Southern District of Mississippi

Jackson, Miss – Vincent Dewayne Carter, 30, of Natchez, pled guilty on October 8, 2015, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bramlette III, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis.

On February 21, 2014, Natchez police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call involving Carter. Upon further investigation, Carter, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a firearm.

Carter will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bramlette III on January 14, 2016, and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

This case was investigated by the Natchez Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wansley is prosecuting this case.

 

Jackson, Miss - Maurice King, 29, of Jackson, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

King was indicted as a result of the Jackson Violent Crime Initiative. He was arrested following a traffic stop on September 20, 2014 when he was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm.

King will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III on January 14, 2016, and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

 

Jackson, Miss - Nathan Burnside, 31, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III to distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

Burnside was indicted after an investigation revealed that he was distributing crack cocaine in the Canton and Philadelphia areas.

He will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III on January 14, 2016 and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison and a $5 million fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca.

Jackson, Miss – Michael Antonio Andrews, 36, of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 87 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $1000.00 fine for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.

Andrews pled guilty on July 2, 2015, admitting that he supplied approximately 26 grams of actual methamphetamine to a co-defendant who delivered the methamphetamine to an individual in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

The case was investigated by the DEA HIDTA Task Force with assistance from the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry L. Rushing.

 

Jackson, Miss - Andra Smith, 44, of Canton, has been charged by Criminal Information with bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway. Smith is a former Probation and Parole Officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections working out of Madison County.

Smith is charged with soliciting bribes from a parolee he was supervising from March, 2015 through June, 2015. Smith took the money in exchange for allowing the parolee to leave Mississippi to find employment.

"Whenever public officials break the law, particularly those persons sworn to serve and protect the public, we must do everything we can to hold them accountable," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. "This office will aggressively pursue allegations of corruption and vigorously prosecute such cases."

"These cases are particularly troubling because each one we investigate erodes the very public trust we are all sworn to uphold", said Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. "Using the authority of the badge for personal gain betrays the vast majority of us who protect and serve with honor."

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Marshall Fisher stated: "We referred this case to the FBI, based on allegations. We have zero tolerance for corruption in any form by anyone within the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Such conduct is a disservice to the hardworking employees of the agency and the taxpayers of the state of Mississippi. This should serve as a clear message to everyone that MDOC is committed to performing our mission, and we value the services and support of our honest employees."

Smith is scheduled to make his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on October 16

th at 1:00 p.m. He will then appear for a hearing before Senior United States District Judge Tom S. Lee at 1:30 p.m. on the same day.

The maximum penalty for bribery is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Gilbert and Mary Helen Wall.

 

Jackson, Miss - Joyce Knight, 38, and Daniel Kelley, 41, both of Meridian, were sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate for their roles in a conspiracy to steal identities of state inmates and to use those stolen identities to file false federal income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Jerome R. McDuffie, Special Agent in charge of Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

Daniel Kelley was sentenced on September 28, 2015, to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Joyce Knight was sentenced on October 2, 2015, to 26 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both defendants must also repay $51,992.73 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Kelley, while incarcerated in several different state prisons, stole the identities of fellow inmates and gave those stolen identities to Knight who submitted false federal tax returns to the IRS. Knight was able to get the refund checks cashed at a nearby gas station and transfer the stolen funds back to Kelley by loading the money onto "Green Dot" stored value cards. Knight would provide Kelley with the account numbers of the "Green Dot" cards, and Kelley could then use the funds for his benefit while in prison. According to Kelley and Knight, they were able to communicate with each other via cell phones that Kelley was able to obtain while he was in prison. The false tax returns claimed $127,000.00 in refunds. The defendants actually received about $51,992.73.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gilbert.

 

Gulfport, Miss - Former Harrison County supervisor Kim Savant, 65, of Gulfport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden today to sixty months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, IRS - Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jerome McDuffie and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway. Savant was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Savant previously pled guilty to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with his role as a board member of the Harrison County Utility Authority. Savant admitted that, from January 2011 through January 2013, while he was a supervisor for Harrison County and a member of the board of the Harrison County Utility Authority, he conspired with the owner of a company that performed work for the utility authority and accepted bribe payments in the amount of $1,500 per month in exchange for his official actions such as voting on the awarding of contracts, payments, emergency work, and other items.

U.S. Attorney Davis praised the efforts of special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation for their work on the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan who prosecuted the case.

 

Jackson, Miss – A criminal complaint has been filed against Jackson Police Officer Bryan Jones, 44, of Jackson, charging him with extortion by use of his position as a police officer, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

The criminal complaint alleges that Jones used his position as a Jackson Police Officer to extort money. According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Jones assisted drug dealers by conducting illegal traffic stops, searches, and seizures on competitors or rival drug dealers. On April 15, 2015, Jones illegally stopped a vehicle and seized $5,000 from someone he believed to be a drug dealer coming into Jackson to purchase drugs. The affidavit further states that Jones conducted an illegal stop on June 23, 2014 and seized cash from someone he believed to be a drug dealer. The cash taken by Jones on both occasions was never recorded or submitted to the Jackson Police Department; instead the cash was divided between Jones and another person.

United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and would like to thank Chief Lee Vance and the Jackson Police Department for their assistance in this matter.

Jones will appear in federal court for an initial appearance today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson. The offense charged in the complaint carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

This case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Helen Wall and Erin Chalk.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

Hattiesburg, Miss - Joshua Herron, 29 of Arkansas, was sentenced on Monday, September 21, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to serve 10 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

Herron was found to be in possession of child pornography while on supervised release from a previous child pornography conviction. He was serving in the National Guard at Camp Shelby when he was first indicted and convicted for possession of child pornography in February, 2010. He was released from prison on August 2, 2013 and placed on supervised release which was later revoked when he was found to be in possession of images of child pornography again.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.

Gulfport, Miss. – Inocensio Villarreal, 40, of Lantana, Florida, was sentenced today by Chief U. S. District Judge Louis Guirola to 30 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for interstate travel in aid of an unlawful activity, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Villarreal was also ordered to pay a $4,000.00 fine.

On June 26, 2013, Villarreal, a U.S. citizen, was stopped by law enforcement officers on I-10 in Jackson County, Mississippi. A search of his van produced wrapped bundles of U.S. currency totaling $414,450. The investigation revealed that Villarreal traveled in interstate commerce through Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi, knowingly engaging in acts to promote and carry on an unlawful activity; that is, the transporting of currency, or bulk cash smuggling, in furtherance of the business of a drug trafficking organization.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Jones and Stan Harris.

Jackson, Miss – Fedric Amos Remy, 28, and Geovanni Corrado Davis, 30, both of Kissimmee, Florida, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour, Jr., to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for knowingly possessing 15 or more counterfeit access devices with the intent to defraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis.

As the result of an investigation pursuant to a traffic stop conducted by Madison Police Department on January 28, 2015, Remy and Davis were found to be in possession of more than 30 counterfeit credit cards and multiple forms of false identification. Remy and Davis were indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on June 30, 2015.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Madison Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wansley.

