Southern District of Mississippi

Jackson, Miss. - Steven Daniel Tutor, 42, of Ridgeland, was sentenced Thursday, January 14, 2021, by Senior United States District Judge Tom S. Lee to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for attempted enticement and coercion of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.  Tutor must also register as a sex offender.

On July 27, 2019, Tutor attempted to entice an individual he believed to be a 14-year old boy to engage in sexual explicit conduct with him.  Through online chat with the minor, Tutor made plans to drive to the Extended Studio Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi, to pick up the minor and take him to an isolated parking area to engage in sexual activities.  The FBI arrested Tutor at the hotel in his vehicle as described in the online chats.   

Tutor was indicted on May 27, 2020 and he pled guilty before Judge Lee on October 8, 2020.

The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Field Office's Child Exploitation Task Force and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office also assisted with the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

WASHINGTON – A Mississippi businessman was sentenced today for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE, the health care benefit program serving U.S. military, veterans, and their respective family members, as well as private health care benefit programs.

Wade Ashley Walters, 54, of Hattiesburg, a co-owner of numerous compounding pharmacies and pharmaceutical distributors, was sentenced today on his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett of the Southern District of Mississippi ordered Walters to serve a total of 18 years in prison and to pay $287,659,569 in restitution. Walters was remanded into custody following the sentencing hearing. Walters was further ordered to forfeit $56,565,963, representing the proceeds he personally derived from the fraud scheme.

“The fraud committed by Walters and others in this investigation wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and deprived individuals of needed medical care,” said David P. Burns, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s significant sentence signifies that we will continue to stand with our agency partners to root out health care fraud schemes and see their perpetrators brought to justice.”                                       

Between 2012 and 2016, Walters orchestrated a scheme to defraud TRICARE and other health care benefit programs by distributing compounded medications that were not medically necessary. As part of the scheme, Walters and his co-conspirators, among other things, adjusted prescription formulas to ensure the highest reimbursement without regard to efficacy; solicited recruiters to procure prescriptions for high-margin compounded medications and paid those recruiters commissions based on the percentage of the reimbursements paid by pharmacy benefit managers and health care benefit programs, including commissions on claims reimbursed by TRICARE; solicited (and at times paying kickbacks to) practitioners to authorize prescriptions for high-margin compounded medications; routinely and systematically waived and/or reduced copayments to be paid by beneficiaries and members, including utilizing a purported copayment assistance program to falsely make it appear as if the pharmacies were collecting copayments.

“Today’s sentencing is another mile marker on the long road to justice for victims, our veterans, our military, and all American taxpayers, as the mastermind of the largest health care fraud scheme in Mississippi history has been held to answer for his crimes,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “I want to commend our prosecutors, Justice Department trial attorneys, and every member of this incredible team of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for discovering this scheme and bringing all of these criminals to justice. While there is more work to do, the public can rest assured that we will continue to hold evildoers to account and that justice will always be done in the Southern District of Mississippi.”

“This scheme to defraud TRICARE out of hundreds of millions of dollars not only diverted taxpayer money from essential services and medical care but victimized the brave men and women who selflessly serve or have served our country,” said Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office. “The investigation into this specific scheme, which now spans across multiple states and FBI field offices, began in the FBI’s Jackson Field Office. I am incredibly proud of the relentless efforts made by our Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts and professional support staff, but also the assistance from our partner agencies which make cases like this successful. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to seeking those that intend to steal from others for their own financial gain.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation provides financial investigative expertise in our work with our law enforcement partners, said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Atlanta Field Office. “Pooling the skills of each agency makes a formidable team as we investigate allegations of wrong-doing. Today's sentencing demonstrates our collective efforts to successfully enforce the law and ensure public trust.”

“The Defense Health Agency (DHA) works to set the standard in care for our military, families and veterans,” said Cyndy Bruce, Special Agent in Charge with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “With full knowledge, Mr. Walters aggressively exploited DHA for personal enrichment. I want thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our investigative team for their tireless work to bring these crimes to light. There is no victimless crime, these significant funds were stolen from each and every tax payer and I am pleased that today, this defendant is being held accountable for his actions.”

“The sentencing of Walters highlights continued cooperation among law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure public safety throughout Mississippi,” said Colonel Steven Maxwell, Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN). “Protecting the public from individuals like Walters is a priority for MBN and is a mainstay in accomplishing our agency’s mission.”

Walters and his numerous co-conspirators effectuated a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, including the TRICARE program, in an amount exceeding $287 million. Walters further conspired with others to launder the proceeds of his fraud scheme by engaging in monetary transactions in amounts of over $10,000 in proceeds from the fraud scheme, including transactions relating to his participation in a sham intellectual property scheme.

The FBI’s Jackson Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the IRS-CI, DCIS, and MBN. Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Dustin M. Davis, Assistant Deputy Chief Katherine E. Payerle, and Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Steven Brantley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for approximately $19 billion. In addition, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

A Mississippi businessman was sentenced today for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE, the health care benefit program serving U.S. military, veterans, and their respective family members, as well as private health care benefit programs.

Wade Ashley Walters, 54, of Hattiesburg, a co-owner of numerous compounding pharmacies and pharmaceutical distributors, was sentenced today on his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett of the Southern District of Mississippi ordered Walters to serve a total of 18 years in prison and to pay $287,659,569 in restitution. Walters was remanded into custody following the sentencing hearing. Walters was further ordered to forfeit $56,565,963, representing the proceeds he personally derived from the fraud scheme.

“The fraud committed by Walters and others in this investigation wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and deprived individuals of needed medical care,” said David P. Burns, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s significant sentence signifies that we will continue to stand with our agency partners to root out health care fraud schemes and see their perpetrators brought to justice.”

Between 2012 and 2016, Walters orchestrated a scheme to defraud TRICARE and other health care benefit programs by distributing compounded medications that were not medically necessary. As part of the scheme, Walters and his co-conspirators, among other things, adjusted prescription formulas to ensure the highest reimbursement without regard to efficacy; solicited recruiters to procure prescriptions for high-margin compounded medications and paid those recruiters commissions based on the percentage of the reimbursements paid by pharmacy benefit managers and health care benefit programs, including commissions on claims reimbursed by TRICARE; solicited (and at times paying kickbacks to) practitioners to authorize prescriptions for high-margin compounded medications; routinely and systematically waived and/or reduced copayments to be paid by beneficiaries and members, including utilizing a purported copayment assistance program to falsely make it appear as if the pharmacies were collecting copayments.

“Today’s sentencing is another mile marker on the long road to justice for victims, our veterans, our military, and all American taxpayers, as the mastermind of the largest healthcare fraud scheme in Mississippi history has been held to answer for his crimes,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “I want to commend our prosecutors, Justice Department trial attorneys, and every member of this incredible team of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for discovering this scheme and bringing all of these criminals to justice. While there is more work to do, the public can rest assured that we will continue to hold evildoers to account and that justice will always be done in the Southern District of Mississippi.”

“This scheme to defraud TRICARE out of hundreds of millions of dollars not only diverted taxpayer money from essential services and medical care but victimized the brave men and women who selflessly serve or have served our country,” said Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office. “The investigation into this specific scheme, which now spans across multiple states and FBI field offices, began in the FBI’s Jackson Field Office. I am incredibly proud of the relentless efforts made by our Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts and professional support staff, but also the assistance from our partner agencies which make cases like this successful. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to seeking those that intend to steal from others for their own financial gain.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation provides financial investigative expertise in our work with our law enforcement partners, said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Atlanta Field Office. “Pooling the skills of each agency makes a formidable team as we investigate allegations of wrong-doing. Today's sentencing demonstrates our collective efforts to successfully enforce the law and ensure public trust.”

“The Defense Health Agency (DHA) works to set the standard in care for our military, families and veterans,” said Cyndy Bruce, Special Agent in Charge with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “With full knowledge, Mr. Walters aggressively exploited DHA for personal enrichment. I want thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our investigative team for their tireless work to bring these crimes to light. There is no victimless crime, these significant funds were stolen from each and every tax payer and I am pleased that today, this defendant is being held accountable for his actions.”

