Southern District of Mississippi

Gulfport, Miss. – Michael Alex Miller, 19, of Gulfport, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 70 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for accessing with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi.

Judge Ozerden also ordered Miller to pay $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and $3,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018, in addition to $18,000 in restitution.

In February 2019, the FBI received information that a specific Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a Gulfport residence had previously accessed a website used to access child pornography. On February 8, 2019, agents went to that Gulfport address and Michael Alex Miller answered the door. Miller agreed to voluntarily speak with the agents who conducted a non-custodial interview with Miller. Miller admitted to looking at child pornography on his cellular telephone and viewing or accessing multiple images of the same. Forensic examination of Miller’s cellular devices confirmed Miller accessed multiple images of minors engaging in such conduct. A review of the images by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also confirmed that the images included known minors.

Miller was indicted on February 20, 2019, for accessing the images of the minors. He pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on April 25, 2019.

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

Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Mike Hurst announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi will host a Re-entry Services Fair in Meridian under Project EJECT in order to provide vital services, information, and assistance to previously incarcerated individuals who are re-entering society.

The Re-entry Services Fair will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Velma Young Community Center, 2400 16th Avenue, in Meridian.

"Re-entry is an integral part of Project EJECT and a vital component to reducing violent crime. Most prisoners today will one day be released back into our communities. We as a people must do all that we can to empower these individuals with the tools they need to be law-abiding and productive citizens. I want to personally thank these agencies, non-profits, and volunteers for coming together and helping folks get back on their feet. By working together, we are making our neighborhoods safe and secure for everyone," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

"Working together we can and are making a difference in the lives of our returning citizens," said Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Pelicia E. Hall. "Events such as these expose them to resources and job opportunities. I encourage formerly incarcerated persons to take advantage of this re-entry services fair. The fair is also available to the general public. Similar events have been successful. We hope we can say the same about Wednesday’s event. And, we would like to hold a resource fair in south Mississippi in the near future."

The goal of the fair is to help previously incarcerated individuals overcome obstacles often faced by those who are trying to re-enter society. Participating agencies will set up booths to provide resources in a variety of areas such as assistance with obtaining personal identification documents, housing information, educational assistance, legal information, and guidance for seeking and obtaining employment.

Agencies participating in the Re-entry Services Fair include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Mississippi Department of Corrections, U.S. Probation Office, Mississippi Community College Board, and the Governor’s Job Fair Network of Mississippi.

This event 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, reentry 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.

Jackson, Miss. – As part of an immigration enforcement operation throughout central Mississippi yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) concluded their processing of detained aliens last night and followed their procedures by releasing many on humanitarian grounds, announced Jere Miles, HSI Special Agent in Charge in New Orleans, and Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Preliminarily, it appears that approximately 30 detained aliens were released yesterday on humanitarian grounds at the individual sites where they were initially encountered, and another 270 detained aliens were released after being processed by HSI at the National Guard base in Pearl and returned to the place where they were originally encountered.

Pursuant to HSI procedures as part of this operation, all those detained yesterday were asked when they arrived at the processing center whether they had any children who were at school or childcare and needed to be picked up. In order to make it possible for detained aliens to contact family members and address childcare issues, HSI made cell phones available for use by detained aliens to make arrangements for the care of their children or other dependents. In addition, HSI had liaison officers working with the school districts to facilitate this process.

As part of HSI procedures pursuant to this operation, if HSI encountered two alien parents with minor children at home, HSI released one of the parents on humanitarian grounds and returned that individual to the place from which they were arrested. HSI similarly released any single alien parent with minor children a home on humanitarian grounds and physically returned that person to the place where he or she was originally detained. Based on these procedures, it is believed that all children were with at least one of their parents as of last night.

If there are children who are without parents, individuals are required by state law to contact Mississippi Child Protective Services ("CPS") at 1-800-222-8000. CPS will assist in taking care of that child and placing the child in a safe foster care home or licensed facility.

Family members of those detained can call ICE’s toll-free detainee locator hotline for information about an individual’s detention location and status, as well as information about the removal process. This hotline operates in English and Spanish. The phone number is 1-888-351-4024.

This operation is part of multiple ongoing criminal investigations and these investigations continue.

Gulfport, Miss. – Dannie Curlee, Jr., 46, of Picayune, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. to producing images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.

In February 2017, Curlee produced images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Curlee was identified by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attache Vancouver, and HSI in Mississippi, as an individual, with a specific user name, involved with numerous individuals posting images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children utilizing a Canadian company’s instant messaging mobile app “Kik”. 

Subsequent investigation and the identification of an internet protocol or “IP” address linked to Curlee led to the execution of a federal search warrant in July of 2018 at Curlee’s Picayune residence and his subsequent arrest.  Curlee admitted when interviewed that he had produced images of a minor child. He was charged in a federal indictment in April, 2019. 

Curlee will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on November 14, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in Gulfport.   He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Task Force with assistance from the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative 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.

Jackson, Miss. – 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, executed multiple federal criminal search warrants this morning for evidence relating to various federal crimes, as well as administrative search warrants searching for individuals illegally present in the United States, at seven sites across the State of Mississippi, announced Acting Director of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Matthew Albence,  Jere Miles, HSI Special Agent in Charge in New Orleans, and Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

“HSI’s worksite enforcement efforts are equally focused on aliens who unlawfully seek work in the U.S. as well as the employers who knowingly hire them,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Miles.

“The execution of federal search warrants today was simply about enforcing the rule of law in our state and throughout our great country.  I commend these federal agents, our state and local law enforcement partners, and our federal prosecutors for their professionalism and dedication to ensure that those who violate our laws are held accountable.  We are a nation of laws, and we will remain so by continuing to enforce our laws and ensuring that justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

As a result of today’s operation, approximately 680 aliens were detained by HSI special agents. Some are being identified as being eligible for an alternative to detention based on humanitarian reasons. These individuals will be physically returned by HSI to their original place of detention and will still be required to appear before a federal immigration judge who will ultimately determine whether or not they will be deported. Currently, all cases are being handled via administrative law procedures at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Family members of those detained can call ICE’s toll-free detainee locator hotline for information about an individual’s detention location and status, as well as information about the removal process. This hotline operates in English and Spanish. The phone number is 1-888-351-4024.