Jackson, Miss. - St. Joseph Hospice Entities, which consists of 13 hospice facilities in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama, and Patrick T. Mitchell, its majority owner and manager, have agreed to pay the United States $5,867,518 under the False Claims Act to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims for delivery of continuous home care hospice services to patients who were not entitled to receive continuous care hospice level treatment, announced United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

Continuous home care hospice services, sometimes called crisis care services, are provided to hospice-eligible patients in moments of crisis resulting from acute medical symptoms. This level of care is available to a patient when the patient’s acute medical symptoms require immediate and short-term skilled nursing services, allowing the patient to remain in his/her home during a very difficult time. Medicare pays for continuous care hospice services at a rate that is nearly 6 times that of the daily rate for routine home hospice care. The continuous home care reimbursement rate is the highest daily rate a hospice can bill Medicare. Because continuous home care hospice services are limited to moments of crisis and have stringent criteria, they are rarely used.

During the government’s investigation, it was discovered that St. Joseph Hospice was an outlier in its use and billing of continuous care hospice services. The government found that there were a significant number of patients who received continuous care hospice services when there was no crisis, and thus, they were not eligible for such services. The result of this misuse of the continuous home care hospice benefit was millions of dollars of false claims submitted to and paid by the government.

"While the government finds it necessary to provide this very important benefit to its citizens during a time of crisis, it is sometimes the case that companies and/or individuals will abuse the provision of this service through aggressive marketing practices, thrusting patients into services they really do not need in order to increase the company’s reimbursement rate and its bottom line," said United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis. "We will continue to investigate and root out this and other types of healthcare fraud. This is a very important aspect of the work we do, particularly given that healthcare fraud costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars a year." In addition to saving taxpayer dollars, the United States Attorney believes that such efforts will be important in continuing to stem the tide of rising health care costs.

"St. Joseph Hospice Entities allegedly maxed out Medicare’s hospice benefit to make as much profit as possible," said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta. "The Office of Inspector General will continue to work aggressively to eliminate this type of greed in our health care system."

"This type of fraud steals from government programs designed to assist deserving patients," stated Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. "Our success in this case is an excellent example of the effectiveness of collaboration between federal agencies, and evidence of our commitment to protect the American taxpayer and the integrity of our federal assistance programs."

The allegations in this case arose from a lawsuit filed by 3 whistleblowers, who were former employees of the company, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and share in any recovery. Such private citizens are referred to as relators. The relators in this case will receive a little more than $1 million from the recovery announced today. The case is styled as United States v. St. Joseph Hospice, et al., Case No. 1:12cv393 (S.D. Miss.).

The investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Givens Williams.

In addition to the payment of the settlement amount, St. Joseph Hospice Entities has agreed to submit to ongoing monitoring by HHS-OIG. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Jackson, Miss – Irb Benjamin, 69, of Madison, and Sam Waggoner, 61, of Carthage, were charged today with paying bribes and kickbacks to former Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner (MDOC) Christopher B. Epps in exchange for receiving contracts involving the MDOC and its operations, announced Acting United States Attorney Harold Brittain, FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Donald Alway, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jerome McDuffie, U.S. Postal Inspector Robert Wemyss, and Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering.

Benjamin was charged in a three count indictment returned by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and with two counts of bribery. According to the indictment returned against Benjamin, from some time in 2010 until September, 2014, Benjamin gave Epps bribes and kickbacks in exchange for Epps awarding or directing the awarding of MDOC contracts or work to Benjamin’s company, Mississippi Correctional Management (MCM), to provide alcohol and drug treatment services to inmates at MDOC work centers in Alcorn and Simpson Counties. MCM was paid about $774,000.00 as a result of those contracts.

The indictment alleges that Benjamin paid Epps for Epps’ help in getting MCM consulting contracts with Alcorn, Washington and Chickasaw Counties. Those contracts involved Benjamin providing consulting services during the construction and the subsequent operation of three regional corrections facilities. Benjamin purportedly provided consulting services to assist the regional corrections facilities in obtaining and maintaining accreditation by the American Correctional Association. The contract with Alcorn County paid MCM about $399,260.00; the contract with Washington County paid MCM about $245,080.00; and, the contract with Chickasaw County paid MCM about $217,900.00.

The indictment also alleges that Benjamin paid Epps monthly kickbacks from the consultant fees Benjamin received from Carter Gobal Lee Facility Management (CGL), after CGL obtained a contract in 2014 to provide maintenance services to MDOC facilities. Epps used his influence over CGL to get Benjamin the job as a consultant for CGL. The value of the CGL contract was $4,800,000.

Waggoner was charged by Criminal Information with one count of bribery related to his payments of bribes and kickbacks to Epps from sometime in 2012 until at least August 26, 2014. According to the Criminal Information, Waggoner was a consultant for Global Tel-Link (GTL), which provided telephone services at MDOC facilities. The Criminal Information cites two specific instances in 2014 where Waggoner paid Epps kickbacks from money Waggoner received from GTL as a consultant.

Harold Brittain, Acting U.S. Attorney in this case, stated: "The abuse of power and position by public officials has plagued our state for many years. Our tolerance for public corruption is zero. We will hold accountable under the law everyone who bears the responsibility of public service and sells the trust that has been bestowed upon them. We will not tolerate such fraud and abuses by public officials that have cost our citizens so dearly."

In commenting on this case, FBI SAC Donald Alway applauded the investigators and prosecutors, whose hard work and determined efforts revealed these additional participants in this conspiracy of public corruption, and led to the charges announced today. He added, “Our society will not tolerate bribery, kickbacks, or other ‘under-the-table’ deals. This is not just another cost of doing business with government. The FBI, working alongside its law enforcement partners, will use every appropriate tool and available resource to find, stop, and punish those who conspire to betray the public trust in order to enrich themselves.”

“Postal Inspectors bring to a task force unique skills for hunting down suspected fraud through the U.S. Mail,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez. “Postal Inspectors steadfastly work with our partners and defend the nation’s mail system in hopes that criminals abusing the American public’s trust are brought to justice.”

Special Agent Jerome R. McDuffie, IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated: “This is a very important investigation to the state of Mississippi and all individuals who rely on the trust they instill in their public officials, whether elected or appointed. The extent to which Christopher Epps has damaged that trust will require as much effort to rebuild as it did to uncover. The Special Agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners in uncovering public corruption at even the highest levels of government, as well holding accountable those individuals involved.”

“We will continue to fight public corruption in Mississippi and work with our partners,” said State Auditor Pickering. “Our agents and this team are working daily to identify and bring charges against all individuals associated with the Mississippi Department of Corrections case. I’d like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, IRS, and the U.S. Postal Service for a joint effort in this ongoing case."

Both defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on Friday, August 21, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. Waggoner faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine, as well as forfeiture of the proceeds he obtained as a result of the illegal conduct. Benjamin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine for the conspiracy count, and a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine for each of the bribery counts. Benjamin also faces the forfeiture of his ill-gotten gains.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Mississippi State Auditor’s Office and IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Darren LaMarca, Assistant United States Attorney Scott Gilbert, and financial analyst Kim Mitchell.