“The sentencing of Walters highlights continued cooperation among law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure public safety throughout Mississippi,” said Colonel Steven Maxwell, Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN). “Protecting the public from individuals like Walters is a priority for MBN and is a mainstay in accomplishing our agency’s mission.”

Walters and his numerous co-conspirators effectuated a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, including the TRICARE program, in an amount exceeding $287 million. Walters further conspired with others to launder the proceeds of his fraud scheme by engaging in monetary  transactions in amounts of over $10,000 in proceeds from the fraud scheme, including transactions relating to his participation in a sham intellectual property scheme.

The FBI’s Jackson Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the IRS-CI, DCIS, and MBN. Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Dustin M. Davis, Assistant Deputy Chief Katherine E. Payerle, and Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Steven Brantley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for approximately $19 billion. In addition, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

Jackson, Miss. – Cherilyn Patrice Humphery, 46, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee, to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Smith was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. 

On May 23, 2019, the Jackson Police Department was looking for a potential robbery suspect at a local hotel.  Law enforcement came in contact with Humphery in a hotel room.  Officers obtained consent to search the room and found cocaine residue and a firearm.  Humphery admitting ownership of the firearm.   Humphery was previously convicted of armed robbery and manslaughter in Hinds County in 1995, cocaine possession in Hinds County in 1998, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and brandishing a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in 2003. 

Humphery was indicted on January 15, 2020 and pled guilty before Judge Lee on October 8, 2020.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wansley.

Jackson, Miss. – Mike Hurst, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today that he has submitted his resignation to President Donald J. Trump and Acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen and will leave the Department of Justice on January 19, 2021.

 “Serving as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for over half of our state has been the highest honor of my professional career.  During my time as U.S. Attorney, I have tried to do everything within my power to make our neighborhoods safer, support our law enforcement, engage and empower our communities and citizens, protect victims, prevent and reduce crime, and uphold our constitutional rights.  The secret to the success of this office is its people – hard-working, tenacious, and full of integrity, they are committed to seeing that justice is always done, every day.  I wish them all the best in their continued service to our fellow man and to this noble work,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

“Mike Hurst is the ultimate public servant. He has routinely taken on tough fights in order to preserve the rule of law – because he believes in it. He has been a champion for the people of Mississippi, and we wish him well in his next adventure,” said Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves.

“Mike Hurst has served the people of Mississippi with honor and distinction as U.S. Attorney,” said United States Senator Roger Wicker. “He’s a talented lawyer and dedicated public servant. I wish him well in his next chapter.”

“Mike Hurst has served as the consummate U.S. Attorney, serving Mississippi and our nation extremely well.  Like so many in our state, I am grateful for his achievements in the Southern District of Mississippi to prosecute crimes and to bring special focus on fighting human trafficking and illegal drug trafficking.  I wish him and his family all the best as he leaves office,” said United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.

“The Mississippi Sheriffs Association offers its gratitude to Mike Hurst for his service as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.  Since October 2017, Mike has faithfully served the State of Mississippi and supported Mississippi law enforcement officers. The Mississippi Sheriffs Association appreciates his service to Mississippi and the United States and wishes him the very best,” said Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson, President of the Mississippi Sheriffs Association.

“It is imperative the many levels of criminal justice to work as a team to be successful.  Having worked with U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst for nearly 4 years, I have seen firsthand his passion to put swift, fair and just efforts into providing justice for victims.  Mike is a law enforcement-minded person and he has always been there to stand on the front lines with Mississippi law enforcement.  His criminal prosecution of the worst in Mississippi should be commended and our communities are safer because of his efforts.  The men and women of law enforcement who combat evil in Mississippi send their sincerest best wishes to Mike and know the best for him is yet to come,” said Ridgeland Police Chief John Neal, President of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.

“As District Attorney of the 15th Judicial District, it is my pleasure to commend and thank Mike Hurst for a job well done during his tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. Mike began the Project EJECT program a few years ago, which targets the investigation and prosecution of violent crime in the Pine Belt area. Through this program, Mike and his prosecution team have created an effective collaboration between federal authorities and state and local agencies, and they have successfully brought many serious offenders to justice. This contribution has assisted my office immeasurably in efforts to ensure public safety in my district, and I appreciate his leadership in this pursuit,” said Fifteenth Circuit District Attorney Hal Kittrell, former President of the Mississippi Prosecutors Association.

CRIMINAL

Southern District of Mississippi Ranked First in Nation for Indictments by Medium-Size Offices in FY19; Most Federal Indictments, Federal Defendants Ever Prosecuted in One Year in Mississippi History

In Fiscal Year 2016, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi indicted just 188 cases.  U.S. Attorney Hurst was determined to change that. Knowing this office, and the capacity it had to do even more, Hurst increased prosecutions by Fiscal Year 2019 to 522 indictments, a 178% increase and almost tripling the number from just three years before.  Those 522 indictments encompassed 641 federal defendants – the most ever in the history of the state of Mississippi.  And this number places the Southern District of Mississippi as the number one Medium-size district in the nation for indictments and prosecutions.

Shortly after becoming United States Attorney, Hurst was named President of the Greater Jackson Law Enforcement Officers Association in February 2018.  Through this group, U.S. Attorney Hurst brought federal, state and local law enforcement together in the greater Jackson metro area to hear from a variety of speakers and increase their coordination and collaboration in their fight again crime and in keeping citizens safe.

Violent Crime

Project EJECT

With violent crime on the rise in Mississippi and throughout the nation, U.S. Attorney Hurst launched Project EJECT in Jackson in December 2017.  Project EJECT, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s initiative under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian programs, was a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. In its first year in Jackson, overall violent crime fell by 7%, including a 50% reduction in carjackings alone, resulting in 108 fewer victims of violent crime in our capital city in 2018.

Recognizing the success of Project EJECT, and the need for more affirmative enforcement of our civil laws, Attorney General Jeff Sessions allocated five brand new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions to the Southern District of Mississippi, more than many other, larger districts throughout the nation. Four of these positions were to combat violent crime, and the other position was to increase our affirmative civil enforcement work.

Because of this ground-breaking, collaborative and innovative work to reduce violent crime, Project EJECT was recognized and awarded in December 2018 as one of only two Outstanding Overall Partnership/Task Forces by the U.S. Department of Justice among all 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the entire country.

In February 2019, Project EJECT was expanded into Hattiesburg, Natchez, Meridian and Moss Point, with Gulfport joining the list in September 2020.  EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” For the first time in its history, the U.S. Attorney’s Office assigned a full-time federal prosecutor to each of these areas with responsibility to carry out Project EJECT and reduce violent crime.  Project EJECT brought together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Likewise, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

At the end of U.S. Attorney Hurst’s second year in office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi ended Fiscal Year 2019 ranked as the number one medium-size office in the nation for number of indictments (outpacing the other 24 medium-size U.S. Attorney’s Offices).   That is an outstanding improvement in just three years, where the Southern District was ranked 19 out of 25 medium-sized districts in Fiscal Year 2016.  Since FY16, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has almost tripled the number of federal criminal indictments throughout the Southern District of Mississippi, charging more defendants with federal crimes than has ever been charged before in the history of the State of Mississippi.

Operation Triple Beam

In June 2018, U.S. Attorney Hurst teamed up with the U.S. Marshals Service’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, along with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to conduct a six-week-long violence reduction initiative in the Southern District of Mississippi known as "Operation Triple Beam," resulting in the arrests of 270 individuals for various crimes, including approximately 90 gang members, and the seizure of 50 firearms, illegal narcotics, and approximately $26,000 in cash. In addition, approximately 300 registered sex offenders were individually checked for compliance, resulting in approximately 20 arrests for sex offender registry violations.  While the Marshals Service has conducted these types of initiatives elsewhere around the country, this is the first time Operation Triple Beam has been conducted throughout an entire U.S. Attorney’s district and is believed to be one of the most successful Operation Triple Beams of this scale that the Marshals have ever accomplished since the program began in 2010.

