for the purpose of the federal false statement statute.
Assistant United States Attorneys Harold Brittain and Angela Williams were the prosecutors of the case in United States District Court. Assistant United States Attorney Gaines Cleveland handled the case on appeal.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Two Plead Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - On Monday, March 18, 2013, Bridget Michelle Bland, 44, of Forest, and Willie Charles Rhodes, 54, of Brandon, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to money laundering the drug proceeds of Forest, Mississippi drug dealer, Jessie Hall, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Bland also pled guilty to causing a business to file a false report to the Internal Revenue Service.
Bland and Rhodes will be sentenced on June 6, 2013. The maximum penalty for money laundering is 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the IRS reporting violation is five years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Three co-defendants in this case previously pled guilty to money laundering: Shannon Denise Hall, 41 of Forest, Sylvania Laranda Young, 41, currently of Jackson, and Jessie Hall, 39, of Forest. All five defendants participated in an extensive scheme to launder the drug proceeds of Jessie Hall through his business operating as Hall’s Trucking. Numerous assets were acquired through Hall’s drug trade and given the appearance of legitimate wealth through the business. Over $900,000 was found to have been laundered over a two year period.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the criminal investigation of the financial affairs leading to the current indictment. The Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with officers from the Ridgeland Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, initially investigated the drug trafficking organization of Jessie Hall. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute More Than 50 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Alberto Morales Alejandre, 25, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty on March 7, 2013 to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.
Alejandre was indicted following his arrest on July 16, 2012 when, during a traffic stop on I-20, he was found to be transporting 9,991 grams of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment beneath the carpet of his vehicle. He will be sentenced on May 23, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pearl, Mississippi Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Former Mendenhall Police Chief IndictedRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Donald “Bruce” Barlow, 50, who served as the Mendenhall, Mississippi Chief of Police until October 2010, was arrested today by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a federal indictment charging him with conspiracy, extortion, soliciting bribes, and witness tampering, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen announced.
If convicted of the charges, Barlow faces a maximum penalty of 105 years in prison and a $2,000,000.00 fine. He will appear for an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
The public is reminded that an indictment is an allegation that a defendant has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Former Law Enforcement Officers Plead Guilty to Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. -- Watson Jackson, a former Deputy with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Zach Robinson, a former Deputy with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and Kent Daniels, a former Jackson Police Officer and Investigator for the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, pled guilty in U.S. District Court today to theft of government funds and property.
On September 30, 2011, defendants Robinson and Daniels, along with an FBI informant, drove to a motel to rob a room they thought was being used by a drug dealer. They discussed detailed plans of the robbery and how they would divide the money among themselves. However, the FBI had previously rented the motel room and placed $23,000.00 in cash and seven iPads in the room. Jackson drove in a separate vehicle to the motel and acted as a lookout.
Upon arrival at the motel, the FBI informant and Robinson entered the motel room and took the $23,000.00 and seven iPads. After taking the cash and the iPads, they met up with defendant Daniels in order to count the money. At the time, they did not believe they had taken all of the money, so Jackson and the FBI informant went back to the motel room and looked for additional money. After the robbery, defendants Robinson, Daniels, Jackson and the FBI informant divided the money and iPads between them.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry Rushing and Mike Hurst.
The defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee on May 23, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. They each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Final Defendant Sentenced in Federal Gun Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Robert Arnold Savage, 62, of Grand Bay, Alabama, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Walter J. Gex III to serve 41 months in prison for a federal firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. He was also ordered to forfeit a total of 85 firearms and pay a $3,000 fine.
Savage was one of 15 defendants charged in a firearms conspiracy case involving the illegal sale of firearms. He pled guilty on December 7, 2012 to the illegal sale of firearms to a person he believed was an unlicensed out-of-state resident who was actually an undercover ATF agent.
This case was the result of an undercover investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into the Simon City Royals criminal street gang and persons illegally selling firearms. 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:
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Three Mississippi Men Plead Guilty to Drug Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Charles Dewayne Loper, 35, of Forest, Mississippi, Willie Carlos Johnson, 25, of Forest, Mississippi, and Scottland R. Stewart, 28, of Lake, Mississippi, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.