All of those detained are being interviewed, fingerprinted and photographed by ICE agents, processed for removal from the United States, and transported to an ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana.

This operation is part of multiple ongoing criminal investigations. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced that Graham Williamson pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges related to the commission of a crossburning on Oct. 24, 2017, in Seminary, Mississippi. Specifically, Williamson, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with housing rights, a federal civil rights violation, and one count of conspiring to use fire to commit a federal felony.

In his plea, Williamson admitted that he and a co-conspirator planned and carried out a racially motivated crossburning in a predominantly African-American residential area of Seminary, Mississippi. Specifically, Williamson admitted that he and the co-conspirator constructed a cross using materials from in and around the co-conspirator’s residence, placed the cross near the home of African-American residents of that area, including the home of a juvenile victim identified as M.H., and lit the cross on fire. Williamson further admitted that he built and burned the cross to threaten, frighten, and intimidate M.H. and other African-American residents because of their race and color of their skin, and because those individuals lived in the Keys Hill area of Seminary, Mississippi. Williamson acknowledged that he knew burning crosses have historically been used to threaten, frighten, and intimidate African-Americans.

Williamson faces a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the two charges. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 5.

“The defendant used a violent symbol of racial intimidation to threaten these victims and inspire fear, while they resided in the security of their own homes,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice does not tolerate these hateful and historically egregious acts, and will continue to vigorously prosecute criminals who violate the civil rights of peaceful community members.”

“Those who commit criminal acts based on race to intimidate and scare our fellow citizens will face swift and certain justice from this U.S. Attorney’s Office. These types of hateful actions have no place in our communities, and we will continue to fight for and uphold the civil rights of all throughout our State,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

“Crimes motivated by hate are intended to intimidate their victims and spread fear in the community, undermining societal values,” said FBI Jackson Division Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin. “The FBI will continue its aggressive investigations of acts like these in pursuit of justice for the victims and the integrity of civil rights for all.”

This case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Hattiesburg Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Gregory Mayberry for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

The Department of Justice announced that Graham Williamson pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges related to the commission of a crossburning on Oct. 24, 2017, in Seminary, Mississippi. Specifically, Williamson, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with housing rights, a federal civil rights violation, and one count of conspiring to use fire to commit a federal felony.

In his plea, Williamson admitted that he and a co-conspirator planned and carried out a racially motivated crossburning in a predominantly African-American residential area of Seminary, Mississippi. Specifically, Williamson admitted that he and the co-conspirator constructed a cross using materials from in and around the co-conspirator’s residence, placed the cross near the home of African-American residents of that area, including the home of a juvenile victim identified as M.H., and lit the cross on fire. Williamson further admitted that he built and burned the cross to threaten, frighten, and intimidate M.H. and other African-American residents because of their race and color of their skin, and because those individuals lived in the Keys Hill area of Seminary, Mississippi. Williamson acknowledged that he knew burning crosses have historically been used to threaten, frighten, and intimidate African-Americans.

Williamson faces a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the two charges. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 5.

“The defendant used a violent symbol of racial intimidation to threaten these victims and inspire fear, while they resided in the security of their own homes,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice does not tolerate these hateful and historically egregious acts, and will continue to vigorously prosecute criminals who violate the civil rights of peaceful community members.”

“Those who commit criminal acts based on race to intimidate and scare our fellow citizens will face swift and certain justice from this U.S. Attorney’s Office. These types of hateful actions have no place in our communities, and we will continue to fight for and uphold the civil rights of all throughout our State,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

“Crimes motivated by hate are intended to intimidate their victims and spread fear in the community, undermining societal values,” said FBI Jackson Division Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin. “The FBI will continue its aggressive investigations of acts like these in pursuit of justice for the victims and the integrity of civil rights for all.”

This case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Hattiesburg Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Gregory Mayberry for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

For more information about Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.

Jackson, Miss. – Laron Evans, 34, of Vicksburg, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate to conspiring to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and health care fraud; money laundering; aggravated identity theft; mail fraud; and contempt of court, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

"We in the U.S. Attorney’s Office will remain steadfast in bringing these swindlers to justice, while the public must remain vigilant to such schemes that seek to defraud us of our identities and our money. I commend the FBI agents and our federal prosecutors for doggedly pursuing these fraudsters and putting an end to their criminal enterprise," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

"Health care fraud is a systemic issue nationwide, costing our country tens of billions of dollars each year," said SAC Sutphin. "The FBI will continue to pursue those that prey on our health care system and investigate these types of schemes."

Laron Evans conspired with co-defendant Travious Quinshad Jackson and others to execute a health care fraud scheme involving Health Savings Accounts ("HSA’s"), using interstate wire communications and the U.S. postal system. The scheme used interstate wire communication via the Internet to send Personal Identification Information (PII) of 57 actual people, pretending that they were employees of an imaginary company, to a third party administrator company located in Maryland.

The third party administrator company used the stolen PII to create individualized HSA accounts, and corresponding debit cards, for all 57 employee names, and sent debit cards for each employee name in the mail to Vicksburg addresses. The third party administrator advanced and credited funds to each HSA account created for the supposed employees, which money could then be spent through the debit card at designated retail stores. The third party administrator funded approximately $317,000 to these HSA accounts.

Evans, assisted by Jackson and others, spent down the debit cards in various stores throughout April and May 2018, buying gift cards, debit cards, and other consumer goods to deplete the HSA accounts. The third party administrator in the meantime had learned that there was no money in the bank account that Evans had identified for his fake company, when the company sought reimbursement for the HSA accounts.

On July 10, 2018, using proceeds gained from the health care fraud scheme, Evans bought a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban SUV in Forrest County, Mississippi, for $44,335 in cash plus a trade-in vehicle. The Chevy Suburban was titled in Mississippi in Evans’s name and remained under that title through and beyond February 2019.

On February 13, 2019, Evans appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson for his initial appearance and arraignment in this case. Judge Anderson entered an Order permitting Evans to be released on bond pending trial, subject to conditions forbidding travel without prior permission of the Court before leaving the Southern District of Mississippi. Between April 16 and April 20, 2019, Evans travelled outside the State of Mississippi without permission of the Court. Also during April and May 2018, while outside the State of Mississippi and on his return to Vicksburg, Evans continued to execute health care fraud schemes using the Internet and the U.S. Mails.