 

Gulfport, Miss – A Nigerian citizen arrested in Indiana, one of twenty-one defendants indicted in a nine-count federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Mississippi, was sentenced on Thursday, August 20, 2015, for his role in a conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

Teslim Olarewaju Kiriji, 30, of Lagos, Nigeria and Brownsburg, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sul Ozerden to 240 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and serve three years of post-release supervision. Kiriji admitted to being part of an international organization involved in multiple on-line fraud schemes that included the use of victim’s personal identification, banking and credit information. Testimony presented showed Kiriji was involved in the use and distribution of victims’ personal, bank and credit card information beginning in at least 2004 and continuing to his May 2014 arrest. Evidence presented at sentencing supported $50,000,000 in intended losses through counterfeit check schemes and account take-over schemes by the conspiracy.

The indictment in this case alleges a West African transnational organized crime enterprise involved in numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the internet. This mass marketing fraud includes romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, along with bank, financial and credit card account take-overs.

The investigation was initiated in October, 2011, by Homeland Security Investigations agents in Gulfport after U.S. law enforcement officers were contacted by a woman in Mississippi who was the victim of a sweetheart scam. The victim received a package in the mail requesting that she reship the merchandise to an address in Pretoria, South Africa. The investigation later revealed that the merchandise was purchased using stolen personal identity information and fraudulent credit card information of persons in the United States. Investigators have identified thousands of victims of this scam in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of U.S. dollars.

The indictment is the result of an investigation led by the HSI Gulfport office in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South African Police Service, Toronto Police, HSI Cyber Crimes Center, Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture, HSI Ontario, HSI Charleston, Interpol South Africa, HSI Pretoria and HSI Atlanta.

The case in Mississippi is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert along with Robert Tully of the Organized Crime Gang Section of the Department of Justice.

Jackson, Miss. – Jenna Tubby, 27, of Choctaw, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 18 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for having abusive sexual contact with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. The crime occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that it is joining Harrison County, Mississippi, to seek dismissal of a longstanding consent decree designed to improve conditions in the Harrison County Adult Detention Center.  If the U.S. District Court grants the parties’ joint motion, it will end federal compliance monitoring and return oversight of the facility back to the county.

“Harrison County officials have worked to improve conditions in the Harrison County Adult Detention Center,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division.  “Security, medical, and mental health staffing have all been substantially increased, staff members are better trained, and internal quality assurance mechanisms are now in place.  We have therefore joined the county in seeking final dismissal of the settlement in this case, and we commend the county for making these necessary, widespread reforms.” 

“The county’s actions have given the Department of Justice reason to expect that it will continue to be diligent in maintaining compliance with the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis of the Southern District of Mississippi.  “The actions today demonstrate how cooperation with the department on civil rights matters can improve safety for prisoners, staff, and the community.”  

The department’s decision follows nearly 20 years of enforcing a 1995 consent judgment, including through on-site inspections, document reviews and stakeholder interviews by department experts and staff.  

This case was brought under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes the department to seek a remedy for a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of persons confined in a jail, prison or other correctional facility. 

For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.

Gulfport, Miss - Five individuals have been sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola for their roles in a drug conspiracy case, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown.

On Thursday, August 6, 2015, Tonya Winn, 50, of Long Beach, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempted possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and Angel Case, 48, of Waveland was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

On Friday, August 7, 2015, Thomas Bernard, 34, of Pass Christian, was sentenced to 310 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and Kenneth Casey, 41, of Gulfport, was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

On July 1, 2015, Delano Lewis, of Kiln, was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised released for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shundral H. Cole.

 

Jackson, Miss – Five individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury this week as part of a new Jackson Violent Crime Initiative aimed at reducing violent crime in the City of Jackson, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

The following individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on August 4, 2015:

Recardeo Harris, age 32, of Jackson, was charged with possessing a firearm on June 5, 2015, after having been previously convicted of a felony.

James Homan, age 33, of Jackson, was charged with possessing a firearm on June 22, 2015, after having been previously convicted of a felony.

Len Arthur Bracey, age 38, of Jackson was charged with possessing a firearm on December 29, 2013, after having been previously convicted of a felony.

Aarron Harris, age 29, of Byram, was charged with possessing a firearm on July 4, 2015, after having been previously convicted of a felony.

Maurice King, age 29, of Jackson, was charged with three counts of possessing a firearm on August 1, 2014, September 20, 2014, and March 2, 2015, after having been previously convicted of a felony.

The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

Additional defendants previously indicted as a result of the Jackson Violent Crime Initiative include:

Antonio Anderson, age 22, of Jackson, was indicted on May 20, 2015, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on July 23, 2015, and will be sentenced on October 15, 2015. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Jarvis Durr, age 22, of Crystal Springs, was indicted on May 20, 2015, for carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He is currently scheduled for trial on November 3, 2015. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison for carjacking and a maximum of life in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and a maximum $250,000 fine on each charge.

Richard Barnes, age 29, of Byram, was indicted on June 23, 2015, for possessing a firearm on April 10, 2015, after having previously been convicted of a felony. He is currently scheduled for trial on September 1, 2015. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Ira McGruder, age 23, of Jackson, was indicted on June 23, 2015, for carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He is scheduled for trial on September 1, 2015. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison for carjacking and a maximum of life in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and a maximum $250,000 fine on each charge.

Demario Webster, age 19, of Jackson, was indicted on June 23, 2015, for carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He is scheduled for trial on September 1, 2015. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison for carjacking and a maximum of life in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and a maximum $250,000 fine on each charge.

The Jackson Violent Crime Initiative is a joint initiative between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who are working together to reduce violent crime in the city of Jackson and to remove violent offenders from the streets of this community. The Initiative is an ongoing operation aimed at making the streets of Jackson and the surrounding communities safe for all citizens. Jackson Violent Crime Initiative partners include the Jackson Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Secret Service.

The public is reminded that an indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Gulfport, Miss – Jywaun Davis Williams, 29, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pled guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola to interstate travel in aid of drug trafficking activity, announced U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown.

Williams was charged following a traffic stop on I-10 in Gulfport in April, 2014. He will be sentenced on October 22, 2015, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Gulfport Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the city of Petal, Mississippi, to resolve allegations of discrimination against persons with intellectual disabilities who sought to live in supported housing in one of the city’s residential neighborhoods.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the city violated the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act when it took actions to prevent three men with disabilities from residing together in a rented home on the same terms as non-disabled persons; under the city’s zoning code, up to four unrelated persons may reside together in a home in a residential neighborhood.  The home at issue is run by Brandi’s Hope Community Services, LLC, a Magee, Mississippi-based company that provides around-the-clock support for residents.

Under the terms of the agreement, approved by the court on July 29, 2015, the city will pay $25,000 to Brandi’s Hope in monetary damages and $25,000 to the United States as a civil penalty.  The city will take other remedial measures, including implementing the comprehensive reasonable accommodation policy and zoning code amendments it enacted as part of the settlement.  The settlement also resolves a separate lawsuit against the city brought by Brandi’s Hope.

“Persons with disabilities have the right to live in and enjoy their communities, just as all families do throughout our nation,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, the head of the Civil Rights Division.  “The Justice Department will continue to eliminate discriminatory barriers that impede these individuals from doing so.  We commend the city of Petal for working cooperatively with the department to reach this resolution.”