Domestic Violence and Operation Pheonecia

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Hurst recognized a rising trend of increased domestic violence throughout the country. In response to these national statistics, coupled with anecdotes from local law enforcement and nonprofit organizations, U.S. Attorney Hurst launched a new initiative entitled “Operation Pheonecia,” in honor of a local victim of domestic violence, Pheonecia Ratliff of Canton, Mississippi, to combat this growing threat. Under this initiative, and by working with federal, state and local law enforcement and nonprofit entities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has made the investigation and prosecution of federal domestic violence crimes a priority.  In addition, “Operation Pheonecia” involves a campaign to put domestic abusers on notice of their prohibition to possessing firearms, train law enforcement on how to investigate federal domestic violence crimes, provide education for local judges as to the impact of their orders on potential federal criminal prosecutions, and bring awareness to local bar associations and the public on how to report domestic violence crimes to and work with federal authorities, with the overarching goal to reduce domestic violence, save lives and assist victims.

Opioids

On the cutting edge of prosecutions and investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi announced in October 2017 that it had indicted a Chinese national for conspiracy to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and other deadly chemicals in the United States, marking the first manufacturer and distributor of fentanyl and other opiate substances to be indicted in the history of the United States while being designated as a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT). CPOT designations are those who have "command and control" elements of the most prolific international drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and are considered by DEA to be some of the most significant drug trafficking threats in the world.

Immigration

Astronomical Increase (1,482%) in Immigration Prosecutions in Three Years

In U.S. Attorney Hurst’s first full year, Fiscal Year 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office increased its number of immigration prosecutions by 536% from just two years prior (11 in FY16 v. 70 in FY18).  However, the following year, Fiscal Year 2019, the immigration prosecutions increased another 149% from the just prior year (70 in FY18 v. 174 in FY19). This represents a 1,482% increase in just three years (from FY16 to FY19).

Largest Single-State Worksite Enforcement Operation in Nation’s History

In August 2019, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, conducted the largest single-state worksite enforcement action in our nation’s history, executing multiple federal criminal and administrative search warrants at seven locations across the State of Mississippi, which resulted in the collection of evidence of federal crimes and the arrest of 680 illegal aliens.  This was the most humane enforcement operation ever conducted by ICE, processing all 680 illegal aliens within an approximate 24 hour period and releasing approximately 300 aliens on humanitarian grounds and physically returning these illegal aliens, with ankle monitors, to the place where they were originally encountered.

As a result of this operation, 119 illegal aliens have been prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal crimes ranging from misusing social security numbers of American citizens, to fraudulently claiming to be a U.S. Citizen, to falsifying immigration documents, to reentering the United States after having previously been deported or removed.

Just one year later, in August 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted Managers, Supervisors, and Human Resource Personnel, charging them with Harboring Illegal Aliens, Assisting in Representing False Citizenship and Obtaining False Social Security Cards, Lying to Law Enforcement, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. These prosecutions continue this office’s long, successful history of prosecuting employers for violating our nation’s immigration laws. [link]

Human Trafficking

Recognizing the growing threat and issue that is human trafficking, U.S. Attorney Hurst partnered with U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi, and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Marshal Fisher to establish and launch a statewide, umbrella organization to tackle all facets of this crime – the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council.  Led by AUSAs from both districts in Mississippi, as well as the Mississippi Human Trafficking Coordinator, the Council’s mission is to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute criminals through a partnership model using a victim-centered, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary model. The Council consists of a Steering Committee, five subcommittees to address various issues concerning human trafficking, and small, regional Task Forces, made up of local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement, local prosecutors, and victim service providers, and will be led by an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

In the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Attorney Hurst established five (5) Human Trafficking Task Forces covering every county throughout the district and led by an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Fraud and Public Corruption

Largest Healthcare Fraud Scheme in Mississippi History

For the last three years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been prosecuting business owners, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and many others relating to the largest healthcare fraud scheme in Mississippi history, which has come to be known as the "Compounding Pharmacy" or “pain cream scheme” case in Hattiesburg. This case involves close to $1 billion in fraud by defendants using pharmacies, doctors and unnecessary compounding prescriptions to drive up prices charged to TRICARE, the healthcare system for the military, and other insurance companies. The massive pain cream scheme, which began in Mississippi, has defrauded TRICARE and other insurance companies more than $1.5 billion nationwide, with a third of that fraud attributed to participants in Mississippi.  To date, at least 25 have been charged in the scheme in Mississippi alone, and twenty have been convicted at trial or pled guilty, with others awaiting trial.  In addition to prosecuting these criminals, the office has assisted in recovering millions of dollars and ill-gotten gains and assets through the forfeiture process. [link]

Largest Ponzi Scheme in Mississippi History

In 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted what is believed to have been the largest Ponzi scheme in Mississippi history. Arthur Lamar Adams was sentenced to almost 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud involving a large, multi-state Ponzi scheme involving more than $164 million dollars stolen from more than 320 investors located in at least 14 different states spanning a number of years.

Public Corruption

The office continued its storied tradition of bringing corrupt public officials to justice, whether businessmen bribing state officials, or spouses of public officials paying kickbacks, or state officials rigging bids for money or law enforcement officials committing extortion or wire fraud schemes, or correctional officers accepting bribes.

Civil Rights

Steeped in a hallowed history of effective enforcement of our nation’s civil rights laws, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continued prosecuting those who would violate the civil rights of others, including law enforcement and correctional officers using excessive force [link] [link] [link], as well as those committing hate crimes such as crossburnings. [link] [link]

 

CIVIL

False Claim Act Fraud

In November 2017, one of the largest healthcare fraud settlements involving a nursing home in the history of the Southern District of Mississippi was resolved when a nursing home facility, its related companies, and their owners agreed to pay $1.25 million to resolve allegations of false claims to Medicare and the Mississippi Medicaid program for providing grossly substandard care to residents at the Oxford Health and Rehabilitation nursing home in Lumberton, Mississippi, from late 2005 through 2012. [link]

In December 2017, in what is believed to be the largest False Claims Act healthcare settlement in Mississippi history, Region 8 Mental Health Services agreed to pay the United States in excess of $6.93 million under the False Claims Act to resolve allegations that Region 8 was paid for services that it either did not provide or that were not provided by qualified individuals as part of its preschool Day Treatment program.

Free Speech, First Amendment and Religious Liberties

In December 2019, the office joined our colleagues in the Civil Rights Division in filing a Statement of Interest in a federal lawsuit brought by a student organization and J. Michael Brown, a former student at Jones County Junior College, explaining that public colleges cannot trample on their students’ First Amendment rights to free speech. Jones County Junior College’s policies required campus administrators to pre-approve all “meetings or gatherings,” and Mr. Brown alleged that college officials called the campus police on him when he sought to engage on campus with fellow students about topics such as free speech and civil liberties. Our Statement of Interest pointed to Supreme Court case law explaining that the First Amendment rights of speech and association extend to the campuses of state universities. While Jones County Junior College’s “extreme preconditions to speech might not be out of place in Oceania, the fictional dystopian superstate in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four,” the Statement of Interest explains, “[t]he First Amendment to the United States Constitution . . . ensures that preconditions like these have no place in the United States of America.”

In April 2020, the office joined Attorney General William Barr, our colleagues in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi and the Civil Rights Division in filing a Statement of Interest in support of a church in Greenville, Mississippi that allegedly sought to hold parking lot worship services, in which congregants listened to their pastor preach over their car radios, while sitting in their cars in the church parking lot with their windows rolled up.  The City of Greenville fined congregants $500 per person for attending these parking lot services – while permitting citizens to attend nearby drive-in restaurants, even with their windows open.[1]  The City appears to have thereby singled churches out as the only essential service (as designated by the state of Mississippi) that may not operate despite following all CDC and state recommendations regarding social distancing.

Protecting Our Military and Service Members

In June 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted a settlement agreement with Syncom Space Services, LLC (S3) that resolved allegations that S3 violated the employment rights of Louisiana Air National Guardsman, Jason Cooper, under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA safeguards the rights of uniformed servicemembers, including National Guardsmen, to all benefits of employment following periods of absence due to military service obligations.  Cooper had applied for a promotion while he was deployed on active duty with the National Guard. Although Cooper had the most PT&I experience of all applicants, S3 failed to promote him to the position upon his return from deployment.  As a result of the employer’s failure to promote him to a position that he was qualified for, because of his military service, Cooper lost promotional income and benefits. S3 agreed to pay Cooper for lost wages and to make his promotion effective as of the date on which he returned to work from active duty.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Over the past three years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi saved taxpayers more than $1.7 million dollars, returning this saved money from its budget to the Department of Justice, while at the same time accomplishing more than has ever been done in the history of our district.