Evans falsely represented himself as leader and manager of an Orlando, Florida, business, seeking to establish health care benefits including HSA accounts for its purported employees. Evans submitted over the Internet to a third party administrator company located in Minnesota, bank account information for drawing reimbursement, plus employee information for creation of HSA debit cards. The Minnesota company sent some of the debit cards, during the period April 16-25, 2019, to Evans at his Vicksburg home address through the U.S. Mail. Evans had requested that the Minnesota administrator fund those HSA accounts up to $91,000.

Evans will be sentenced on January 31, 2020, by Judge Wingate. He faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison as to the conspiracy charge, 10 years in prison as to the money laundering charge, a mandatory consecutive 2 year sentence for the aggravated identity theft, a possible maximum sentence of 30 years for the mail fraud charge, and up to 5 years in prison for the contempt of court offense. Evans also faces maximum fines of $250,000.00 on each charge.

Co-defendant Travious Quinshad Jackson has already pled guilty and will be sentenced by Judge Wingate on September 16, 2019.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Social Security Office of Investigator General, Vicksburg Police Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore M. Cooperstein.

Gulfport, Miss. – Tyron Jerrod Nelson, 35, of Pascagoula, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 128 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Bradford L. Byerley. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.

On March 2, 2016, DEA agents executed a criminal search warrant at Nelson’s home, with Nelson present, wherein DEA agents seized 902 grams of Methamphetamine (ICE), 27 grams of Cocaine, MDMA, and approximately 117 pounds of Marijuana.

Further investigation revealed that, in March 2017, Nelson had traveled to Houston, Texas and purchased a kilogram of methamphetamine. Nelson brought the methamphetamine back to Pascagoula, Mississippi, for further distribution. The individual who sold the methamphetamine to Nelson in Texas was ultimately prosecuted in the Southern District of Mississippi and he corroborated the information uncovered during the investigation. Further investigation revealed that Nelson had also sold multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in December 2017 in both Gulfport, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

DEA agents arrested Nelson in Gulfport, and during the execution of a search warrant at the residence where Nelson was located, DEA agents seized over $160,000.00 hidden in the attic. Nelson admitted to parts of the bulk currency being comprised of funds derived from the illicit sale of narcotics.

The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.

Jackson, Miss. – Trent Deundra Crump, 28, of Flowood, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III to 65 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Crump was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.

On April 4, 2017, officers with the Pearl Police Department responded to an accident on the eastbound ramp of the I-20 exit to Highway 49 North.  As a result of a consent search, a semi-automatic pistol was found in Crump’s vehicle.  Crump has a prior felony conviction for attempted illegal drug sales.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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. – Jose Antonio Castillo, 44, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 235 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI") in New Orleans. Castillo was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

In late 2017, HSI agents in Gulfport began investigating Castillo’s drug trafficking organization. Based on numerous sources of information, agents determined that Castillo was supplying at least three individuals on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with methamphetamine. Those three individuals would travel to Atlanta, Georgia, and meet Castillo at an automotive shop where he worked. Castillo would provide pound quantities of methamphetamine to these individuals in exchange for money. The individuals purchasing the methamphetamine from Castillo would then bring that meth back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and sell it.

In July 2018, local HSI agents traveled to Atlanta and arrested Castillo. At the time of his arrest, Castillo had over 800 grams of methamphetamine in his car. Agents also executed search warrants at Castillo’s home and the automotive shop.

To date, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi has prosecuted seven individuals involved in Castillo’s drug trafficking organization. All seven of those individuals have pled guilty.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Gulfport, Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta, and the Georgia Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.

Gulfport, Miss. – Oscar A. Fajardo, 50, a legal permanent resident in the United States and a citizen of El Salvador, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to transporting an illegal alien within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.

Fajardo is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Guirola on November 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and special assessments that could total $5,100. Fajardo also will face Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings and potential loss of his Legal Permanent Resident status.

On March 26, 2019, in Jackson County, Mississippi, a South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team agent stopped a vehicle on Interstate 10 eastbound for a traffic violation. The agent initiated the traffic stop while calling for back-up, and a U.S. Border Patrol Agent arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. The Border Patrol Agent made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Oscar A. Fajardo. The agent identified himself as a Border Patrol Agent, and learned that Mr. Fajardo is a legally admitted permanent resident alien to the United States, who is a citizen of El Salvador.

Fajardo and his passenger, Andres Barrientos-Flores, were traveling from Houston, Texas, to Virginia. Barrientos Flores, also a citizen of El Salvador, was determined to be an illegal alien to the United States who had been previously removed from the United States. Barrientos-Flores was separately prosecuted and pled guilty to unlawful return by an alien after removal.

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.

Gulfport, Miss. –  Brandon Soublet, 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to conspiring to transport stolen motorcycles across state lines, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi.    

Starting in February 2017, members of the East Side Wheelie Kings, a motorcycle gang in New Orleans, traveled from New Orleans, Louisiana, to various parts of Mississippi and burglarized numerous cycle shops throughout the state.  They would steal Uhaul trucks  and use them to transport stolen motorcycles back to New Orleans.  Once in New Orleans, they used Instagram and other internet sites to sell the stolen merchandise. 

On February 22, 2017, Brandon Soublet and others were caught running from a stolen Uhaul truck on Interstate 10 in Harrison County.  The Uhaul truck was filled with motorcycles that Soublet and others had stolen from a motorcycle shop in Biloxi.

Soublet will be sentenced on October 30, 2019, by Judge Ozerden, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the FBI, Biloxi Police Department, and Louisiana State Troopers.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.

Natchez, Miss. – Javonte Lamar Butler, 20, of Natchez, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette, III to stealing a firearm from a business that is licensed to sell firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On December 14, 2018, Javonte Lamar Butler visited Peddlers Antique Pawn and Salvage, a federally licensed reseller of firearms, located in Natchez, Mississippi. While a store employee assisted two other persons, Butler reached into a glass display case, removed a pistol, and left the store without lawfully purchasing it. Butler was subsequently indicted on June 14, 2019, for stealing a firearm from a business licensed to sell firearms.

Butler will be sentenced by Judge Bramlette on November 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Natchez. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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). 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. – Damion Xavier Giglio, 34, of Saucier, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kirk Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Giglio was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

On February 15, 2018, Harrison County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call regarding a shooting and found Giglio with a rifle.  Giglio was out on bond for a prior aggravated assault charge and was taken into custody.  He admitted to smoking marijuana since he was 16 years old and using methamphetamine.  