Loper pled guilty on March 1, 2013 and will be sentenced on May 14, 2013. Johnson and Stewart pled guilty on March 4, 2013 and will be sentenced on May 16, 2013. All three defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
The defendants were indicted as a result of an extensive investigation dubbed “Operation Brusha” targeting illegal narcotics distribution in Scott County, Mississippi.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Assisting agencies included the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Forest Police Department, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.###
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.
Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.
Jackson Man Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Warwick Demuntrel Mikell, 34, of Jackson, was sentenced to 74 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.
Warwick was indicted following an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in the City of Jackson, dubbed “Operation Paperchase”, conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Jackson Police Department and Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.###
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.
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Jackson Attorneys Re-sentenced in Largest Commercial Mortgage Fraud Scheme in Mississippi HistoryRead the Press Release
JJackson, Miss – At a re-sentencing hearing today before U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, the sentence of Charles H. Evans, Jr., 57, of Jackson, Mississippi, was affirmed, whereby Charles Evans will be required to serve 20 years in prison for his role in one of the largest commercial mortgage fraud crimes in the history of the State of Mississippi. The 14 year prison sentence of his brother and co-conspirator, Jon Christopher Evans, 53, also of Jackson, was also affirmed today. A final order of forfeiture was orally entered by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III, against the defendants in the amount of $18,594,221.58. In December, 2012, the defendants were ordered to pay $13,423,571.95 in restitution to numerous victim banks and a title insurance company for their fraudulent scheme.
Defendant Charles H. Evans, Jr. is an attorney who operated The Evans Firm in Jackson, Mississippi, and was an approved attorney for Mississippi Valley Title Company (“MVT”), authorized to provide title opinions and prepare certificates of title for MVT, which MVT used and relied upon in order to issue title insurance policies to banks making loans for the purchase of real estate. His brother and co-defendant, Jon Christopher Evans, is also an attorney in Jackson who served as the registered agent for numerous shell companies in the Jackson area, which were owned, operated, and controlled by the Evans brothers and used to carry out their mortgage fraud scheme.
In 2003, the Evans devised a plan to fraudulently secure mortgage proceeds from banks by misrepresenting to such banks the legal descriptions, title and lien history, and ownership of real estate they were intending to purchase. They began by contracting to purchase multi-acre tracts of land. However, before actually purchasing a particular multi-acre tract, they would covertly and fictitiously subdivide the multi-acre tract on paper, falsify the legal descriptions and title 2 history of the property, and sometimes manufacture false warranty deeds, in order to secure mortgages on the individual, fraudulently-subdivided plots of land from multiple banks using various shell companies owned and controlled by the Evans brothers. Based upon these false documents and misrepresentations, the Evans
brothers were able to borrow a larger amount of money for the purchase of the fictitiously subdivided land than they would have received if the entire tract had been financed legally through a single loan from one bank. The Evans used the excess mortgage proceeds they received from this fraudulent scheme to pay the respective mortgages on the property financed, enrich themselves, and continue their scheme of fraudulently securing mortgage proceeds on covertly and fictitiously-subdivided land using phony legal descriptions and sometimes false warranty deeds. This fraud blossomed into one of the largest
commercial mortgage fraud Ponzi schemes to be carried out in the State of Mississippi.
The Evans continued to acquire property for a number of years by using different banks and appraisal companies, as well as various shell companies which they owned and controlled, and by falsifying the financial statements of Chris Evans in order to continue to secure such fraudulent financing. The scheme
covered property from Madison County, Mississippi, to Southaven, Mississippi, to the State of Texas.
After the Evans could no longer locate suitable property upon which they could execute this scheme, they began “double pledging” their existing property, that is, they began fraudulently securing new, additional mortgages on their already-encumbered property by selling such property to other shell companies that they also owned and controlled and manipulating the certificates of title and lien history (and, in some instances, legal descriptions) of such property in order to misrepresent and conceal encumbrances upon such land to the lending financial institutions and to title insurance companies. As a result, each lending financial institution materially relied upon such misrepresentations, believing it had received
a priority security interest in the subject property as collateral for the respective loan, when in fact it had not. Charles Evans would perform the fraudulent title work for these real property transactions, including the creation of false certificates of title upon which the title insurance commitments would be issued and upon which banks would write mortgages and disburse mortgage proceeds to shell companies owned and controlled by the Evans brothers, and Charles Evans would perform the closings on most, if not all, of the real estate transactions. Contrary to the representations made by Charles Evans in certificates of title, record title to the subject property was almost never transferred into the subsequent entity owned and
controlled by the Evans brothers that actually borrowed the funds and in whose name title was insured. Rather, record title almost always remained in the name of the seller corporation owned and controlled by the Evans. Thus, banks that issued such loans were stuck with outstanding balances owed and no collateral, based upon the Evans’ fraudulent misrepresentations as to the title and lien history of such property.