 

Upon his departure from the Department of Justice, Hurst plans to join a law firm in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

###

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Charles Chandler Smith, 43, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to filing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Internal Revenue Service Acting Special Agent in Charge James Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office.

According to the facts revealed at his plea hearing, in 2014, Smith took advantage of a tax deduction strategy to deduct money on his tax return and thereby reduce his taxable income.  Smith transferred a total of $1,305,090 from an account held by his business, Lil Mad, to another company and falsely claimed it as a business expense deduction on his 2014 tax return.  Smith falsely claimed that his income with Lil Mad was only $143,070.  Smith admitted to knowing this act was unlawful or deliberately blinded himself to suspicious aspects of the deduction, particularly the fact that the money was soon transferred back to an account that was available to Smith for his personal use.

Smith will be sentenced on March 24, 2021 by Judge Starrett.  He faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI.  It was prosecuted by DOJ Health Care Fraud Trial Attorney Sara Porter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.

 

Jackson, Miss. – Michael Devell Smith, 28, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 75 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A.  Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.  Smith was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. 

From January 2017 to May 2017, Smith sold methamphetamine to buyers, delivering approximately 414 grams of methamphetamine, which was tested and determined to be between 95-99% pure.  Smith was indicted on February 6, 2019 as a result of an extensive operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Jackson Police Department, Madison Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Wansley and Keesha Middleton.

 

Jackson, Miss. – Vicente Lopez-Sanchez, 41, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 180 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting and inflicting serious bodily injury upon a federal law enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Gilbert Trill, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans and Diane Witte, Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

“Our office has zero tolerance for those who attack and harm our law enforcement.  Such criminals can be assured they will receive swift prosecution and severe punishment for their unlawful acts. I commend our federal agents, local police, and prosecutors for ensuring that this criminal was held accountable and that justice prevailed. We will continue to do our part to protect the public and our law enforcement, and to ensure that our laws are enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

On August 2, 2018, a Brandon Police officer stopped Lopez-Sanchez for a traffic violation on Interstate I-20. Because Lopez-Sanchez had no driver’s license and could only name one of the four passengers he was transporting, the officer suspected alien smuggling.  Lopez-Sanchez then resisted arrest by Brandon police officers and an ICE Deportation Officer.  During the fight, Lopez-Sanchez broke a bone in the Deportation Officer’s foot.

Lopez was indicted on August 21, 2018 and charged with assaulting a federal officer.  He was found guilty on October 22, 2019 after a two-day trial before Judge Wingate in U.S. District Court in Jackson.  Lopez-Sanchez has previously been sentenced for a related offense of illegally reentering the United States following a prior deportation, and has been currently serving that sentence.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Brandon Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore Cooperstein and Lynn Murray.

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Jermaine Brown, 36, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Brown was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.  

On October 11, 2019, Brown was found in possession a firearm during a safety checkpoint being operated in Forrest County.  Brown was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including drug trafficking and robbery.

Brown was originally indicted for this offense on November 19, 2019.  He pled guilty on June 11, 2020.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

The Hattiesburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.

 

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Michael Bounds, 30, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett to 15 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Bounds was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

On August 24, 2019, Bounds was found in possession of two firearms, including a 12-gauge shotgun, during a traffic stop in Forrest County.  Bounds was previously convicted of multiple felonies. 

Bounds was originally indicted for this offense on January 29, 2020.  He pled guilty before Judge Starrett on August 18, 2020.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

The Hattiesburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.

 

Gulfport, Miss. – Joseph Benjamin Posey, II, 19, of Biloxi, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

On September 2, 2020, law enforcement officers with the Biloxi Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Posey was a passenger.  As a result of the stop, officers located two loaded handguns, one of which was stolen.  Posey subsequently admitted that he obtained the guns three days before the traffic stop, and that he and the other occupant of the vehicle were on their way to speak to another individual about a series of shootings in Biloxi.  Posey also admitted that he was a member of local gang and that he used marijuana daily.  

Posey was indicted on October 6, 2020. He will be sentenced on March 11, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.   

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Biloxi Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.

Jackson, Miss. – Christopher Michael Cockrell, 45, of Bentonia, pled guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Carlton W. Reeves to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 2, 2020 the United States Probation Office discovered that Cockrell had possession of cell phone which contained a video showing a firearm in a hunting blind.  Cockrell had been previously convicted in federal court in the Western District of Missouri for a Human Trafficking Offense.  After having served a lengthy prison sentence, Cockrell was released from prison and came to live in Mississippi.  Cockrell was then placed under the supervision of the United States Probation Office in the Southern District of Mississippi.

The United States Probation Office informed the ATF that they believed there was evidence that Cockrell had possessed a firearm.  As a convicted felon, it is against federal law for the Cockrell to possess a firearm.  ATF agents conducted an investigation and Cockrell eventually admitted that he had possessed firearms for hunting purposes.

Cockrell was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 17th of 2020.  He is currently in custody and will be sentenced on March 9, 2021 by Judge Reeves.  Cockrell faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  He also faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Jackson, Miss. – Randy Lamar Anderson, 46, of Conehatta, a former elected member of the Tribal Council for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, entered a plea of guilty Thursday before Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to federal wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. 

A Federal Grand Jury originally indicted Anderson on February 6, 2019, charging him with one count of theft and two counts of wire fraud for defrauding the Choctaw Tribal government.  Between August 2016 and November 2018, Anderson forged hotel bills and receipts and submitted those documents to the Tribal government in claims for reimbursement for official business travel.  Since the original indictment issued, Anderson’s term on the Tribal Council expired, and Anderson did not run for reelection to the Council.

Chief Judge Jordan will sentence Anderson on March 3, 2021 at 9:30 a.m., at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi,   Anderson faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.

Jackson, Miss. – Gregory Wayne Haygood a/k/a “Big”, 48, of Jackson, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Acting Special Agent in Charge Gilbert Trill of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.

On February 8, 2017, Haygood was charged in a multi-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and maintaining a place for distributing or using controlled substances. Haygood conspired to distribute cocaine by receiving the cocaine and selling it to others in Jackson and in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Haygood remained at large until he was arrested in September 2019.

Haygood is scheduled for sentencing on March 4, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and up to a $5,000,000 fine. 

This OCDETF operation is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi involving the distribution of cocaine and marijuana.  The distribution network encompassed the states of California, Texas and Mississippi.

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 case was a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Jackson Police Department, and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Chalk.

Jackson, Miss. – Former Meridian Police Officer Royric “Roy” Benamon, 27, pled guilty yesterday before Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to one count of federal extortion under color of right, announced United States Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

“There is almost no greater threat to our society than when public servants, especially law enforcement, betray the trust of the people and abuse their authority for their own personal gain.  Bringing corrupt officials to justice is one of the highest priorities of this office, and we will continue to ensure that the public is protected and that criminals answer for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.

In April 2020, Officer Benamon pulled over a driver at night in Lauderdale County, and solicited and received from the driver a cash payment in exchange for not issuing the driver a ticket.

Benamon was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 28, 2020, charging him with two counts of extortion under color of right, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). 

Sentencing has been set for March 3, 2021 before Judge Jordan in Jackson.  Benamon faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office who investigated the case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.

Jackson, Miss. – Jesus Christian Miranda-Alcantar, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been charged in a federal indictment with attempted bribery of a federal officer and illegal reentry following deportation from the United States, announced United States Attorney Mike Hurst, Gilbert Trill, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Diane Witte, Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2020, charges Miranda-Alcantar with one count of attempted bribery of a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201, and one count of illegal reentry to the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. 

In September 2020, Miranda-Alcantar was found in Hinds County, following his arrest on a domestic violence charge, present without necessary permission to be in the United States since ICE had removed him from the United States in 2013.  While being transported to jail from immigration processing at the ERO offices in Pearl, Miranda-Alcantar offered to pay the federal officer transporting him a bribe of $8,000, if the officer would stop, let Miranda-Alcantar out of the vehicle by the side of the road, and let Miranda-Alcantar escape.