On January 8, 2019, Giglio was charged in a federal indictment with possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances.  He pled guilty before Judge Guirola on April 1, 2019.

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

Gulfport, Miss. – Jesse Allen Nichols, 37, of Gulfport, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. to transporting images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.

“Dealing in sexually explicit videos of children is despicable. I appreciate the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, our Homeland Security agents, trial attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice, and our prosecutors for putting an end to this criminal’s evil trade.  We will continue to work with our government and private sector partners to make sure all these types of deviants are brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

In February 2018, Nichols transported images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct to “Dropbox”, on online storage medium, which resulted in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) issuing a CyberTipline Report to authorities at Homeland Security Investigations containing at least 56 videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  Further investigation revealed the email and user name of Nichols and it was determined that Nichols’s cell phone was used in transporting the images of the minors.

Nichols was indicted on December 12, 2018.  When arrested on the indictment, Nichols admitted to the use of his cellular telephone to access various social media platforms and online storage mediums.  He affirmed the use of his cellular telephone and the email identified in the CyberTipline Report, and that through such access on his cellular device he stored images and videos of child pornography.

Nichols will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on November 12, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in Gulfport.   He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones and Trial Attorney Ralph A. Paradiso with the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

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

Natchez, Miss. – Lattrick Williams, 26, of Brookhaven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III to 38 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kirk Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Williams was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. 

The case arose after an arrest warrant was executed by the United Stated Marshals Service on October 2, 2018 in McComb, Mississippi, in response to pending charges against Williams out of Lincoln County.  Upon arrival, agents found Williams in possession of a Taurus .380 firearm. Williams has a previous conviction in Lincoln County for sale of marijuana and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

On November 6, 2018, Williams was charged in a federal criminal indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He pled guilty before Judge Bramlette on March 1, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Mayberry.    

Gulfport, Miss. – Consuelo Azeneth Garcia Lopez, 39, a legal permanent resident in the United States from Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Orleans Field Division.

On September 27, 2016, Garcia Lopez was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 when she was pulled over for a traffic violation by a Gulfport Police Detective. She informed the officer that she was tired, having driven all day, but could not give a location to where she was traveling. Instead, she said she would be told where to go when she arrived in Alabama. The officer learned that Garcia Lopez had several border crossings into and out of Mexico. The officer asked and obtained consent to search the vehicle and located almost 5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle.

Garcia Lopez was legally in the country but is not a U.S. citizen. She pled guilty on April 30, 2019 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulfport Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.

Gulfport, Miss. – Jose Ramon Romero Deloera, 24, a legal permanent resident in the United States from Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 70 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.

On December 3, 2018, after negotiating a sale of heroin, Deloera was arrested when he traveled to Gulfport to deliver the drugs. The heroin was located under the rear floor mat of Deloera’s vehicle. There were seven taped bundles each weighing more than a pound. A DEA laboratory confirmed that the packages contained approximately 3.5 kilograms of heroin.

Deloera pled guilty on April 19, 2019 to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.

Jackson, Miss. – Tara Steverson, 39, of Jackson, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to intentionally damaging protected computers, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

Steverson was terminated from her position at the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) on July 31, 2017.  On August 1, 2017, the day after her termination, Steverson unlawfully accessed one of the systems utilized by MDHS and intentionally changed several files, resulting in other users being unable to perform their usual and customary workflow functions.  The affected system was used to retain records and plans of home care and generically supports the tracking of home and community based services such as in-home services, meal delivery, and caregiver support.  Steverson did over $5,000 in damage before losing access to the system.

Steverson will be sentenced by Judge Wingate on October 28, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. She faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.

WASHINGTON – Two Long Beach, Mississippi, men pleaded guilty today for their roles in a long-running odometer tampering scheme, the Department of Justice announced.

Oscar M. Baine, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to alter odometers and one count of odometer tampering. Jeffrey Lyn Savarese II, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to alter odometers. Both defendants appeared in federal court in Gulfport before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. The court set sentencing hearings for both defendants for Oct. 17.

As part of his plea agreement, Baine admitted that he purchased high-mileage vehicles from wholesale automobile auctions, dealerships, and individuals, and arranged to alter the vehicles’ odometers to reflect false, lower-mileage readings. Baine admitted that he paid Savarese and others to change or alter odometers at his used car lot in Gulfport. Baine then sold the rolled-back vehicles to unsuspecting consumers for inflated prices. Savarese admitted that he began altering odometers for Mississippi and Louisiana used-car dealers in 2011 and reset the odometers on at least 200 used vehicles for Baine.

“The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting auto dealers who defraud consumers by selling vehicles with unlawfully altered odometers,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Consumers rely on mileage information to assess the value and safety of a vehicle, and that information must be accurate.”

“These criminals put the public at risk by rolling back odometers and defrauding hundreds of people out of one of their biggest investments. I commend the investigators and prosecutors for bringing these criminals to justice and for protecting the public from further fraudulent acts by these two. We will remain vigilant as to these types of crimes and continue working to make our roads and communities safer for everyone,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

In pleading guilty, Baine admitted that he and a co-conspirator caused at least 387 vehicles to be rolled back between 2011 and 2014, with resulting consumer losses of more than $600,000. Baine also admitted that, at times, the altered odometers and fraudulent titles included false mileages that were more than 100,000 miles less than the vehicles’ actual mileages.  

Senior Litigation Counsel Linda I. Marks of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi are the prosecutors for the case. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation (NHTSA), assisted by the State of Mississippi Office of the Attorney General, investigated the case.

NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the United States results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s odometer fraud hotline at (800) 424-9393 or (202) 366-4761.

Two Long Beach, Mississippi, men pleaded guilty today for their roles in a long-running odometer tampering scheme, the Department of Justice announced.

Oscar M. Baine, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to alter odometers and one count of odometer tampering. Jeffrey Lyn Savarese II, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to alter odometers. Both defendants appeared in federal court in Gulfport before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. The court set sentencing hearings for both defendants for Oct. 17.