The Evans continued their fraudulent scheme for over 6 years until the scheme was discovered in September, 2009. Their scheme encompassed over $80 million worth of loans, involved almost 30 shell or fictitious corporations created by the defendants to launder the fraudulently-obtained mortgage proceeds in order to perpetuate and conceal their crimes, and adversely affected almost 50 financial institutions and local governments.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.###
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Ohio Man Sentenced for Armed Bank Robbery in MississippiRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Stuart Lee Vance, 39, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for the September 2008 armed bank robbery of Great Southern National Bank in Meridian, Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. Vance was also ordered to pay $2,910.00 in restitution.
Vance was also tied to a series of bank robberies in Ohio, which began with the August 2008, robbery of National City Bank in Kettering, Ohio. He was nicknamed by authorities as the “Rush Hour Robber.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Meridian Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Helen Wall.###
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Former Yazoo Federal Prison Guard Sentenced for Accepting BribeRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss – Robert Kale Johnson, 38, of Bentonia, Mississippi, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to serve 15 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for accepting a $5,000 bribe while working as a prison guard at the Yazoo Federal Correction Complex in Yazoo, Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Teresa M. Gulotta-Powers, Special Agent in Charge of the DOJ Office of Inspector General. Johnson was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.
During his guilty plea on November 19, 2012, Johnson admitted accepting the bribe while employed as a corrections officer and using his official position to bring contraband to inmates.
Special Agent in Charge T.M. Gulotta-Powers of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office, stated, “The integrity of our federal prison system depends upon the honesty and commitment to duty of correctional personnel. DOJ OIG will continue to partner with the U.S.Attorney’s Offices and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to aggressively pursue breaches of those duties by correctional officers who put their own financial gain above the security of our institutions.”
U.S. Attorney Davis praised the efforts of the DOJ Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Office of Internal Affairs who investigated the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Helen Wall who prosecuted the case.###
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Former Jackson Police Officers Sentenced for Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - Former Jackson Police Officers Monyette Quintel Jefferson, 27, Terence Dale Jenkins, 25, and Anthony Ricardo Payne, Jr., 26, were sentenced in U.S. District Court today for accepting bribes from an undercover FBI agent, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen announced.
Monyette Quintel Jefferson was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the FBI in the amount of $20,500.00.
Terence Dale Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the FBI in the amount of $10,000.00.
Anthony Ricardo Payne, Jr. was sentenced to 9 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the FBI in the amount of $10,000.00
On June 10, 2010, Monyette Quintel Jefferson made an agreement with an undercover FBI agent, who he believed was a drug trafficker, to protect a shipment of 100 kilograms of cocaine that would be coming into Hawkins Field Airport in Jackson, Mississippi.
On June 25, 2010, the undercover FBI agent, posing as a drug trafficker, met with Jefferson and Anthony Ricardo Payne, Jr. at the Metro Center Mall in Jackson. Jefferson and Payne agreed to protect a shipment of cocaine that was coming into Jackson that day. They also agreed that Jefferson, Payne and another police officer would receive payment for protecting the shipment of cocaine coming into Jackson.
Jefferson arrived at Hawkins Field in his JPD patrol vehicle and met with the undercover FBI agent. At approximately 3:50 pm that same day, JPD Officer Terrence Dale Jenkins, driving a JPD patrol vehicle, met with the undercover FBI agent in the parking lot of Hawkins Field for the purpose of providing police protection for a drug transaction. The undercover FBI agent informed Jenkins that the total drug shipment involved approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine. At approximately 3:55 p.m., another FBI agent, working in an undercover capacity, arrived and simulated the purchase of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine from the first undercover FBI agent in the presence of Jenkins. After the exchange took place, the first undercover FBI agent paid Jenkins $5,000 for his assistance in protecting this drug transaction. Jenkins then provided further protection by following the second undercover FBI agent from Hawkins Field to Interstate 20 in Jackson.