“This office is pleased that the city of Petal will now implement comprehensive reasonable accommodation policies and zoning code amendments that will allow persons with disabilities to enjoy the same right to live in the community as others,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis of the Southern District of Mississippi.  “These changes will positively impact the lives of many others with disabilities in the future.”

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.  More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.  Persons who believe that they have experienced unlawful housing discrimination may contact the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, or by e-mail at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777.

 

Gulfport, Miss – Edgardo Batiz Medina, 33, a resident of Gautier and a native of Puerto Rico, pled guilty today before Chief District Judge Louis Guirola to aggravated ID theft in a case involving the sale of birth certificates and social security cards, U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.

Batiz Medina will be sentenced on October 22, 2015 and faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.

 

Gulfport, Miss – On Thursday, July 23, 2015, Herman McGee, Jr. entered a guilty plea before District Judge Sul Ozerden, in a case involving conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.

McGee, 27 of Jacksonville, Florida, faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000 and at least 4 years of supervised release on the drug conspiracy and a maximum of 20 years on the firearms charge. Sentencing is set for September 30, 2015.

Previously in the same case, Jalyn Nicole Holland and Keriyae Judekqa Simmons both of Jacksonville entered guilty pleas to interstate travel in aid of an unlawful activity. Each faces a maximum of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 1 year of supervised release. Michael Lamar Ricks also of Jacksonville entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent over 500 grams of cocaine. All are pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.

 

Jackson, Miss - Lavonne Boose, 43, of Benton, a former nurse at the Federal Correctional Institution in Yazoo City, MS, was sentenced today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson to 60 days in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for smuggling a cell phone into the prison, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Boose was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

 

Jackson, Miss - Joyce Knight, 38, and Daniel Kelley, 41, both of Meridian, pled guilty on Monday, July 13, 2015 to filing false claims for payment against the United States for their roles in using stolen identities to file false federal income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie.

According to the evidence produced at the plea hearing, Kelley stole the names, social security numbers and dates of birth of inmates from 2009 through 2011 at the Greene County Correctional Facility and Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, while he was incarcerated at each prison. Kelley wrote down the stolen information in books he kept in his cell, including inside his Bible, and he would pass the information to Knight via cell phone which he had access to in prison. During the course of the scheme, 27 fraudulent federal income tax returns were filed, which resulted in the United States Treasury paying out $16,000 in bogus tax returns.

"Those who file false tax refund claims using stolen identities threaten the integrity of our federal income tax system and pose a real danger to the security of the individuals whose identities are stolen," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. "Citizens of this district should know we are dedicated to prosecuting individuals like these and to deterring similar crimes."

Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Jerome R. McDuffie stated: "Joyce Knight and Daniel Kelley have accepted responsibility for their actions, and we are pleased that they will now be held accountable for their wrongdoings. The sentencing in this matter now rests with the court. The Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to assist the United States Attorney’s Office and work toward a favorable conclusion which would ensure that this case serves as a deterrent to other unscrupulous individuals who would attempt to victimize the taxpaying citizens of this country."

Knight and Kelley will be sentenced on September 24, 2015 at 9:30 and 10:00 am respectively, by United States District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate. They each face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution in the amount of $16,000. Kelley, who also pled guilty to aggravated identity theft, will also receive a mandatory sentence of two years in prison that will run consecutive to the sentence imposed for his conviction for filing false claims.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gilbert.

WASHINGTON – Six Nigerian nationals were extradited from South Africa to Gulfport, Mississippi, to face a nine-count federal indictment in the Southern District of Mississippi alleging various Internet fraud schemes.  A total of 20 defendants are charged in this case.

 

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.

 

Oladimeji Seun Ayelotan, 30; Rasaq Aderoju Raheem, 31; Olusegun Seyi Shonekan, 33; Taofeeq Olamilekan Oyelade, 30; Olufemi Obaro Omoraka, 26; and Anuoluwapo Segun Adegbemigun, 39, are charged along with 15 others in an Oct. 7, 2014, indictment with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit identity theft, use of unauthorized account access devices, theft of U.S. government funds and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The charges stem from the defendants alleged participation in numerous Internet-based complex financial fraud schemes, including romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, as well as bank, financial and credit card account takeovers.

 

According to the allegations in the indictment, from as early as 2001, the defendants identified and solicited potential victims through online dating websites and work-at-home opportunities.  In some instances, the defendants allegedly carried on fictitious online romantic relationships with victims for the purpose of using the victims to further certain objectives of the conspiracy.  For example, the indictment alleges that the defendants convinced victims to ship and receive merchandise purchased with stolen personal identifying information (PII) and compromised credit card and banking information, to deposit counterfeit checks, and to transfer proceeds of the conspiracy via wire, U.S. mail or express delivery services.

 

To date, defendants Teslim Olarewaju Kiriji, 30; Olutoyin Ogunlade, 41; and Dennis Brian Ladden, 75, have been convicted of offenses relating to their roles in the schemes.  Defendants Susan Anne Villeneuve, 49; and Genoveva Farfan, 45; Sesan Olumide Farin, 40; Femi Alexander Mewase, 44; Rhulane Fionah Hlungwane, 24; and Adekunle Adefila, 40, are awaiting trial.  The United States is seeking extradition from Nigeria of defendants Kayode Bamidele, Ajayi Oluwaseyi Stephen and Emmanuel Adeniyi Osokomaiya.  Defendants Gabriel Oludare Adeniran and Oduntan Sikiru Lawani remain fugitives.

 

            The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

            This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Significant assistance was also provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the HSI Cyber Crimes Center, HSI Attachés in Pretoria and Dakar, U.S. Marshals Service’s International Investigations Branch and the Southern District of Mississippi, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) Electronic Crimes Unit, the SAPS Interpol Extradition Unit, the South African National Prosecution Authority, and the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Robert Tully of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert of the Southern District of Mississippi.

 

# # #

 

            If you believe that you may have been a victim of criminal fraud committed by any of the defendants, please go to http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/scams and complete the questionnaire using the password scams.  Defendants allegedly used the following email addresses and names to perpetuate the scheme:

 

MOBICOALZ@GMAIL.COM

FOLLYEDWARDS@YAHOO.COM

RDARWIN324@GMAIL.COM

FAYEKIMBERLY19@YAHOO.COM

TESCOSG@YAHOO.COM

GERVINOJ11@GMAIL.COM

RASAQ_ADEROJU@YAHOO.COM

SMITHKEVIN902@GMAIL.COM

ANITA.LAUREN1@GMAIL.COM

SPOWELL26AL3@YAHOO.COM

RHULANEF@YAHOO.COM

MARK2GENTLE@YAHOO.COM

MATT.MILLER4070@GMAIL.COM                   

JONES_DICKSON@YAHOO.COM

MARCHAS1963@GMAIL.COM

STACYADAMS20009@YAHOO.COM

OLUWA_NISHOLA@YAHOO.COM

FNCYJEN@YAHOO.COM

SUSANV1418@YAHOO.COM             

SEGSEA121@YAHOO.COM

FEMI_OMORAKA@YAHOO.COM

ADDIEP01@YAHOO.COM     

HORLAMI84@YAHOO.COM

EMPLOYMENTOFFERS007@YAHOO.COM

REDARMY_TX_HOST@YAHOO.COM

RWASSER@ROCKETMAIL.COM

RDARWIN322@GMAIL.COM

KAREN_ROB01@YAHOO.COM

FAYEKIMBERLY@YMAIL.COM

GERVINOJ@YAHOO.COM

JOHNVINO56@GMAIL.COM

KEVINSMITH3949@YAHOO.COM

ANITA.LAUREN01@GMAIL.COM

SPOWELL26AL@GMAIL.COM

GENTILEMARK186@GMAIL.COM

LMG.ORCHID1827@GMAIL.COM

MATT.MILLER4070@GMAIL.COM

LLOYDFARELL0012008@YAHOO.COM

OLADIMEJISEUN2008@YAHOO.COM

JUSTIN.WORSHAM@YAHOO.COM

MIMICOLE001@YAHOO.COM

FMPLUST12@GMAIL.COM

MAXWELLSAMUEL59@YAHOO.COM

STARENTERPRISE74@YAHOO.COM

PETERLAWSON5050@YAHOO.COM

GLENNSATTELBERG1961@GMAIL.COM

 