As part of his plea agreement, Baine admitted that he purchased high-mileage vehicles from wholesale automobile auctions, dealerships, and individuals, and arranged to alter the vehicles’ odometers to reflect false, lower-mileage readings. Baine admitted that he paid Savarese and others to change or alter odometers at his used car lot in Gulfport. Baine then sold the rolled-back vehicles to unsuspecting consumers for inflated prices. Savarese admitted that he began altering odometers for Mississippi and Louisiana used-car dealers in 2011 and reset the odometers on at least 200 used vehicles for Baine.

“The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting auto dealers who defraud consumers by selling vehicles with unlawfully altered odometers,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Consumers rely on mileage information to assess the value and safety of a vehicle, and that information must be accurate.”

“These criminals put the public at risk by rolling back odometers and defrauding hundreds of people out of one of their biggest investments. I commend the investigators and prosecutors for bringing these criminals to justice and for protecting the public from further fraudulent acts by these two. We will remain vigilant as to these types of crimes and continue working to make our roads and communities safer for everyone,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

In pleading guilty, Baine admitted that he and a co-conspirator caused at least 387 vehicles to be rolled back between 2011 and 2014, with resulting consumer losses of more than $600,000. Baine also admitted that, at times, the altered odometers and fraudulent titles included false mileages that were more than 100,000 miles less than the vehicles’ actual mileages.  

Senior Litigation Counsel Linda I. Marks of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi are the prosecutors for the case. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation (NHTSA), assisted by the State of Mississippi Office of the Attorney General, investigated the case.

NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the United States results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s odometer fraud hotline at (800) 424-9393 or (202) 366-4761. More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/odometer-fraud and tips on detecting and avoiding odometer fraud are available at www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/811284.pdf.

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms.

Gulfport, Miss. – Miguel Angel Garcia-Escobar, 26, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to “time served” (132 days) and one year of supervised release for unlawful reentry by an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Scott Sutterfield, Acting Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations in New Orleans. 

Garcia-Escobar will also be administratively detained for Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings.  If he were to unlawfully return to the United States after removal, he would be subject to up to ten years in prison and other consecutive penalties if he returned during the one year period of supervised release. Garcia Escobar pled guilty and was convicted of the felony offense by Judge Ozerden on April 25, 2019.    

On January 11, 2019, Garcia-Escobar was arrested by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and was taken to the Harrison County Adult Detention Facility.  Harrison County officials notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO).  An ERO Deportation Officer interviewed Garcia-Escobar and filed a federal detainer due to the defendant being an illegal alien in the United States.  Records revealed that Garcia-Escobar was a 26-year old citizen of Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on May 18, 2018, and had unlawfully returned to the United States after official removal.

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Mitchell Dewayne May, Jr., 28, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kirk Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On October 2, 2018, May was found in possession of a firearm when Hattiesburg Police officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle he was driving. May was previously convicted of armed robbery in Forrest County in 2006.

May will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on November 5, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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.

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

Jackson, Miss. –  Christopher Brian Birdsong, 39, of Byram, pled guilty yesterday before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 5, 2017, Birdsong was caught shoplifting from Wal-Mart in Byram. When officers attempted to approach him, he fled. Once he was apprehended, he was found to be in possession of a Taurus .38 caliber revolver. Birdsong was also charged with shoplifting and resisting arrest. He was previously convicted of Felony DUI in Rankin County.

Birdsong will be sentenced by Judge Jordan on October 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Byram Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.

Jackson, Miss. – Justin Darby, 37, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 156 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for carjacking and using a firearm to facilitate the carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Darby was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.

On December 11, 2017, in Hinds County, Justin Darby crashed into the rear of another vehicle at the intersection of Lynch Street and Highway 80, forced the driver of that vehicle out of that car, and fled the scene. Darby was carrying a military style rifle when he carjacked the other vehicle.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Murray and 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). 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.

Jackson, Miss. – Adrian Charleston, 24, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 50 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kirk Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Charleston was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine.

On June 30, 2018, Jackson Police officers attempted to pull over a vehicle occupied by Charleston and others.  The occupants fled from the officers before abandoning the vehicle in an alleyway.  While leaving the alleyway, Charleston possessed a firearm and tried to hide the evidence by discarding the firearm in a dumpster.  Shortly thereafter, Charleston was apprehended and the firearm was recovered.  Charleston was previously convicted of manslaughter in Hinds County in 2013. 

 On December 12, 2018, Charleston was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He pled guilty before Judge Jordan on April 5, 2019.    

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.

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

Jackson, Miss. – Roger Stokes, 36, of Walnut Grove, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for escaping from federal custody, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and U.S. Marshal Mark B. Shepherd of the United States Marshals Service.

Stokes was previously convicted of illegal transportation of an alien and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola to two years in custody, followed by three years of supervised release.   Following a revocation of his supervised release and the imposition of an additional two years in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Stokes was transferred to the Bannum Place Residential Reentry Center in Jackson to serve the remainder of his time with an anticipated release date of March 18, 2019.  On January 11, 2019, after being confronted by facility personnel with a positive drug test, Stokes escaped from the facility and was caught by law enforcement in Attala County ten days later.

Stokes was indicted on February 6, 2019, for escaping from federal custody.  Stokes pleaded guilty on April 5, 2019, before Chief Judge Jordan.  In articulating the reasons for his sentence, Chief Judge Jordan cited to Stokes’s extensive criminal history and the need to deter other inmates from trying to escape in the future.

The United States Marshals Service investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.

Jackson, Miss. – Maurice Taylor, 33, of Vicksburg, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans. Taylor was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.

Maurice Taylor carried out a scheme in which he shipped stolen firearms from Mississippi to a co-conspirator in London, England. He prepared two separate packages containing stolen firearms concealed within children’s toys, and mailed the packages to London, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. DNA evidence confirmed that Taylor, who is a convicted felon, was one of the people who handled the firearms. The firearms had been stolen days earlier during a burglary of a pawn shop in Natchez, Mississippi. Taylor texted with his co-conspirator messages and photographs of the guns he would mail, and received back from London confirmation numbers for wired payments for the guns, through a mobile phone application. After the London Metropolitan Police arrested Taylor’s partner, the LMP seized his phone and several firearms from his car. Evidence of the communications and the electronic payments were retrieved from the co-conspirator’s phone.

Taylor pled guilty before Judge Lee on March 28, 2019 to conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has prior felony convictions for burglary and grand larceny in Sharkey County, Mississippi.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the London Metropolitan Police Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore M. Cooperstein and Charles W. Kirkham.