On December 1, 2020, Miranda-Alcantar appeared for arraignment on the indictment before United States Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson in Jackson.  The Court ordered Miranda-Alcantar detained in U.S. Marshals custody while awaiting trial.

Miranda-Alcantar faces maximum penalties of 15 years in prison for the count charged for bribery, and two years in prison on the immigration charge.  Each count also can merit a fine of up to $250,000.   

Trial has been set for February 1, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves in Jackson.

U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Special Agents with the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE and ERO who investigated the case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Gulfport, Miss. –  Johnathan J. Quarles, 26, of Gulfport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.  Quarles was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

On December 26, 2019, Biloxi Police officers executed a search warrant on a Biloxi residence.  Just outside the residence, they observed Johnathan Quarles, who was seated in his vehicle. Quarles saw officers and threw a bag of marijuana out of the car window.  When the officers spoke with Quarles, they observed an unsheathed .9mm in his pocket.  Quarles is an active user of narcotics and therefore not permitted to be in possession of a firearm. 

Quarles was indicted on May 12, 2020 and he pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on August 27, 2020.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. 

 

 

Jackson, Miss. – Jeffery Allen York, 50, of Jackson, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for illegally possessing a gun, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and U.S. Marshal Mark Shepard.  York was also sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine.

On May 21, 2019, U.S. Marshals Service task force agents arrested York at an address in Jackson on an outstanding warrant.  During the arrest, a firearm was found in York’s possession. York has a 2017 felony conviction in Hinds County for possession of methamphetamine.  As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

York was charged in a criminal indictment on July 24, 2019 and pled guilty before Judge Wingate on January 9, 2020.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Murray.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Gulfport, Miss. – Demontra Tucker, 23, of Biloxi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.  Tucker was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

On April 14, 2020, Biloxi police officers responded to the burglary of an unmarked police vehicle in Biloxi.  They learned that two Glock pistols, a Taser, and a radio had been stolen from the vehicle.  On April 15, 2020, an investigation led to information that Demontra Tucker had possession of the stolen Taser and had attempted to sell it.

Officers went to Tucker’s apartment and observed him walking away from a vehicle holding a small pistol bag in front of his chest.  They gave him verbal commands to stop but Tucker fled on foot.  The officers gave chase and Tucker ran through a thickly wooded area where the law enforcement officers lost sight of him.  With assistance from witnesses, Tucker was soon apprehended.  The wooded area was searched, and the pistol bag Tucker was seen carrying was located.  Inside the bag, law enforcement located the stolen Taser as well as a silver and black Smith and Wesson.  The firearm was loaded with one magazine holding ten .40 caliber cartridges of ammunition and one .40 caliber round in the chamber.

Tucker had previous convictions for burglary and robbery in the Circuit Court of Harrison County and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Tucker was charged in a federal indictment on May 12, 2020 and he pled guilty before Judge Guirola on September 2, 2020.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. 

Gulfport, Miss. – Walter Edward Bohl, 64, of Pascagoula, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 37 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for knowingly possessing a firearm after having been committed to a mental institution, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”).

On May 20, 2020, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant at Bohl’s residence in Pascagoula, where Bohl was found to be in possession of a Smith and Wesson, Model M&P 15, 5.56 caliber Rifle. Bohl was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, having been previously committed to a mental institution.

Bohl was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 23, 2020.  He pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on August 27, 2020.

This case was investigated by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.

Gulfport, Miss. –  Montrecus Jaworski Campbell, 40, of Ville Platte, Louisiana, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).

According to the investigation, Campbell received shipments of methamphetamine at his home in Louisiana before providing the methamphetamine to co-conspirators to distribute throughout the Southern District of Mississippi. Agents intercepted one package that contained nearly 3 kilograms of 99% pure methamphetamine.

Campbell was indicted on August 11, 2020. He will be sentenced on March 2, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.  At sentencing, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life.

This case was investigated by the DEA with assistance from the Louisiana State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.

Jackson, Miss. – Marquis Howard McNeely, 38, of Meridian, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to two 120-month sentences, with the second sentence to be served concurrently with the first sentence, for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  McNeely was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

On July 24, 2019 at approximately 4:00 a.m., a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s deputy was on patrol on Highway 19 when the deputy encountered McNeely in a vehicle parked in the wrong lane of traffic.  McNeely was found to be intoxicated and placed under arrest.  A stolen pistol was recovered from the vehicle. McNeely was charged and released on bond. 

On October 8, 2019 McNeely drove up to a traffic safety checkpoint being conducted by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office at the intersection of State Boulevard and Chandler Road.  A deputy approached McNeely’s car and immediately saw that McNeely had an assault rifle style pistol held between his right knee and the center console.  McNeely was again arrested and charged.

McNeely was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 19, 2019 for being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms.  McNeely has prior felony convictions for felony DUI, aggravated assault and manslaughter.  He pled guilty before Judge Jordan on September 1, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Jackson, Miss. – Michael Mays a/k/a Michael Mayes, 35, of Jackson, pled guilty today before U.S. District Tom S. Lee to knowingly selling a firearm to a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michele Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

On July 19, 2018, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation observed Mays sell a firearm in Jackson to a convicted felon, and upon questioning, Mays admitted to knowing the person to whom he sold the firearm was a convicted felon. It is illegal for a person to sell a firearm to a person he knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a convicted felon. 

Mays was indicted on August 11, 2020.  He will be sentenced by Judge Lee on March 18, 2021.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Murray.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Justice Expel Crime Together." PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Gulfport, Miss. – Casey Lee Gilmer, 34, of Harrison County, Mississippi was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”). Gilmer was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

In September 2019, Gilmer stole ten firearms from a residence where he was working in Jackson County, Mississippi.  Gilmer then pawned the firearms at multiple pawnshops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in order to feed his drug addiction.  After the firearms were reported stolen, law enforcement officials were able to identify Gilmer, locate the firearms, and successfully return the firearms to their rightful owner.

Gilmer was indicted on June 23, 2020 and he pled guilty before Judge Guirola on August 27, 2020.

This case was investigated by the ATF and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.

Jackson, Miss. – Shawn Louis Romero, 47 of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 180 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Romero was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. 

In November 2017, during an extensive investigation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi, DEA agents learned that Romero was transporting large amounts of methamphetamine to the Jackson area.  On November 20, 2017, federal agents and local law enforcement set up surveillance to intercept a suspected drug transaction involving Romero.  Romero was pulled over while traveling on Interstate 20.  Officers searched his vehicle and found approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine with a purity level of 98%. 

Romero was charged in a superceding indictment on September 10, 2019 and pled guilty before Judge Jordan on March 5, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Police Department, Richland Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Internal Revenue Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Wansley and Keesha Middleton.

 

Jackson, Miss – Cedrick Tillman, 35, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 121 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Tillman was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine, and will serve his federal sentence consecutively to the state sentence he is currently serving. 

Between January and March 2019, Tillman sold methamphetamine to an individual on multiple occasions.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 6, 2019, and he pled guilty before Judge Wingate on June 24, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Mike Hurst announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Givens Williams will serve as the new Chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.  The change comes in the wake of the departure of former Civil Division Chief Marc Perez, who accepted a position as the Investigative Counsel for the Office of Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency in Seattle, Washington.

“Angela has long been a respected leader in our office, and I am excited that she has accepted this new challenge of leading this important division in our office.  Angela is well-respected by her peers locally and nationally, and her experience, intellect, and work ethic will be invaluable in leading our Civil Division to new heights.  I also want to thank former Civil Chief Marc Perez for his service to this office, his fortitude in always striving for justice, and his hard work in making our Civil Division and our office better than he found it,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

Ms. Williams received her undergraduate degree from Tougaloo College and graduated with honors from the George Washington University School of Law in 2000.  After graduating from law school, Ms. Williams served as a law clerk for Judge Eric Clay of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and later for U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate of the Southern District of Mississippi.  In 2002, she began work for the law firm Arnold and Porter in Washington D.C., where she remained for 4 years before returning to Mississippi and joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division in 2006 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division, Ms. Williams has handled many large and complex affirmative and defensive cases on behalf of the United States. Since February 2016, she has served as the Civil Division’s Senior Litigation Counsel, and has also served as the Ethics Advisor for the office.   In 2018, Ms. Williams received the Robert E. Hauberg Award for Distinguished Public Service, named in honor of the achievements of former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Robert E. Hauberg, the longest serving United States Attorney in the history of our nation. The Award is given annually to an employee who has displayed superior achievement in their assigned duties and who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in some additional public service that makes a significant impact on the community.