Richard Wasser                                               Adeline Piper            

 

Glenn Sattelberg                                             Folly Edwards

 

Samuel Maxwell                                             Stacy Adams

 

Regina Darwin                                                Justin Worsham

 

Marlon Chase                                                  Karen Robinson

 

Dickson Jones                                                 Mark Miller

 

Kimberly Faye                                                Mark Smith

 

Lorene M. Garrett                                           John Gervino

 

Mark Gentile                                                   Sarah Powell

 

Kevin Smith                                                    Anita Lauren

 

Any information that you provide through the questionnaire may be helpful in the criminal investigation and prosecution of this case.  A federal investigator may contact you with additional questions or to request documents you may have.  Please note that submitting the questionnaire is not a substitute for consulting with your own attorney to determine what actions and remedies may be available to you through civil litigation.  If you have any questions related to this matter that are not addressed at the above websites, you may contact federal law enforcement authorities at USAMSS.Scams@usdoj.gov.

 

# # #

 

Gulfport, Miss – Linda Harvey-Irvin, 62, of Jackson, Donald Walton, 51, of Vicksburg, and Markuntala Croom, 45, of Columbia, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden for bribery involving the Gulf Coast Community Action Agency, a non-profit organization, partially funded by federal grants, which runs the Head Start Preschool in Gulfport, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie with IRS – Criminal Investigation, and Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering.

Linda Harvey-Irvin was sentenced to 85 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $531,236 in restitution and perform 100 hours of community service.

Donald Walton was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $31,000 was entered.

Markuntala Croom was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $531,236 in restitution and perform 100 hours of community service.

Harvey-Irvin was the deputy director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Action Agency, located in Gulfport. She accepted bribes from Walton, owner and operator of Walton Construction, in exchange for construction contracts worth more than $400,000. Harvey-Irvin was also charged in a second indictment with accepting bribes from Markuntala Croom, owner and operator of Croom Consulting, in exchange for awarding over $520,502 in consulting work to Croom. Walton paid Harvey-Irvin $31,000 in kickbacks as a reward for his contracts, and Croom paid Harvey-Irvin $69,911.49 in kickbacks as a reward for her contracts.

U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis praised the efforts of the federal and state investigative agencies who worked on this case. "The sentences handed down today are fitting for the violations committed by these defendants, said U.S. Attorney Davis. "This office will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to prosecute those who choose to violate federal laws.

"Fraud of this kind diverts precious taxpayer dollars and jeopardizes the strength of a program that serves the most vulnerable members of our society," stated Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. "However, as this case demonstrates, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are aggressively fighting back to protect the U.S. taxpayer and the integrity of our federal assistance programs."

Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie, IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated: "We are pleased with the sentences handed down by the court in this matter. It should send a strong message to Mississippians and federal taxpayers that the theft of taxpayer dollars will not be tolerated. Linda Harvey- Irvin and her co-conspirators also represent an example to others who are engaged in the acceptance of kickbacks, that public servants, and/or the individuals who bribe them, are not above the law. In fact, they are held to the highest legal and ethical standards. IRS- Criminal Investigation is proud to have been a partner in this very important investigation, and is committed to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to help put an end to public corruption."

Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering stated: "By April 2010, an investigation was launched by the State Auditor’s Office into the use of funds awarded to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Action Agency (GCCAA). It is very sad that the money intended to serve as an economic stimulus for that community turned into a slush fund for personal gain." "The funds mishandled by GCCAA is an example of the importance of state and federal officials working together. One public dollar taken illegally is one too many," Pickering said. "The sentences handed down today show that my office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the IRS, will not tolerate this type of behavior by those entrusted with taxpayer funds."

This case was investigated by the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Gilbert.

 

Jackson, Miss - Cliff Williams, 37, of Meridian, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 133 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute actual methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown.

Williams was indicted as a result of DEA’s "Operation Yeti Ice", an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. The drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompassed the states of California and Mississippi.

This OCDETF operation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sherriff’s Office, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, Forest Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

 

Jackson, Miss - Princess Grace, a/k/a Princess Rutley, 36 of Meridian, was sentenced on June 25, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute actual methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown.

Stacy Shelwood, 36, of Newton, was sentenced on June 26, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 63 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute actual methamphetamine.

Both defendandants were indicted and convicted as a result of DEA’s "Operation Yeti Ice", an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. The drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompassed the states of California and Mississippi.

This OCDETF operation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sherriff’s Office, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, Forest Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

 

Jackson, Miss - Angelia Fortenberry, 36, of Newton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown.

Fortenberry was indicted as a result of DEA’s "Operation Yeti Ice", an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. The drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompassed the states of California and Mississippi.

This OCDETF operation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sherriff’s Office, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, Forest Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department.

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.

 

Jackson, Miss – Travis Butler, 28, of Meridian, pleaded guilty today to violating the Endangered Species Act and to obstructing the federal investigation into the killing of a Louisiana Black Bear in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. The Louisiana Black Blear is a protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

On January 4, 2014, Butler arranged for David Lucas Wimberly, a taxidermist in Quitman, Mississippi, to mount a Louisiana Black Bear illegally killed in the Whynot Community of Lauderdale County. Butler then transported the Bear to Wimberly’s Taxidermy in Quitman, Mississippi. Some 32 days later when federal and state wildlife officers began their investigation into the killing, Butler caused the taxidermist to conceal the Black Bear’s hide from a federal investigator.

David Lucas Wimberly and Chester Brad Williams each previously pleaded guilty to an Endangered Species Act violation involving the same Louisiana Black Bear. They will be sentenced on June 30, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate and face a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison.

Butler will be sentenced on September 3, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate. He faces a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison under the Endangered Species Act and faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for obstructing the investigation. As a result of his guilty plea today to the obstruction charge, Butler can no longer possess a firearm.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Deputy Criminal Division Chief Darren LaMarca is prosecuting the case.

 

Gulfport, Miss – Two individuals have been extradited from South Africa and one from Canada in a case that includes defendants in California, Wisconsin, Indiana, and New York, to face charges on a nine-count federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Mississippi involving various internet fraud schemes, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

The indictment alleges numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the internet, including romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, along with bank, financial, and credit card account take-overs.