At approximately 4:10 p.m., JPD Officer Anthony Ricardo Payne, Jr., driving a JPD patrol vehicle, met the first undercover FBI agent in the main parking lot of Hawkins Field for the purpose of providing police protection for another purported drug transaction. The undercover FBI agent informed Payne that the total drug shipment involved approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine. At approximately 4:15 p.m., a different undercover FBI Agent arrived and simulated the purchase of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine from the first undercover FBI agent in the presence of Payne and Jefferson. After the exchange, the first undercover FBI agent paid Payne $5,000 for helping to protect the simulated drug transaction. Payne then provided further protection by following the third undercover FBI agent from Hawkins Field to the vicinity of Hanging Moss Road in Jackson.
After the simulated drug transactions were completed, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the undercover FBI agent paid Jefferson $6,000 in the Hawkins Field parking lot for providing protection for the first undercover FBI agent during the aforementioned simulated drug transactions.
“The vast majority of police officers work hard every day to protect the citizens and the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, “but these officers chose to use their law enforcement positions to protect illegal drug transactions. Their corrupt conduct is deserving of the sentences imposed today.”###
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Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – John D. Anderson, 48, of Lake, Mississippi, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Anderson will be sentenced on April 30, 2013, and a faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Operation Brusha”, targeting illegal narcotics distribution in Scott County, Mississippi. The investigation was conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. Assisting agencies included the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Forest Police Department, and Scott County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin O. Chalk.###
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Jackson Men Plead Guilty to Federal Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Kelvin Redd, 36, and Julian Michael Thompson, 33, both of Jackson, pled guilty to drug charges this week in U. S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Kelvin Redd pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack). He will be sentenced on May 30, 2013, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
Julian Michael Thompson pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base (crack). He will be sentenced on April 24, 2013 and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Operation Paperchase”, targeting illegal narcotics distribution in the City of Jackson, Mississippi. The lead investigative agency in this operation was the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assisting agencies included the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Gulf Coast HIDTA, and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Chalk.###
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Former Prison Escapees Plead Guilty to KidnappingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - Darian “Drake” Pierce, 35, of Bogalusa, Louisiana, and Ricky L. Wedgeworth, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, pled guilty in federal court today to one count of kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On March 4, 2011, Pierce and Wedgeworth escaped from the Louisiana State Police Headquarters compound where they were both serving 25-year sentences. They traveled to the Fairfield Inn in Vicksburg, Mississippi where, on March 7th, they assaulted, carjacked and kidnapped the victim, David Cupps, a businessman from Sunbury Ohio. The victim died as a result of the assault by Wedgeworth and Pierce, and his body was found on March 8th in a field in Bessemer, Alabama.
The two escapees, still driving the victim’s rental car, were stopped by a Tennessee state trooper on March 8th. During the encounter, Wedgeworth claimed to be the victim before fleeing the scene with Pierce. A high-speed chase ensued near Waverly, Tennessee, before the two men abandoned the vehicle and ran into the woods. When the vehicle was recovered, the victim’s blood and DNA were found in the vehicle.
On March 14, the escapees ambushed an employee at an equestrian park in Madison County, Tennessee and fled in a county-owned Ford Ranger. The truck, driven by Wedgeworth, was seen later that day along Highway 78 near Olive Branch, Mississippi. Deputies from the Desoto County Sheriff’s Department and officers from the Olive Branch Police Department were dispatched to assist with the traffic stop. Deputies activated blue lights, but Wedgeworth failed to stop. A pursuit ensued towards Memphis, Tennessee. Deputies continued pursuing the vehicle until assistance was rendered by the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sherriff’s Office, and United States Marshal Service. The vehicle was later immobilized after it was struck by a police vehicle. While Wedgeworth remained inside of the vehicle, Pierce fled on foot carrying a pipe wrench. He ran into a nearby wooded area and fought with officers prior to being taken into custody.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police, Vicksburg Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Bessemer Police Department, Madison County (TN) Sheriff’s Department, Desoto County Sheriff’s Department, Memphis Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement agencies. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Helen Wall, Richard Starrett, and Jerry Rushing.