The United States Attorney is the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the United States within his or her particular jurisdiction. There are 93 United States Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. United States Attorneys are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, the President of the United States, with advice and consent of the United States Senate. United States Attorneys have three statutory responsibilities: (1) the prosecution of criminal cases brought by the Federal government; (2) the prosecution and defense of civil cases in which the United States is a party; and (3) the collection of debts owed the Federal government which are administratively uncollectible. The Southern District of Mississippi encompasses the lower 45 counties of the State of Mississippi and covers approximately 2 million Mississippians.

 

The Department of Justice announced today that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that the owners, operators and rental agent of several apartment complexes in Pearl, Mississippi, violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against African Americans based on their race.

The department’s complaint seeks relief against three owners and operators of the properties — SSM Properties LLC; Steven Maulding; and Sheila Maulding — as well as James Roe, who acted as a rental agent for the apartment complexes on behalf of the other defendants. The lawsuit is based on the results of testing conducted by the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center and a Charge of Discrimination issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). Testing is a simulation of a housing transaction that compares responses given by housing providers to different types of home-seekers to determine whether or not illegal discrimination is occurring.

The department’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that Roe discriminated against prospective renters on the basis of race by treating African Americans who inquired about available apartments differently and less favorably than similarly-situated white persons. The properties are:

• Oak Manor Apartments, located at 2592 Old Country Club Road, Pearl, Miss.;
• Pearl Manor Apartments, located at 200 George Wallace Drive, Pearl, Miss.; and
• 468 Place Townhomes, located at 2932-34 State Highway 468, Pearl, Miss.

“More than a half century ago, Congress enacted the Fair Housing Act to prohibit landlords and others from denying people the opportunity to live where they want because of their race, color, or other protected characteristics,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Some misguided people unfortunately continue to defy this law by segregating and excluding people because of their skin color. This uncivilized and cruel discrimination hurts people; it must end, now, and the Department of Justice is determined to put a stop to it. All Americans should be free to live anywhere in the United States without regard to the color of their skin. No one’s housing choices should be limited because of race or color or by more subtle differences in the way home-seekers are treated when they ask about available properties. This department is committed to ensuring equal housing opportunities, regardless of race, including by using fair-housing testing to uncover hidden discrimination that might otherwise go undetected.”

“Treating people differently in housing based on the color of their skin is not only morally and ethically reprehensible and incompatible with American principles, but against federal law,”  said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi. “We in the Department of Justice will always strive to ensure that justice is done and that people are treated equitably and fairly, especially when seeking and trying to access such an essential cornerstone of a free society as housing. This lawsuit is just one more step up the long staircase of liberty and justice for all.”

“A person’s race should not be a factor when searching for a place to call home,” said Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD applauds today’s action and remains committed to working with the Justice Department to take appropriate action whenever the nation’s fair housing laws are violated.”

According to the department’s complaint, Roe encouraged white testers to rent at Pearl Manor Apartments but discouraged African-American testers from renting there, telling one African-American tester that if he rented to her at this complex, the residents would think he had “let the zoo out.” In addition, Roe told African-American testers about fewer rental units than white testers, allowed white testers to view certain apartments while not offering or allowing African-American testers the same opportunity, and imposed more stringent financial and employment criteria and inquiries on African-American testers than on white testers. The lawsuit alleges that SSM Properties and Steven and Sheila Maulding are legally responsible for Roe’s alleged discrimination because he worked as their rental agent.

Today’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate victims, civil penalties against the defendants to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.

Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at any of these properties should contact the department toll-free at 1-833-591-0291 or by email at fairhousing@usdoj.gov. Individuals who have information about this or another matter involving alleged discrimination may submit a report online at civilrights.justice.gov.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct. The allegations in the complaint must be proven in court.

Jackson, Miss. – Christian Blake Bunyard, 18, of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, has been charged in a federal criminal indictment with two counts of making threats in interstate commerce and one count of making an interstate transmission of an extortionate communication, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

According to the indictment, in May and July 2020, Bunyard utilized Snapchat to threaten a school shooting, to kill and rape African Americans in Oxford, Mississippi, and to rape another Snapchat user if she did not provide nude photos.

Bunyard appeared for arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson.  The case has been set for trial on December 17, 2020 before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate in Jackson.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department. 

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A Moss Point, Mississippi, resident was sentenced to 22 months in prison for preparing false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst for the Southern District of Mississippi.

According to information provided to the court, Talvesha Glaude owned and operated a tax return preparation business under multiple names, including TMG Tax Service and Regional Tax Service. From 2013 through 2019, Glaude prepared tax returns for clients seeking from the IRS inflated refunds based on fraudulent dependents, federal income tax withholdings, and education credits. In addition to preparing false returns for her clients, Glaude also filed false returns for herself for the tax years 2014 through 2018.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Halil Ozerden also ordered Glaude to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $183,360.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Hurst thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who are investigating the case, and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris, who are prosecuting this case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

Jackson, Miss. – Kenneth R. Britt, Jr., 51, of Wesson, Tony Grant Smith, 26, of Wesson, Barney Leon Bairfield, III, 28, of Brookhaven, and Dustin Corey Treadway, 28, of Brookhaven, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III to federal charges of killing in excess of the legal limit of Kansas wild turkeys while unlicensed and transporting the wild turkeys across state lines to Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Colonel Steve Adcock of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Clark of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The defendants pled guilty to illegally killing wild turkeys in 2017 and 2018 in Kansas and traveling in interstate commerce with the turkeys to Mississippi. The defendants traveled to Kansas and Nebraska and hunted wild turkeys taking over 25 wild turkeys without the required hunting licenses and in excess of the limit of two per person per season, in violation of Kansas law.  They returned to Mississippi with trophy spurs and beards of the illegally-killed turkeys. Under the federal Lacey Act, it is unlawful for any person to transport across state lines any wildlife taken in violation of state law.

Judge Bramlette has scheduled sentencing of the defendants in the United States District Courthouse in Natchez, Mississippi, for February 9, 2021, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

“We take our mission partnering with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats very seriously. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, considers the illegal taking of native wildlife a high priority, and we will continue to work closely with our state agencies to assist them in these important joint investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Clark of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The fine sportsmen and women of this state can rest assured that, nationwide, conservation enforcement agencies, along with Agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will continue working together to stop the thievery and abuse of our valuable natural resources,” said Colonel Steve Adcock of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. It is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.

Jackson, Miss. – Daniel Robert, age 43, of Meridian, Mississippi, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III to serve 330 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy and narcotics trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Robert was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine.

On January 23, 2020, after a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court, Robert was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.  Robert was originally indicted by a federal grand jury on September 3, 2009.  

From 2007 through 2009, Robert was being investigated by the FBI along with several other individuals.  The FBI’s investigation showed that Robert directed the sale of multiple kilograms of cocaine and took in tens of thousands of dollars. Robert organized the transport of cocaine from Houston, Texas, and sold the narcotics in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.  Robert’s criminal organization involved numerous people and utilized vehicles with custom built hidden compartments for transportation of drugs and money.

An undercover operation specifically showed that Robert received $16,000 in exchange for over a kilogram of cocaine.  Robert used two different individuals, who were both charged as co-conspirators, to receive money and distribute cocaine.

On June 26, 2009, Robert, along with another co-conspirator, were stopped in Vidor, Texas, driving a truck with a hidden compartment containing almost 8 kilograms of cocaine.  Robert was released from custody in Vidor, Texas, and traveled back to Mississippi.  With the help of his girlfriend, Robert attempted to reclaim his cocaine, which he believed had not been discovered in the hidden compartment. 