Jackson, Miss. – Patrick Emanuel Battle, Sr., 48, of Meridian, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Battle was also ordered to pay a $1,200 fine.

On November 15, 2018, deputies with the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Battle’s home after they received information and pictures showing that Battle, a previously-convicted felon, was illegally in possession of multiple firearms.  As a result of the search, five weapons, including a semi-automatic shotgun equipped with a large magazine, were found in the home.  Battle has prior felony convictions for burglary of an automobile, possession of marijuana, and aggravated assault.

This case was 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). 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.

Jackson, Miss. –  Johnny Jerome Morgan, 38, of Jackson, pled guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On December 30, 2018, Jackson police officers responded to a call requesting assistance from a woman to enter her residence to retrieve her belongings.  The woman needed police assistance because her boyfriend, Johnny Jerome Morgan, was inside and she was afraid that he might hurt her when he realized she was leaving.  The woman alerted the officers that Morgan was a convicted felon and had an assault rifle inside the residence.  Morgan was inside the residence when police entered.  The officers found the assault rifle where the woman told them it would be.  Morgan denied owning or possessing the rifle, but evidence in the form of pictures, witness statements and a recorded phone call all indicated that Morgan purchased the rifle a few years earlier.

Morgan was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 3, 2019.  He will be sentenced by Judge Wingate on October 16, 2019, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was 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). 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.

Jackson, Miss. – Christian Matthew Storey, 27, of Byram, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for attempting to acquire a firearm by making fraudulent statements on a federal background check form, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Storey was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. 

On October 18, 2018, Storey attempted to purchase a firearm from a pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi.  Storey had previously been judicially committed for mental treatment in 2016 by the Chancery Court of Hinds County.  He was subsequently treated and discharged from a mental hospital in Mississippi.

Storey, in an attempt to purchase a 9mm pistol, completed and signed ATF Form 4473 while at the pawn shop as part of the federally required background check process.  One question on that form asks a firearm purchaser whether or not they have ever been committed to a mental institution.  Storey fraudulently checked “No” as to that question and then signed the form certifying that his false answer was correct. 

The firearm purchase was denied after the National Instant Criminal Background Check System rejected the purchase due to Storey’s previous commitment for mental treatment.  Under federal law, it is unlawful for a person who has been involuntarily judicially committed to either possess or purchase a firearm.

Storey was indicted on January 8, 2019 on one count of making a false statement in an attempt to acquire a firearm and one count of giving false information to a federal firearm licensee.  He pled guilty before Judge Lee on March 28, 2019.

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

Jackson, Miss. – Nathaniel Teddy Brown, 37, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 68 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kirk Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Brown was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine.

On July 2, 2016, Jackson Police officers arrested Brown during a checkpoint operation on U.S. Highway 80 in Jackson for possessing a Raven Arms, .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol and a Smith and Wesson handgun. Brown had a previous felony conviction in Hinds County for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

The ATF adopted the case from the Jackson Police Department for federal prosecution. On October 19, 2018, during the arrest of Brown for the July 2, 2016 charge, Brown had four additional handguns in plain sight at his home. Brown was indicted and pled guilty before Judge Jordan on April 4, 2019, to possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Assistant United States Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted the case.

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. – Alfonso Tellez-Lopez, 40, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to time served, which was 170 days imprisonment, as well as one year of supervised release, for misprision of  a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.  Alfonso Tellez-Lopez will also be subject to immigration removal proceedings.  If he unlawfully returns to the United States after being removed, he could face additional prosecution and imprisonment.

Misprison of a felony means that a person has known that a felony was being committed and did not report it to officials at the earliest opportunity, and took some affirmative action to conceal the crime.  Alfonso Tellez-Lopez was charged in connection with the unlawful transportation of aliens within the United States by his brother, Javier Tellez-Lopez.  Alfonso Tellez-Lopez pled guilty before Judge Guirola on May 28, 2019.

On May 2, 2019, Alfonso Tellez-Lopez’s brother, Javier Tellez-Lopez, pled guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully transport aliens within the United States, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2019, by Judge Guirola.  Javier Tellez-Lopez, who also is an illegal alien from Mexico, faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, not more than 3 years of supervised release, a maximum $250,000 fine, $5,100 in assessments, and will be subject to immigration removal proceedings.

On January 28, 2019, an interdiction agent of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team conducted a lawful traffic stop on a vehicle on interstate I-10 eastbound in Jackson County.  The agent observed eight occupants of the vehicle driven by Javier Tellez-Lopez.  Alfonso Tellez-Lopez was riding in the front passenger seat and had served as a co-driver.  Border Patrol Agents arrived on the scene and interviewed the occupants of the vehicle as to their citizenships, determining that none had proper documents and all were illegally present in the United States.  Of the 8 total vehicle occupants (2 drivers and 6 passengers), all were illegal aliens from Mexico.  All occupants were arrested and transported to the Border Patrol Station in Gulfport.  A Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent joined Border Patrol Agents and determined the 6 passengers were being smuggled within the United States.

Further investigation determined that 5 of the 6 passengers had unlawfully returned after being formally removed from the United States.  Each of these 5 passengers were separately prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, pled guilty, and were convicted of the felony offense of illegal return by an alien after removal.    

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Border Patrol, the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Gautier Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.

Gulfport, Miss. – Jose Manuel Cristobal-Joaquin, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to unlawful reentry by an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, and Scott Sutterfield, Acting Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations in New Orleans. 

Cristobal-Joaquin was found guilty of the felony offense and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Guirola on October 16, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.  He faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  He also faces being removed from the United States following the completion of any prison sentence.

On or about May 29, 2019, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office notified Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Cristobal-Joaquin had been arrested by the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team for public drunk and a misdemeanor controlled substance possession.  Cristobal-Joaquin confessed to being an illegal alien from Mexico in an interview with ICE/Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).   Cristobal-Joaquin was arrested by ERO and transported to the Gulfport ICE Office. 

Further investigation revealed that Cristobal-Joaquin had been physically removed from the United States pursuant to a lawful removal order on or about November 2, 2018, and did not have permission to reenter the United States.

 U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for this case.

Gulfport, Miss. – Michael Anthony Herrera, 42, of Austin, Texas, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans. 