Wedgeworth and Pierce will be sentenced on May 30, 2013. They each face a maximum penalty of life in prison.###
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Hancock County Man Admits Katrina FraudRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Anthony L. Bryan, 50, of Hancock County, Mississippi, pled guilty on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, to making false statements to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) for Hurricane Katrina grant money, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In February, 2008, Bryan applied for an MDA Homeowner Assistance program grant to receive Homeowner Assistance Program or “HAP” assistance from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for damages incurred by Hurricane Katrina at an address in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi which he falsely claimed as his primary residence. As a result of his false statement, he received $97,271.73.
Bryan will be sentenced on May 15, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. by Senior U. S. District Judge Walter J. Gex III. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry Rushing, Ruth Morgan and Andrea Jones.###
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Gulfport Man Found Guilty on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss - Albert Craft, Jr., 29, of Gulfport, was found guilty by a jury in U.S. District Court today of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
Craft will be sentenced on May 15, 2013 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Gulfport Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.###
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Gulfport Man Found Guilty on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss - Albert Craft, Jr., 29, of Gulfport, was found guilty by a jury in U.S. District Court today of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
Craft will be sentenced on May 15, 2013 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Gulfport Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.###
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Six Charged in Identity Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Ladonna Cooper, 30, of Jackson, Marietta Harris, 37, of Jackson, Tony Jones, 30, of Jackson, Nikki Thomas, 37, of Jackson, S’Ade Tyler, 27, of Jackson, and Shekeila Jones, 26, of Jackson, were charged in a 42-count federal indictment for conspiracy to commit identity theft and tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Allen Bryant, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, and Damon Rowe, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in a conspiracy 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.
“Identity theft is a serious crime that victimizes honest taxpayers and causes immense hardship,” said Damon Rowe, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. Today’s actions should serve as a warning that we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s office to hold accountable those individuals who undermine our income tax system by filing false claims for refunds.”
Five of the defendants appeared for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball on January 29, 2013. They are scheduled for trial before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on April 8, 2013. Shekeila Jones remains at large.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue ServiceCriminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
The public is reminded that, as in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The charges filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.###
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Two Texas Women Sentenced for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Evie Mearlene Herrin, 58, and her daughter, Amelia Darci Crew, 30, of Cleveland, Texas, were sentenced in federal court today for the March, 2012 armed bank robbery of the Regions Bank on Highway 49 in Gulfport, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen, and Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford.
Herrin was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, and Crew was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Both defendants were also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gulfport Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.###
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Two Sentenced on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - Regon Hollis Hill, 32, of Prentiss, and Jonas A. Windham, 31, of Laurel, were both sentenced in federal court this week by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in two separate federal firearms cases, U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Regon Hollis Hill was sentenced to 60 months in prison, a $6,000 fine and three years of post-release supervision for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges arose from a June 24, 2012 stop in Jefferson Davis County when Hill was found in possession of a loaded .45 caliber pistol along with additional 22 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition along with 37 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 33 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Hill was found guilty by a bench trial on October 30, 2012.
Jonas A. Windham was sentenced to 78 months in prison, a $1000 fine and three years of post-release supervision for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Windham was charged with selling cocaine and firearms in Jones County on two occasions in February, 2012. Windham was also ordered to forfeit a Taurus revolver, a Winchester shotgun and a Romarm/Cugir rifle.
Both cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. They were prosecuted by 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:
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Mexican National Sentenced for False United States Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Estanislao Pulido, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison for making false statements in an application for a United States Passport, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Brian Hatheway, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Dept. of State Diplomatic Security Service.
Pulido’s prison term will run consecutively to the 120 month term of imprisonment he is currently serving for drug charges in the Eastern District of California.
Pulido pled guilty on October 1, 2012, to making and signing a false application for a United States Passport by falsifying his name, his citizenship, and his Social Security number.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Dept. of State, Diplomatic Security Service, and 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:
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Biloxi Man Sentenced on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss - John Buster Jones, 24, of Biloxi, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making a false statement to a firearms dealer to purchase a firearm, U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.
Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. also ordered Jones to forfeit one Roman/Cugir, WASR 10 model, 7.62 caliber rifle with two extended magazines and one Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol.
This case was part of an undercover operation by 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:
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