Robert believed his girlfriend was arranging to purchase the truck from insurance adjusters who had taken possession of the truck on the basis that it was reported stolen.  The insurance adjusters were actually undercover FBI agents with the consent of the insurance company that actually owned the truck.  Video recordings and pictures were taken of Robert and his girlfriend when they came to the insurance “sale.”  After “purchasing” the truck, Robert returned to Meridian, and proceeded to attempt to recover the cocaine he thought was still inside the hidden compartment.

FBI and SWAT officers descended on the location and arrested most of the organization, but Robert was able to elude capture by fleeing into a nearby field.  Robert remained at large for a decade before he was taken into custody by the FBI.

Robert has an additional pending charge for witness tampering in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.  Robert also faces charges in Illinois for narcotics distribution and witness tampering.          

The OCDETF operation is a result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.  

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 case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin O. Chalk and Chet Kirkham.

 

 

Jackson, Miss. – Judith Ann Middleton, 70, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with multiple violations of federal law involving unemployment insurance benefits fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Shawn Wolfe.

In May 2020, it was discovered that unemployment insurance benefits from the State of Washington had been deposited into Middleton’s account.  Investigation into these benefits revealed that they were deposited under other individuals’ names.  The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency, and Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) into law in response to the pandemic to aid those financially affected by the outbreak.  This aid included $600 of federal unemployment compensation benefits in addition to those provided by the states.

“Those who blatantly steal taxpayer money by defrauding government programs during a national emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic will soon find themselves standing in a federal court to answer for their crimes.  This type of fraud particularly hurts the unemployed, but also our government, our economy, and all Americans. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to root out this fraud and protect the public from further financial harm,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.

“The United States Secret Service is investigating the release of CARES Act relief payments and associated fraudulent schemes that seek to exploit these funds.  We have observed a proliferation and diversification of criminal schemes, particularly an increase in targeting various economic relief programs, such as unemployment benefits, the Payment Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) payments.  The Secret Service is collaborating closely with other federal, state, and local agencies, and our financial institution partners to detect, investigate, and bring justice to criminals committing financial fraud related to COVID-19,” said Shawn Wolfe, Resident Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, Jackson Resident Office.

Middleton appeared for arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson.  The case has been set for trial before Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III on December 7, 2020.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan M. McCalla is prosecuting the case. 

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Gulfport, Miss. – Gianluca Quagliaroli, 21, of North Carolina, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 121 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge Gilbert Trill of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans, and Special Agent Shannon Robinson, Commander of Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Detachment 407 at Keesler Air Force Base.  Quagliaroli was ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution to identified victims and $5,100 in special assessment fees.  He was also ordered to register as a sex offender.   

“I want to commend the work of our law enforcement and military for discovering and bringing this criminal to justice. Those who deal and trade in child pornography perpetuate harm against children and combatting and ending this elicit market of child pornography is a high priority for the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

“Those who serve in trusted public positions are not immune to investigation and prosecution, especially those who participate in the exploitation of children,” said HSI New Orleans acting Special Agent in Charge Gilbert Trill. “HSI is committed to protecting our nation’s children. This sentencing demonstrates the effectiveness our collaborative efforts with civilian and military law enforcement partners.”

Special Agent Robinson stated, “This was a total win coupled with great teamwork.  The Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 407, is proud to have uncovered such criminal activity, shedding light on it through persistent and diligent investigative work.  We’re thankful to have a great working relationship with the United States Attorney’s Office, who successfully prosecuted this case.”

On March 11, 2019, Quagliaroli received both photographs and videos of child pornography that he solicited through the social media site Instagram.  Quagliaroli then stored some of the child pornography on his Google Drive account.  Shortly thereafter, the child pornography was identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).  The NCMEC tip was ultimately referred to the AFOSI Detachment at Keesler Air Force Base, where subsequent investigation disclosed that then-Airman Quagliaroli had received the child pornography referenced in the tip.

Quagliaroli was originally indicted for this offense on February 12, 2020.  With the cooperation of law enforcement partners at Keesler AFB, Quagliaroli was arrested by civilian federal authorities for receipt of child pornography immediately following his discharge from the Air Force.  Quagliaroli pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on June 3, 2020.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexxa Pritchett.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

“Today, Jackson Police Department Chief James E. Davis announced JPD’s ‘Operation Unity’ to saturate the City of Jackson with state and local law enforcement over the next two weeks.  I was told about this operation on Friday by one of my federal prosecutors, and I called Chief Davis to advise him against telling criminals in advance about an upcoming law enforcement operation.  Chief Davis did not answer nor return my phone call, so I sent him a letter yesterday, imploring him not to hold a press conference before such an operation, as it could put officers’ lives in danger and criminals would simply hide to avoid detection.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with JPD and our other partners in order to prosecute violent criminals in Jackson, as we have been doing for the last three years, under Project EJECT.  But I pray for our law enforcement and their safety over the next two weeks in Jackson, and I hope that future law enforcement operations will be conducted to have more meaningful, long-term effects.”

U.S. Attorney Hurst’s letter to Chief Davis is attached hereto.

Jackson, Miss – Damien Hayes, 25, of Natchez, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III to possessing a stolen firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

On March 22, 2019, ATF agents and state and local law enforcement officers were conducting a detail in Natchez and the surrounding area in response to complaints of criminal activity.  Officers smelled burning marijuana and approached Damien Hayes who tossed a marijuana blunt onto the ground.  When officers frisked Hayes, they discovered a .45 caliber pistol tucked into his pants.  Further investigation revealed the firearm had been stolen from a local firearms dealer. On January 29, 2020, Hayes was indicted for possession of a stolen firearm.   

Hayes will be sentenced by Judge Bramlette on January 26, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Natchez Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Jackson, Miss. – Tirale Orlando Reed, 38, of Meridian, Mississippi, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bramlette III to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in a school zone, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On July 15, 2016, at an apartment complex in Meridian, a confrontation between Reed and another individual turned violent, and Reed shot and killed the individual. Reed fled the scene and, while passing through the grounds of a school, threw his .45 caliber handgun into a creek bed near 44th Avenue.  Reed was subsequently charged with murder in the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, which is still pending. 

Reed was charged in a federal Criminal Information with possession of a firearm in a school zone.   He pled guilty before Judge Bramlette on August 4, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Jackson, Miss. – Terrance Braden, 41, of Memphis, Tennessee, pled guilty on October 27, 2020 before Senior U.S. District Judge Davie Bramlette III to transporting women from Memphis to Jackson to engage in sex with men for money, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

On June 25, 2020, Braden drove women from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, and immediately posted advertisements via the Internet of such women.  An undercover law enforcement officer posing as a “customer” arranged a date with one of the women on June 26, 2020, at a local motel in Jackson.  The officer, along with other law enforcement officers, arrived at the hotel and arrested Terrence Braden and two other women for prostitution.  Further investigation revealed that Braden was, in fact, the pimp transporting the women for his prostitution business.

Braden will be sentenced by Judge Bramlette on February 2, 2021 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

The Jackson Division of the Federal Bureau Investigation and the Hinds County Sheriff Department investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Glenda R. Haynes is prosecuting the case.

 

Gulfport, Miss. – Edward Lee Thomas, 48, of Perkinston, pled guilty yesterday, before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to producing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Gilbert Trill, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans. 

In March of 2020, HSI Gulfport received 95 images and 2 videos of child sexual abuse from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation led agents to a residence in Forrest County, Mississippi, where the sexual abuse images of two minors had been taken.  Agents executed a federal search warrant at the residence of Edward Lee Thomas in Perkinston, Mississippi.  The seizure and forensic examination of electronic devices taken from Thomas’ residence revealed over 4,000 images and 700 videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Thomas will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 21, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., in Gulfport.  He faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in prison. However, if Thomas’s 2004 Mississippi state conviction for sexual battery of a child is determined to be a qualifying prior conviction, he faces a maximum penalty of not less than 25 years nor more than 50 years, and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.                                  

Gulfport, Miss. – Timothy Frank Ross, 54, formerly of Gulfport, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to conspiracy to commit theft of mail, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Chris Cave with the U. S.  Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office.  

From September, 2016, through March, 2017, Ross and co-conspirators stole mail from victims’ residences and their mail boxes in the Gulfport and Bay St. Louis areas. Ross and his co-conspirators cashed checks from the stolen mail and made deposits with stolen checks into a bank account controlled by a co-conspirator. 