On September 28, 2018, Herrera made a delivery of heroin and methamphetamine to an individual in a local restaurant parking lot in Gulfport.  Moments after the delivery, agents with Homeland Security Investigations and deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office arrested Herrera.  Agents and deputies located heroin and methamphetamine in Herrera’s truck and more heroin in a nearby hotel room that Herrera had been occupying.  In total, agents found two kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of meth.

Herrera will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on October 16, 2019, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk and Narcotics Section Chief Annette Williams.

Jackson, Miss – Harold Course, 46, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 22 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 Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Course was also ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine.

On October 19, 2018, officers with the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrived at a halfway house in Jackson to serve an arrest warrant on an individual when they observed a man asleep in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck.  Agents identified the man as Harold Course.  Course was not the subject of the arrest warrant, but agents observed, in plain view, a shotgun between Course and the truck’s center console.  Agents determined Course was wanted by Brookhaven Police for robbery and was a convicted felon.  Course had been previously convicted in Hinds County, Mississippi, of attempted business burglary on March 6, 2015.

On February 20, 2019, Course was charged in a federal indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.   He pled guilty before Judge Reeves on April 8, 2019.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and 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).  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.

Jackson, Miss. – Estvanico Mack, 35, of Jackson, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana K. Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Mack was previously convicted of felonious false pretense in Hinds County in 2010 as well as felonious vehicular burglary in 2008. On April 25, 2018, Mack was found in possession of a firearm while he was parked at a gas station on Northside Drive in Jackson.

Mack will be sentenced by Judge Reeves on October 10, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.  He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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.

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

Jackson, Miss. – Calvin Taylor, 51, of Yazoo City, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 48 months of supervised probation for embezzling parcels of mail during the course of his employment with the U.S. Postal Service, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Cave with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office. Taylor was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.

On April 4, 2018, Postal Service Office of Inspector General special agents arrested Taylor after an investigation revealed him purposefully failing to deliver parcels of mail and stealing articles of clothing and shoes from the undelivered parcels. 

On January 8, 2019, Taylor was charged in a federal indictment for theft of mail while a postal employee.  He pled guilty before Judge Reeves on March 22, 2019.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.

Jackson, Miss. – Deviassi Adams, 41, of Jackson, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Jensen with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On September 10, 2018, the United States Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrived at a Jackson residence to serve a felony arrest warrant on Adams.  While conducting a protective sweep inside the home, task force members observed two firearms: one pistol and one AR-style rifle.  In a subsequent interview, Adams confessed to possessing both firearms.  Adams has previous convictions for manslaughter in Hinds County and other felony crimes.

On December 6, 2018, Adams was charged in a federal indictment with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.   He will be sentenced on October 3, 2019, by Judge Wingate, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  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).  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.

Jackson, Miss. – John Barrett Cotting, 39, of Brandon, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Cotting was indicted following an extensive investigation, dubbed “Drama Queen,” targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in Central Mississippi.   During a prostitution sting, agents received messages from Cotting who wanted to meet for sexual purposes related to a Backpage.com ad.  Cotting stated that he was willing to bring narcotics with him to the meeting.  Once Cotting arrived at the meeting location, agents retrieved approximately 140 grams of actual methamphetamine intended for distribution. 

Cotting will be sentenced by Judge Reees on October 8, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

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

Jackson, Miss. – Kenneth Dewayne Williams, 45, of Meridian, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 95 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Williams was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.

Williams was indicted as the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed "Deadly Dose" which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi that involved the distribution of heroin and cocaine. During the investigation, agents intercepted telephone calls between Williams and a coconspirator regarding a cocaine transaction. On December 4, 2017, agents conducted a traffic stop of Williams on Interstate 20, east of Jackson. Agents seized approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine and $17,000.00. Williams pled guilty before Judge Jordan on March 26, 2019.

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

Gulfport, Miss. – David Quevedo Martinez, 40, of Houston, Texas, was found guilty by a jury in federal court today of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration. U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. presided over the three-day trial.

Trial testimony revealed that Martinez sold numerous kilograms of methamphetamine to co-conspirators in Houston, Texas. Those co-conspirators brought the methamphetamine back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and distributed it throughout Gulfport and Moss Point.

Martinez will be sentenced on September 18, 2019, by Judge Guirola, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasadena, Texas Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk and John Meynardie.

Gulfport, Miss. –   Develon Lashonie Cunningham, 42, of Pascagoula, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.   

Cunningham sold a total of two ounces of methamphetamine “ice” to a confidential informant on two separate occasions.  The purchases were made in Jackson County.

Cunningham will be sentenced on September 30, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. by Judge Ozerden, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.

Gulfport, Miss. – Aldo German Arechiga-Gutierrez, a 45 year-old citizen of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 18 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for unlawful reentry by an alien who was previously deported  after a conviction for an aggravated felony, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Gregory A. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.  

In 2002, Arechiga-Gutierrez was convicted in California for conspiracy to possess and sell methamphetamine.  As a drug trafficking crime, the conviction qualified as an aggravated felony.  Arechiga-Gutierrez was ordered removed from the United States to Mexico after serving his prison sentence.   He then unlawfully returned to the United States and, in 2012, was convicted in the Southern District of Mississippi for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.  After completing his prison sentence on that charge, Arechiga-Gutierrez was again removed from the United States to Mexico in 2014.

The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office in Gulfport received information that Arechiga-Gutierrez had returned again to the United States.  HSI research and surveillance located Arechiga-Gutierrez residing in the Picayune area and illegally employed in the southeastern Louisiana area.  Arechiga-Gutierrez was positively identified and arrested.  He later admitted to being a citizen of Mexico, and to voluntarily entering and being in the U.S. unlawfully.  Arechiga-Gutierrez pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on March 22, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the City of Picayune Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case. 

WASHINGTON – Two Mississippi-licensed physicians and two Mississippi-licensed registered nurses were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their roles 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 Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and United Healthcare of Mississippi.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.

Shahjahan Sultan, M.D., 37, of Madison, Mississippi, Thomas Edward Sturdavant, M.D., 56, of Kingsport, Tennessee, Freda Cal Covington, R.N., 54, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Fallon Deneem Page, R.N., 36, of Soso, Mississippi were each charged in various counts of a 15-count indictment returned on June 11, 2019 in the Southern District of Mississippi.  The indictment was unsealed upon the defendants’ arrests today.  The defendants will make their initial appearances this week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker of the Southern District of Mississippi.

