Southern District of Mississippi

Jackson, Miss - Twenty (20) individuals are facing drug charges in three (3) separate federal indictments unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Floyd Baker, Director Sam Owens of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and US Postal Service Houston Division Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss.

Sixteen (16) of the twenty (20) charged were arrested this morning in central Mississippi and in California. As a result of those arrests four (4) firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition were seized.

The indictments are the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed AOperation Yeti Ice@, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. This drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompasses the states of California and Mississippi.

Charged in the first indictment:

Age

City of Residence

Charges

Maximum penalty

Rodney Gerald Henderson

69

Newton, MS/ Rialto, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine, Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine that resulted in the death of another, and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.

Life in prison and a
$97 million fine (total charges in three indictments)

Kafien Kidd

35

Newton, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.

Life in prison and a
$10 million fine

Jennifer Toole Kidd

30

Newton, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine.

Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Marcos Jones

35

Newton, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Life in prison and a
$1 million fine

Walter Pernillo

42

San Bernardino, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Life in prison a
$10 million fine

Cliff Williams

36

Meridian, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine

Twenty years in prison and a
$1million fine

Stacy Shelwood

32

Ocean Springs, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Twenty years in prison and a
$1 million fine

Angelina Fortenberry

38

Decatur, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine

Twenty years in prison and a
$1 million fine

Princess Grace

35

Meridian, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine.

Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine

Terry Garth

24

Newton, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Fifty years in prison and a
$2.25 million fine

Charged in the second indictment:

Name

Age

City of Residence

Charges

Maximum penalty

Rodney Gerald Henderson

69

Newton, MS/ Rialto, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Life in prison and a
$97 million fine (total for three indictments)

Steven Elias Ochoa

29

San Bernardino, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Life in prison and a
$26 million fine

Michael Thomas McLemore

38

Pearl, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.

Life in prison and a
$46 million fine

Jennifer Higgins McLemore

35

Pearl, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine.

Life in prison and a
$40 million fine

Kenneth Waggoner

46

Forest, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine

Twenty years in prison and a
$1 million fine

Charged in the third indictment:

Name

Age

City of Residence

Charges

Maximum Penalty

Rodney Gerald Henderson

69

Newton, MS, Rialto, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Life in prison and a
$97 million fine (total for three indictments)

Christopher Raynard Kidd

26

Rialto, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Life in prison and a
$20 million fine

Ronnie Round

45

Conehatta, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine

Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine.

Thomas Odell Mason

55

Little Rock, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine.

Life in prison and a
$11 million fine.

Jakeivia Fairley

24

Rialto, CA

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine.

Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine.

Beatrice Williams McEntee

56

Forest, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine

Forty years in prison and a
$2 million fine.

Jamie Tavare Thames

40

Forest, MS

Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine

One hundred forty years in prison and a $13 million fine.

“The unlawful distribution of controlled substances violates federal law and constitutes a danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “This operation evidences the commitment of federal law enforcement to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who, through violation of federal criminal laws, pose a threat to the safety of our communities. Through joint law enforcement efforts such as this one, we can make our cities safer for our children and every law abiding citizen. Our thanks go out to the federal, state and local law enforcement officers who contributed to the investigation that led to this prosecution.”

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Floyd Baker stated: “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and how cooperation between federal, state and local agencies is an essential component of efforts by law enforcement to disrupt drug trafficking organizations that operate in our area. The successful indictments/arrest of these defendants should put others who engage in this type of activity on notice: if you sell drugs you will face federal charges and a lengthy prison sentence. These combined law enforcement efforts send a message of our unending resolve to pursue drug traffickers who wreak havoc in our communities.”

MBN Director Sam Owens stated: “The arrest of these suspects, the dismantling of their organization, and the seizure of drugs and assets valued at more than $1 million do much to impede the drug trade in Mississippi.”

USPS Inspector in Charge, Houston Division, Robert Wemyss added: "These indictments are merely the latest in a long tradition of Postal Inspectors relentlessly pursuing anyone who misuses the nation's mail system to distribute illegal, dangerous drugs. I'm proud of the work done by all the agents involved in this investigation, and look forward to their continued enforcement."

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

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

The defendants will be arraigned on September 11, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson.

Terry Garth of Newton, Princess Grace of Meridian, Kenneth Waggoner of Forest, and Christopher Raynard Kidd of Rialto, California have not been arrested. Anyone with information on their whereabouts please contact your local police department.

The public is reminded that a criminal indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. It is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss – The first defendant of eighteen indicted in a nine-count federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Mississippi against defendants in South Africa, Canada, Indiana, California, New York and Wisconsin, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Raymond R Parmer, Jr.

Dennis Brian Ladden, 73 years old, formerly of Wisconsin, entered the guilty plea before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden on Wednesday, August 27, 2014. Ladden faces a maximum of five years in prison, $250,000 fine and three years of post-release supervision. Ladden admitted an on-line relationship led to receiving and attempting to cash a credit card cash advance check fraudulently obtained by co-conspirators using the victim’s personal identifying information and credit card information. He also admitted notifying co-conspirators that he had been contacted by federal agents regarding an investigation.

Sentencing for Dennis Brian Ladden is set for November 19, 2014 before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden.

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

The case in Mississippi is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss – Ladonna Cooper, age 30, of Jackson, was sentenced to 20 months for conspiracy to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.

Cooper, a former employee of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, previously pled guilty to stealing personal identifying information, including names and social security numbers, from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility located in Rankin County. The information was then used by others to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. Those refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Cooper’s co-conspirators. Following her prison sentence, Cooper will be on supervised release for 3 years during which she must pay restitution to the United States Government in the amount of $222,137.13.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss – Pamlia Johnson, age 41, of Jackson, was sentenced to 14 months for conspiracy to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.