Ross was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 24, 2019.  He will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 22, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., in Gulfport.  He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.                                  

Gulfport, Miss. – Lawrence Lavoy Jackson, 36, of Pascagoula, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  

On September 2, 2019, Moss Point Police officers encountered Jackson in a vehicle parked in front of a store in Jackson County. The vehicle was running, with the reverse lights on, and Jackson appeared to be asleep at the wheel of the vehicle. The police tapped on the window several times to get Jackson to respond. The officer had Jackson step out of the vehicle and found a 9 mm pistol in his waist band and 7 rounds of ammunition. Jackson had previous felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

On September 2, 2019, Jackson was indicted by a federal grand jury, charging him with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

Jackson will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 21, 2021, at 9:30 a.m.  He faces a maximum penalty of not more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Moss Point Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.         

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

 

Jackson, Miss. – Dallas Smith, 59, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Carlton W. Reeves to time-served, or 14 months, and 3 years of supervised release for illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michele Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Smith was also sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000.

On September 11, 2017, officers with the Jackson Police Department were dispatched to an apartment complex on a shooting complaint.  Based upon the statements of eyewitnesses, they stopped a vehicle in which Dallas Smith was a passenger.  Upon questioning, Smith admitted to possessing the pistol and rifle found in the vehicle.  Smith also admitted to discharging the firearms at the apartment complex.

Smith has a forgery conviction in Madison County and a grand larceny conviction in Rankin County, and it is illegal for him to possess a firearm.  He pled guilty before Judge Reeves on January 22, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Murray.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Oliver McNair, 29, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”).

On August 31, 2019, McNair was found in possession of over 60 grams of methamphetamine in Petal.  Pursuant to forensic analysis by the DEA, the methamphetamine was determined to be approximately 97% pure.

McNair was indicted for this offense on January 15, 2020.  He will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on January 21, 2021 at 10:15 a.m.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

 

Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst today announced awards of over $8.6 million in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the Southern District of Mississippi. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.

“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”

“I am grateful to the Department of Justice for investing in our communities to help address addiction has adversely affected so many Mississippians and their families.  These groups should be commended for stepping up to address these problems in their communities.  We have achieved so much in the last three years and we will continue to fight the epidemic of illegal narcotics on multiple fronts in order to make our neighborhoods safer,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.

“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”

Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

The following organizations received funding:

• The Mississippi State Department of Health - $6,000,000 under Category 2 of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program.
   
• The Harrison County Board of Supervisors - $827,963 under the Family Drug Court Program.
   
• The County Court of Hancock County - $742,462 under the Family Drug Court Program.
   
• The Lamar County Board of Supervisors - $599,981 under Category 1 of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program.
   
• Mississippi Division of Public Safety Planning - $434,114 under the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program
   
• Jackson County, Mississippi - $94,328 under the Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Courts Discretionary Grant Program.

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

 

 

Gulfport, Miss – Carter Tranh Tran, 42, of Pass Christian, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 50 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for selling fentanyl, announced U. S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerly with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Starting in February 2018, Tran sold narcotics on numerous occasions, including fentanyl that he represented as Adderall.  In February 2020, following additional sales of marijuana at Tran’s convenience store, Gulfport Police Department officers executed search warrants on Tran’s store and home.  Law enforcement recovered 14 pounds of marijuana from Tran’s home and an additional 13 pounds from the convenience store on Pass Road in Gulfport.

The Gulfport Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.

Gulfport, Miss –  Lisa Gordon-Scruggs, 53, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 36 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for filing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. Thornton of IRS Criminal Investigation.  Gordon-Scruggs was also ordered to pay restitution of $593,379.42 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Gordon-Scruggs was the Chief Operating Officer and office manager of Highside Chemicals, Inc. (“Highside”) in Gulfport, Mississippi during the investigative period, from 2013 through 2018.  Based on her position and access to the bank account of Highside, Gordon-Scruggs embezzled over $2 million, which she funneled into accounts she owned, and used to pay off credit cards in her name and a family member. 

Gordon-Scruggs pled guilty to one count of knowingly filing a false income tax report for tax year 2014 when she reported taxable income of $34,907, but did not include the $446,423 she had embezzled from Highside that year.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.

Jackson, Miss. – Dominique Dontona Ashford, 36, of Meridian, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee, to two concurrent 262 month sentences in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, as well as a $1,500.00 fine, for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On March 18, 2019, officers with the Meridian Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance.  Upon arriving at the residence, the officers spoke with the complainant who told them she wanted her boyfriend, Ashford, out of her house.  Officers spoke with Ashford and told him they would need to pat him down for weapons.  Ashford was found to be in possession of suspected narcotics during the pat down search.

When officers searched his pockets, three .38 caliber bullets were found in Ashford’s left front pants pocket.  The complainant told officers that she did not own any firearms and that she wanted all of Ashford’s belongings out of her house.  The complainant testified at trial that Ashford threatened to beat her with a handgun earlier that day.

Meridian Police officers searched the house and located a .38 caliber Taurus revolver, loaded with five .38 caliber bullets, in a closet in a back bedroom.  The complainant identified the revolver as the pistol with which she had been threatened.  Officers with the Meridian Police Department, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and an ATF agent testified at trial in addition to Ashford’s ex-girlfriend.

Ashford was found guilty by a jury on March 3, 2020 following a one-day trial in U.S. District Court before Judge Lee.  Ashford has previous convictions for robbery, possession of cocaine, burglary and sale of cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church.  Due to the number and nature of Ashford’s prior convictions, he faced a minimum of fifteen years in prison, and a maximum potential sentence of life in prison, as to each of the two counts. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

 

Gulfport, Miss. – Wilson Orlando Hercules, 33, an illegal alien from Honduras, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to Unlawful Reentry by an Alien Removed After Conviction of a Felony, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, and Diane Witte, Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement & Removal Operations in New Orleans. 

Hercules is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 15, 2021.  He faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, in addition to 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 

On February 22, 2020, Bay St. Louis Police stopped Hercules' vehicle after a citizen complaint regarding narcotics.  Hercules, who was driving a van, was charged with simple possession of a state misdemeanor amount of crack cocaine and a paraphernalia pipe.  He later was arrested by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), who positively identified Hercules through DHS computerized record checks (including fingerprints and photographs) at the Gulfport ICE Office. 

In 2019, Hercules was previously convicted of the federal felony of Unlawful Reentry Into the United States by an Alien After Removal.  Hercules had been sentenced in 2019 to time-served plus one year of supervised release and was surrendered to ICE for removal from the United States.  Thereafter, he was removed by ICE to his home nation of Honduras. 

Hercules has been lawfully removed from the U.S. to Honduras on seven occasions starting in 2011, and this is his eighth illegal reentry after removal.  Until his earlier prosecution in Mississippi, Hercules had never been prosecuted for Unlawful Reentry After Removal.

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations; the City of Bay St. Louis Police Department; and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.

Gulfport, Miss – Joshua Rain Collins, 29, of Hancock County, entered a guilty plea today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Theilhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Judge Ozerden will sentence Collins on January 15, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.  He faces a minimum of 5 years in prison on the charge.  He further faces fines up to $250,000 and 5 years of supervised release. 

On September 26, 2019, Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies received information that Collins and a female were in possession of narcotics and a firearm at a hotel on Hwy 49 in Gulfport.  They found Collins with a backpack containing approximately 17 grams of methamphetamine and a Smith & Wesson handgun.  Collins admitted the handgun was protection.  DEA lab reports document the methamphetamine had a purity level of 99% for 16.58 grams of pure methamphetamine.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Forearms and Explosives investigated the case.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.

Gulfport, Miss. – David Eugene Bangs, 56, of Biloxi, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to escape from federal custody, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Mark Shepard, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi.      

On January 27, 2020, Bangs was being transported by bus from a federal facility in Jesup, Georgia, to Dismas Charities Community Corrections Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he would have completed the last months of his incarceration there.  However, on January 28, 2020, when the bus made a stop in Biloxi, Bangs escaped from custody. He was subsequently arrested on January 29, 2020 by the U. S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Bangs was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on February 25, 2020.  He will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 14, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. in Gulfport.  He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the U. S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.