Sultan, Sturdavant, Covington and Page were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and mail fraud.  In addition, Sultan was charged with two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance, two counts of distributing and dispensing a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and four counts of paying health care kickbacks.  Sturdavant was also charged with two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance and two counts of distributing and dispensing a controlled substance.  Page was also charged with two counts of mail fraud.

The indictment alleges that Sultan, Sturdavant, Covington and Page participated in a scheme to defraud TRICARE and private health care benefit programs by prescribing and dispensing medically unnecessary compounded medications, some of which included ketamine, a controlled substance, to individuals, at times without first examining them, for the purpose of having an Ocean Springs, Mississippi-based compounding pharmacy dispense these medically unnecessary compounded medications.  In addition, the indictment alleges that, between March 2014 and February 2015, the defendants’ scheme caused TRICARE and private health care benefit programs to reimburse the compounding pharmacy more than $7 million for dispensing the compounded medications prescribed by Sultan and Sturdavant.  The indictment further alleges that Sultan was paid at least 25 percent of the reimbursements received from health care benefit programs, including TRICARE, for compounded medications prescribed by Sultan and Sturdavant. Sultan is alleged to have then paid Sturdavant for prescribing compounded medications to TRICARE beneficiaries and to have paid other co-conspirators for identifying and recruiting TRICARE beneficiaries to receive compounded medications.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the FBI and DCIS.  Assistant Chief Dustin M. Davis and Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Helen Wall and Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.

The Medicare Fraud Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

Two Mississippi-licensed physicians and two Mississippi-licensed registered nurses were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their roles 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 Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and United Healthcare of Mississippi.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.

Shahjahan Sultan, M.D., 37, of Madison, Mississippi, Thomas Edward Sturdavant, M.D., 56, of Kingsport, Tennessee, Freda Cal Covington, R.N., 54, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Fallon Deneem Page, R.N., 36, of Soso, Mississippi were each charged in various counts of a 15-count indictment returned on June 11, 2019 in the Southern District of Mississippi.  The indictment was unsealed upon the defendants’ arrests today.  The defendants will make their initial appearances this week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker of the Southern District of Mississippi.

Sultan, Sturdavant, Covington and Page were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and mail fraud.  In addition, Sultan was charged with two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance, two counts of distributing and dispensing a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and four counts of paying health care kickbacks.  Sturdavant was also charged with two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance and two counts of distributing and dispensing a controlled substance.  Page was also charged with two counts of mail fraud.

The indictment alleges that Sultan, Sturdavant, Covington and Page participated in a scheme to defraud TRICARE and private health care benefit programs by prescribing and dispensing medically unnecessary compounded medications, some of which included ketamine, a controlled substance, to individuals, at times without first examining them, for the purpose of having an Ocean Springs, Mississippi-based compounding pharmacy dispense these medically unnecessary compounded medications.  In addition, the indictment alleges that, between March 2014 and February 2015, the defendants’ scheme caused TRICARE and private health care benefit programs to reimburse the compounding pharmacy more than $7 million for dispensing the compounded medications prescribed by Sultan and Sturdavant.  The indictment further alleges that Sultan was paid at least 25 percent of the reimbursements received from health care benefit programs, including TRICARE, for compounded medications prescribed by Sultan and Sturdavant.  Sultan is alleged to have then paid Sturdavant for prescribing compounded medications to TRICARE beneficiaries and to have paid other co-conspirators for identifying and recruiting TRICARE beneficiaries to receive compounded medications.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and DCIS.  Assistant Chief Dustin M. Davis and Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Helen Wall and Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case. 

The Medicare Fraud Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

Gulfport, Miss. – Louis Brent Ladner, 41, of Kiln, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 92 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On two separate occasions in 2017, Ladner sold methamphetamine to a confidential source. A subsequent search warrant at his residence located approximately two additional ounce of high quality methamphetamine. Ladner pled guilty on March 26, 2019 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.

Jackson, Miss. – Courtney Tremel Louie, 24, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to serve a total of 141 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on charges relating to sex trafficking of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Jenson, and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.

"Trafficking minors for sex is one of the worst, most heinous and despicable crimes we see, and this office will stop at nothing to protect victims and put these criminals behind bars. I want to thank our investigators and prosecutors for diligently pursuing this monster. We will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to do all that we can to stamp out human trafficking," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

Louie was sentenced to 84 months in prison for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (sex trafficking of a minor). He was sentenced to 57 months in prison for using the internet to promote and advertise the unlawful activity (prostitution). The sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 141 months. Louie was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

Beginning on January 1, 2018, and continuing through January 5, 2018, Louie was actively involved with the sex trafficking of a minor he had transported from Tennessee to Jackson. The minor performed commercial sex acts with men for money at various hotels. Louie used the internet to promote his unlawful activity by placing ads on the website "Backpage.com".

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Police Department and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.

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

Gulfport, Miss. – Luis Alberto Preza-Mendez, 31, an illegal alien from Mexico, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to unlawful reentry by an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, and Mr. Trey Lund, Acting Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations in New Orleans.    

Preza-Mendez was found guilty of the felony offense and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ozerden, on June 20, 2019, at 2:30 p.m.  He faces a potential maximum penalty of 2 years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He also faces being removed from the United States following the completion of any prison sentence.

On March 12, 2019, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office notified ICE that Preza-Mendez had been arrested for a domestic disturbance and confessed to being an illegal alien from Mexico.  Preza-Mendez was arrested and transported to the Gulfport ICE Office.  He was positively identified via a fingerprint scan into the Department of Homeland Security computerized records system which accessed his prior immigration records including photographs, fingerprints and prior removal documents.  Electronic database queries confirmed that Mr. Preza-Mendez is a citizen of Mexico who had been physically removed pursuant to a lawful removal order and did not have permission to reenter the U.S. 

Preza-Mendez had been officially ordered removed from the United States on October 13, 2013.  After being physically removed based on this lawful order, he repeatedly returned to the United States, and was removed multiple times in 2014.  At the time of his most recent removal in July, 2014,  Preza-Mendez was prohibited from entering, attempting to enter, being in the United States or applying for admission to the United States for a period of twenty years. 

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for this case.