The case is alleged to have begun as early as 2001. The investigation was initiated in October, 2011 by Homeland Security Investigation agents in Gulfport after U.S. law enforcement officers were contacted by a female victim in Mississippi who was the target of a romance scam. The victim received a package in the mail requesting that she reship the merchandise to an address in Pretoria, South Africa. The investigation later revealed that the merchandise was purchased using stolen personal identity information and fraudulent credit card information of persons in the United States. Investigators have identified hundreds of victims of this scam in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of U.S. dollars. Other schemes discovered by the investigation include advance check schemes where a victim receives a check and is asked to deposit it then send money by Western Union, MoneyGram or prepaid credit cards to another person, only to find out later the check is not valid.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, an indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS AFFECTED BY THE SCHEMES:

1. If you believe you were the victim of criminal fraud committed by any of the defendants, possibly using the below email addresses and/or names, please go to http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/scams and complete the questionnaire.

Email Addresses Used:

REDARMY_TX_HOST@YAHOO.COM                                        MOBICOALZ@GMAIL.COM

RWASSER@ROCKETMAIL.COM                                                FOLLYEDWARDS@YAHOO.COM

RDARWIN322@GMAIL.COM                                                       RDARWIN324@GMAIL.COM

KAREN_ROB01@YAHOO.COM                                                  FAYEKIMBERLY19@YAHOO.COM

FAYEKIMBERLY@YMAIL.COM                                                   TESCOSG@YAHOO.COM

GERVINOJ@YAHOO.COM                                                          GERVINOJ11@GMAIL.COM

JOHNVINO56@GMAIL.COM                                                        RASAQ_ADEROJU@YAHOO.COM

KEVINSMITH3949@YAHOO.COM                                               SMITHKEVIN902@GMAIL.COM

ANITA.LAUREN01@GMAIL.COM                                                 ANITA.LAUREN1@GMAIL.COM

SPOWELL26AL@GMAIL.COM                                                     SPOWELL26AL3@YAHOO.COM

GENTILEMARK186@GMAIL.COM                                               RHULANEF@YAHOO.COM

LMG.ORCHID1827@GMAIL.COM                                                MARK2GENTLE@YAHOO.COM

MATT.MILLER4070@GMAIL.COM                                               JONES_DICKSON@YAHOO.COM

HORLAMI84@YAHOO.COM                                                        MARCHAS1963@GMAIL.COM

OLADIMEJISEUN2008@YAHOO.COM                                        STACYADAMS20009@YAHOO.COM

JUSTIN.WORSHAM@YAHOO.COM                                            OLUWA_NISHOLA@YAHOO.COM

MIMICOLE001@YAHOO.COM                                                     FNCYJEN@YAHOO.COM

FMPLUST12@GMAIL.COM                                                         MAXWELLSAMUEL59@YAHOO.COM

STARENTERPRISE74@YAHOO.COM                                        SUSANV1418@YAHOO.COM

PETERLAWSON5050@YAHOO.COM                                         FEMI_OMORAKA@YAHOO.COM

ADDIEP01@YAHOO.COM                                                           SEGSEA121@YAHOO.COM

GLENNSATTELBERG1961@GMAIL.COM                                 EMPLOYMENTOFFERS007@YAHOO.COM

LLOYDFARELL0012008@YAHOO.COM

 

Names Used:

Richard Wasser                              Adeline Piper

Glenn Sattelberg                             Folly Edwards

Samuel Maxwell                              Stacy Adams

Regina Darwin                                Justin Worsham

Marlon Chase                                  Karen Robinson

Dickson Jones                                 Mark Miller

Kimberly Faye                                 Mark Smith

Lorene M. Garrett                           John Gervino

Mark Gentile                                  Sarah Powell

Kevin Smith                                   Anita Lauren

The information you provide through the questionnaire regarding your experience may be helpful in the criminal investigation and prosecution of this case. A law enforcement agent may contact you with additional questions or to request documents you may have received or submitted during your dealings with these individuals. To access the questionnaire please go to http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/scams and input the password scams.

Please note that submitting the questionnaire is NOT a substitute for consulting with your own attorney to determine what actions and remedies may be available to you through civil litigation.

2. You may access the website for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi: http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms to obtain more information on the case or the court proceedings. You may also obtain information at http://justice.gov/largecases/.

3. If you have any questions related to this matter that are not addressed at the above websites, you may contact the government at the email address USAMSS.Scams@usdoj.gov.

The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this fraud. The case in Mississippi will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert, along with Robert Tully of the Organized Crime Gang Section.

 

Gulfport, Miss. – Ukisha Lashay Carter, 34, of Collinsville, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to a term of nine months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft of federal funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Carter was also ordered to make restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $25,947.00 and pay a $2,500 fine.

Carter pled guilty on February 13, 2015 to theft of federal funds. From 2008 to 2009, she was involved in a scheme to utilize stolen personal identifiers, including names and social security numbers, for the preparation and submission of false income tax claims based upon fraudulent income tax returns. As a result of her stolen identity refund fraud scheme, Carter received the federal tax refunds in bank accounts under her control, including accounts at a federal credit union in Mississippi.

This case was investigated by IRS - Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.

Jackson, Miss – Edward Donnell Ammons, 34, of Jackson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 188 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and 188 months in prison for firearms offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Ammons distributed heroin on Earle Street in Jackson, Mississippi, to numerous residents of the Jackson Metro Area. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of over 100 grams of heroin and 11 firearms including pistols and assault rifles.

"Thanks to the dedication and hard work of several state and federal law enforcement agencies, another dangerous criminal has been brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis. "The lethal combination of guns and drugs has no place in society. We will continue to seek out and prosecute those who bring drugs and guns into our Mississippi communities."

This case was investigated by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the valuable assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Darren J. LaMarca.

 

Jackson, Miss. - Juan Geraldo Arredondo, 35, originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III, to one count of rioting in a federal correctional facility, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

The prison riot occurred on May 20, 2012 at the Adams County Correctional Center. During the riot, several correctional officers were assaulted and one correctional officer died as a result of injuries he received during these assaults. Other correctional officers were taken captive and held hostage for several hours by participants in the riot. Total damage to ACCC was estimated to be $1,305,142.00.

Arredondo will be sentenced on August 7, 2015 by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

 

Gulfport, Miss. – Elvis Oneal Gray, 40, of Biloxi, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola to a term of thirty-three (33) months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons followed by three years of supervised release for mail fraud in connection with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Gray was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $7,500.00

Following a trial in U.S. District Court in February, 2015, a jury found Gray guilty of carrying out a mail fraud scheme which included false employment letters and trip tickets in support of his false claim for lost earnings and profits as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Jones and Jay Golden.

This case was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at

(866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at disaster@leo.gov or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

 

Gulfport, Miss – Olutoyin Ogunlade, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, a U.S. citizen and one of eighteen defendants indicted in a nine-count federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Mississippi, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.

Ogunlade admitted to being part of an international organization involved in multiple on-line fraud schemes that included the use of victim’s personal identification, banking and credit information. He will be sentenced on August 13, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of post-release supervision.

The indictment in this case alleges a West African transnational organized crime enterprise involved in numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the internet. This mass marketing fraud includes romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, along with bank, financial and credit card account take-overs.

The investigation was initiated in October, 2011, by Homeland Security Investigations agents in Gulfport after U.S. law enforcement officers were contacted by a female victim in Mississippi who was the victim of a sweetheart scam. The victim received a package in the mail requesting that she reship the merchandise to an address in Pretoria, South Africa. The investigation later revealed that the merchandise was purchased using stolen personal identity information and fraudulent credit card information of persons in the United States. Investigators have identified thousands of victims of this scam in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of U.S. dollars.

The indictment is the result of an investigation led by the HSI Gulfport office in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South African Police Service, Toronto

Police, HSI Cyber Crimes Center, Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture, HSI Ontario, HSI Charleston, Interpol South Africa, HSI Pretoria and HSI Atlanta.

The case in Mississippi is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert along with Robert Tully of the Organized Crime Gang Section of the Department of Justice.

 

Natchez, Miss - William Charles Carroll, a/k/a CC, 40, of Pearl, was sentenced on April 22, 2015 by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III to 121 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; and 60 months in prison for use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 181 months in prison.

Carroll pled guilty to the charges on January 8, 2015 before U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Warren County Sheriff’s Department and the Pearl Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.

 

Gulfport, Miss - Rasheed Ali Muhammad, age forty-two (42), of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was sentenced to a total of 1,440 months in federal prison (240 months on each of six counts) followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute bath salts (methylone, a-PVP and 4-MEC) and chemicals used in the manufacture of spice (AM2201), announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown. Muhammad was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and restitution of $121,425.61 to United Parcel Service.

In January, 2015, Muhammad was found guilty by a jury following a five day trial in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

From sometime in 2012, Muhammad was ordering chemicals to produce spice and bath salts from manufacturers in the People’s Republic of China and then marketing them for sale on websites in the United States. Muhammad was shipping these products through the use of fraudulent United Parcel Service accounts. His co-defendant, Roslyn Chapman from Gulfport, Mississippi, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ocean Springs and Gulfport Police Departments and the Connecticut State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.

 

Jackson, Miss – Pennie Frazier, 37, of Jackson, was sentenced on April 16, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to four years and three months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for filing false federal income tax claims with the IRS, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie with IRS - Criminal Investigation.

Frazier filed false tax returns from March 2009 until February 2011. As a result of the false returns she filed, the IRS paid out $1,373,790.77 in fraudulent income tax refunds. Frazier was ordered to repay that amount in restitution.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gilbert.

 

Jackson, Miss – Otis McGee, 28, of Choctaw, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate, Jr. to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. McGee pled guilty to the charge on January 29, 2015. The crime occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

 

Jackson, Miss - Marzett Jordan, 45, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, was sentenced on April 2, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to six months in federal prison for making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. The government and Jordan also agreed to a substitute of assets settlement of $130,000 which was paid by Jordan to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Jordan pled guilty to the charge on October 31, 2005. He was the final defendant to be sentenced under the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") Operation "New Moon Rising", an extensive investigation into illegal narcotics distribution and money laundering in the Philadelphia, MS area. The Operation resulted in the indictment of Jordan and others on various counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, laundering drug proceeds and making false statements on mortgage applications.

Other defendants in this case included Spencer Jordan, who pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He was sentenced in December, 2009 to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Annie Mae Jordan pled guilty to a Criminal Information charging her with misprision of a felony. She was sentenced on January 25, 2006 to 8 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge for IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated, "Spencer Jordan conspired with multiple family members including his brother, Marzett Jordan, to launder drug proceeds through real estate purchases. The money laundering and forfeiture aspects of this case were particularly intricate, and included the dissection of financial transactions related to properties purchased with the drug proceeds of Spencer Jordan. The properties were purchased in the name of Marzett Jordan, who is a former bank employee. As a result of his participation in the money laundering conspiracy, Marzett Jordan agreed to forfeit $130,000.00 in currency. Taking apart drug and money laundering enterprises such as these are

often the culmination of many investigative efforts and resources. The special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation are especially excited to utilize our investigative skills to assist in these types of cases. The length of time it often takes to settle the money laundering aspects of the case in court is well worth it compared to the benefits received by the community. Jordan and his cartel represented a large threat to the Philadelphia, MS area. Former Philadelphia Police Chief, David Edwards, estimated that, during the period related to the investigation, Spencer Jordan and his cartel were responsible for trafficking as much as 60 to 70 percent of the drugs entering the local community. It is a great victory for law enforcement that they have all been held accountable for their actions."

This OCDETF operation was led by the DEA and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.

 

Jackson, Miss. – Marietta Harris, 39, of Jackson, was sentenced on April 8, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for stolen identity refund fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie with IRS Criminal Investigation. Harris was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $771,956.27.

Harris admitted to conspiring to defraud the government by using personal identifying information, including names and social security numbers which had been stolen from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility located in Rankin County, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and other locations. The information was then used by Harris and her co-conspirators to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. Refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Harris and her co-conspirators.

U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis commended the agents with IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service who investigated this case. "The prosecution of stolen identity refund fraud cases continues to be a top priority of the Department of Justice. Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning that those who choose to prey on others to enrich themselves will be brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Davis.

Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jerome R. McDuffie, IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated, "We are very pleased with the sentence handed down by the court in this matter. Marietta Harris engaged in a conspiracy that involved the use of stolen identification information which originated from the MDOC, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and a local physician patient database. The use of this information to prepare fraudulent tax returns not only resulted in the victimization of the government and its taxpayers, but many vulnerable individuals as well. She earned her time in prison, and must now commence with making recompense for her actions. The Special Agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation remain diligent in our pursuit of the

most egregious cases involving identity theft, and are committed to our partnerships with other federal agencies to put an end to Stolen Identity Refund Fraud."

This case was investigated by the United State Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Lemon.

 

Jackson, Miss - Mercedes Sanchez, 34, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on April 2, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 240 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.

Sanchez was found guilty on January 15, 2015 by a jury after a four day trial in U.S. District Court in Jackson. She received the statutory maximum sentence for her crime.

Sanchez entered the United States on October 13, 2013, in Nogales, Arizona and was traveling to Atlanta, Georgia. She was stopped by the Richland Police Department on October 16, 2013 for speeding. A search of the vehicle revealed 47 pounds of methamphetamine with a purity of 99.8% concealed in the muffler of her Ford -F150. She was 8 and ½ months pregnant at the time and was also traveling with her 9 year old daughter. Sanchez had multiple border crossings into Mexico and then returning into the United States over a nine month period.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Richland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Chalk and Darren LaMarca.

 

Jackson, Miss - Kayla Paul Lindsey, 46, of Brandon, and Marlene Solomon Williams, 61, of Brandon, were indicted on April 7, 2015 by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to make false statements and for making false statements to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

The 17- count indictment alleges that Lindsey and Williams administrated a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas that was intended to provide home repairs for low- to moderate-income households. According to the indictment, Lindsey and Williams required the contractors they hired to perform the repairs to inflate their invoices and to kick the extra money back to Lindsey and Williams. The fraudulently inflated invoices were submitted to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas through its local member institution, Trustmark Bank. It is alleged that, during the course of the conspiracy, the defendants were paid $187,261.23 in kickbacks generated by the fraudulent invoices.

Timothy Mowery, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, stated: "The act of committing fraud upon programs that are intended to assist the elderly, low income, or others who have fallen on hard times is detestable. Kayla Lindsey and Marlene Williams allegedly engaged in such a fraud against a Federal Home Loan Bank. FHFA-OIG is committed to identifying fraudsters and seeking prosecution to the fullest extent the law allows."

"This case is an example of the results we can achieve by working with our law enforcement partners," stated FBI SAC Donald Alway. "I commend the work of the individuals involved in this collaborative, investigative effort."

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, USDA Office of Inspector General, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

If convicted each defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy, and up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for each of the 16 remaining counts of making false statements to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

The public is reminded that an indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

Gulfport, Miss – Following an arrest in May, 2014 of fifteen individuals in South Africa, Canada, California, Wisconsin, and Indiana, ADEKUNLE ADEFILA, a Nigerian living in Canada, has been extradited to face charges in the Southern District of Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Raymond Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.

The indictment alleges a West African transnational organized crime enterprise was involved in numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the internet. This mass marketing fraud includes romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, along with bank, financial and credit card account take-overs.

The investigation was initiated in October, 2011, by HSI agents in Gulfport after U.S. law enforcement officers were contacted by a female in Mississippi who was the victim of a sweetheart scam. The victim received a package in the mail requesting that she reship the merchandise to an address in Pretoria, South Africa. The investigation later revealed that the merchandise was purchased using stolen personal identity information and fraudulent credit card information of persons in the United States. Investigators have identified hundreds of victims of this scam in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of U.S. dollars.

The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert and Robert S. Tully of the Organized Crime Gang Section.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, an indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

 

Jackson, Miss – Mark E. Rodgers, 52, currently of Houston, Texas, and the former Chief Executive Officer and President of Samarion Solutions, Inc., in Ridgeland, MS pled guilty on March 25, 2015 before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to one count of conspiracy to defraud investors in the sale of securities (18 U.S.C. §371), announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.

Samer N’Ser, 53, from Ridgeland, MS, the former Chief Technology Officer of Samarion Solutions, Inc., entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on January 27, 2015 to the same charge

According to the indictment in this case, from approximately 2006 through 2009, Rodgers and N’Ser conspired to intentionally mislead Samarion, Inc. investors in Mississippi, Alabama and elsewhere. Samarion, Inc., formerly known as Valence Broadband, Inc., was a corporation operating out of Madison County, Mississippi. The business plan of the company was to produce a viable monitoring system, commonly referred to as the "Samarion Solution", for installation in nursing homes and elsewhere that could predict when a patient might fall, prevent abuse and/or neglect by staff, and improve the over-all care of nursing home patients.

Both Rodgers and N’Ser were involved in the offer and sale of stock to investors. They conspired to fraudulently misrepresent to potential investors material facts that would affect their decision to invest, including but not limited to the financial strength of the company and the true functionality and capacity of the product, among other things. The indictment alleges that Rodgers and N’Ser engaged in a course of business which operated as a fraud and deceit upon the purchasers of the stock, using wire communications and the U.S. Mail to further that activity.

The indictment also alleges that Rodgers and N’Ser sold stock to investors representing that the investment funds would be used solely for the business purposes of the company, and instead used some of the money for their own personal benefit, including personal loans to each,

an unauthorized bonus for Rodgers, and the purchase of a 2007 Land Rover SUV titled in Rodgers’ name. The indictment further alleges that N’Ser and Rodgers fraudulently used Samarion investor funds to loan approximately $500,000 to C First Class Corporation, a company that was unrelated to Samarion or its business purpose, but for which Rodgers also served as a board member. The indictment alleges that Rodgers fraudulently concealed his personal interest in that company from the Samarion Board of Directors.

FBI SAC Don Alway stated: "This case is an example of the positive results we achieve by working with our state and local partners. We appreciate the effort of everyone involved in successfully investigating and prosecuting this case."

Joseph Borg, Director of the Alabama Securities Commission said, "I want to thank the Office of Greg Davis, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Office of Robert L. Broussard, Madison County, Alabama District Attorney; the Madison County, Alabama Sheriff’s Department and the Alabama Securities Commission staff for working together to ensure this conviction and to see that justice was served for the victims. The successful prosecution demonstrates the outstanding results that are achieved when federal, state and local law enforcement work together."

The defendants will be sentenced on June 15, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant United States Attorney Carla J. Clark, Chief of the Criminal Division, is prosecuting the case for the government. Agents from the FBI, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Securities Commission are assisting in the case.

 

Jackson, Miss – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict this afternoon against Woodie Bufkin, Jr., 39, of Walnut Grove, Mississippi, for possessing and passing five (5) counterfeit one hundred dollar bills at the Silver Star Casino in Philadelphia, Mississippi, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.

Bufkin will be sentenced on June 10, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. by Judge Carlton W. Reeves. He faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and the Choctaw Police Dept. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Dowdy, Jr. prosecuted the case.

 

Jackson, Miss. – Lavonne Boose, 43, of Benton, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson on March 23, 2015 for an arraignment pursuant to a Criminal Information charging her with providing contraband to a federal inmate, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway announced today.

Boose, who was employed as a nurse at the Yazoo Federal Corrections Complex, is charged with providing the inmate with a telephone, in violation of federal law. This case is set for trial on May 5, 2015. If convicted, Boose faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon is prosecuting the case.

 

Jackson, Miss. – Lavonne Boose, 43, of Benton, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson on March 23, 2015 for an arraignment pursuant to a Criminal Information charging her with providing contraband to a federal inmate, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway announced today.

Boose, who was employed as a nurse at the Yazoo Federal Corrections Complex, is charged with providing the inmate with a telephone, in violation of federal law. This case is set for trial on May 5, 2015. If convicted, Boose faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon is prosecuting the case.

 

Jackson, Miss - Jeffery Jamison, 57, of Brandon, and Ashley Davis, 30, of Jackson, pled guilty on Thursday, March 19, 2014 before Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee to intentionally failing to file a FORM 8300 with the U.S. Department of the Treasury in relation to their business activities at a Jackson used car dealership known as Spirit Automotive, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.

According to the facts disclosed during the guilty plea, Jamison, the owner of Spirit Automotive, and Davis, his employee, accepted $13,400 in cash from an undercover special agent posing as a drug dealer. Jamison and Davis arranged the purchase of the car to make it appear that Spirit Automotive had received less than $10,001 in cash for the vehicle by creating a false financing agreement.

IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jerome R. McDuffie, stated: "It is a violation of the law to accept over $10,000.00 in currency for the purchase of a vehicle and not file the required forms for federal reporting purposes. Jeffrey Jamison and Ashley Davis regularly conducted business at Spirit Automotive in a manner that violates federal statute. Individuals who engage in this type of activity often provide opportunity for drug dealers and others who traffic in illegally obtained currency to launder their money at the expense of honest citizens and taxpayers. The Special Agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation stand ready to pursue prosecution in these instances, and remain committed to upholding the legal statutes that are in place to protect the sanctity of our economy."

The defendants will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee on June 4, 2015 at 9:30. They each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.