Johnson a former employee of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, previously pled guilty to stealing patient’s personal identifying information, including names and social security numbers, from the Jackson hospital. The information was then used by others to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns claimed that the tax payers were owed a refund. Those refunds were then electronically deposited into various bank accounts in Mississippi belonging to Johnson’s co-conspirators. Following her prison sentence, Johnson will be on supervised release for 3 years during which she must pay restitution to the United States Government in the amount of $82,040.00.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss. – Virginia Ann Edelman a/k/a Ginger Edelman, 49, of Picayune, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 21 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to pay $75,325.00 in restitution to the U. S. Social Security Administration and to perform 120 hours of community service.

In May, 2014, a jury found Edelman guilty of stealing $75,325.00 of her deceased mother’s Social Security Survivor’s Insurance Benefits Program (“SIB”) benefit payments. The investigation revealed the theft occurred from May of 2000 through October of 2011.

This case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General - Office of Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss - William Richard Pryor, 68, of Gulfport, was arrested by FBI agents pursuant to a criminal complaint charging him with transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp.

William Richard Pryor was formerly employed as a math teacher at Bayou View Junior High School in Gulfport. According to the criminal complaint, beginning in approximately September, 1973 and continuing through the present, Pryor traveled and transported minor children in interstate commerce with the intent that the minor children would engage in sexual activity.

Pryor appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Gargiulo for an initial appearance. He remains in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing on Tuesday, August 26, 2014.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss. – Brittany Ann Jackson, 26, of Biloxi, and Dontrelle Deshaun Sanford, 24, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, to charges in an indictment filed against them earlier this year, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Mark McKee, and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan.

Jackson pled guilty to one count of conspiracy (count 1) to pass counterfeit U.S. currency and Sanford pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (count 13). The indictment alleged that as part of the conspiracies the defendants would purchase items, such as Dyson vacuum cleaners, with counterfeit money at Lowe’s stores in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The defendants would then return the items to the stores and receive genuine money for the refunds.

Their sentencings are scheduled for November 20, 2014, before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sanford faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine.

IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Gabriel L. Grchan, stated: “Simply put, counterfeiting currency is a violation of the law; it also causes damage to the local economy and hurts the pocket books of all taxpayers by increasing the cost of goods and services. IRS – CI will continue to seek the prosecution of individuals, such as Brittany Jackson and Dontrelle Sanford, who engage in money laundering through counterfeiting and related financial transactions for illegal purposes.”

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Hattiesburg, Miss - Former Mississippi Department of Public Safety employee Yolanda Jean Perkins, 48, of Laurel, Lorena Gomez, 33, of Laurel, and Jose Martel Rivera, 32, an illegal alien from Mexico, all pled guilty in federal court on August 18, 2014, to conspiracy to commit identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Raymond Parmer, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations.

The conspiracy involved the sale by Gomez and Rivera of authentic Texas birth certificates with matching social security cards to illegal aliens, and the subsequent purchase of Mississippi drivers’ licenses and state IDs, with the assistance of Perkins who worked at the Laurel driver’s license bureau.

“Fraudulent documents threaten the security of all citizens by making it easier for criminals to commit a range of offenses from identity theft to potential terrorism,” said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of HSI New Orleans. “Further, this scheme created a nightmare scenario in which citizens could have been held responsible for driving infractions or criminal acts committed by aliens possessing fraudulent identity documents in their names. These criminals willingly stole identities and threatened national security all in the name of a quick buck. These guilty pleas show HSI and its state partners will continue to investigate and seek prosecution of these cases wherever they occur.” Parmer oversees a five-state area of operations to include Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

The defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on October 27, 2014. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is 15 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss. – Nikki Thomas, 37, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 92 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for stolen identity refund fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Thomas was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $771,956.27.

Thomas conspired 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, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and other locations. The information was then used by Thomas 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 Thomas and her co-conspirators.

This case was investigated by the United State Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon is prosecuting the case.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss – Travis Butler, 28, of Meridian, Chester Brad Williams, 49, of Meridian, and David Lucas Wimberly, 34, of Quitman, have been indicted for their involvement in the killing of a Louisiana Black Bear in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, and their subsequent obstruction of the investigation into that killing, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. The Louisiana Black Blear is a protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

According to the indictment, on January 4, 2014, Butler caused another person to kill the bear. He and Williams then took the bear to Wimberly’s taxidermy to be mounted. When federal and state wildlife officers began their investigation into the killing on February 6, 2014, Butler, Williams and Wimberly destroyed evidence of their actions.

The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, by U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball and the case has been set for trial on October 6, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate.

The maximum penalty under the Endangered Species Act is up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The maximum penalty for obstructing the investigation is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

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.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss – Two inmates at the Adams County Correctional Facility were sentenced in federal court today by Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III for rioting at the prison on May 20, 2012, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp.

Carlos Flores, 42, was sentenced to 74 months in prison and Yoany Oriel Serrano-Bejarano, 29, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. They were both ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,382,313.

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

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss. - James Lewis Johnson, 61, of New Jersey, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour, Jr. to 86 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Postal Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss. Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $107,926.43.

Johnson pled guilty on May 21, 2014 to his involvement in a Nigerian run fraudulent scheme involving Craigslist postings. The scheme involved the mailing and shipping of hundreds of USPS Express mail parcels containing counterfeit postage, USPS money orders and cashier checks. Mr. Johnson printed the counterfeit postage, money orders and checks, mailed them, received money from the victims and forwarded the money to the primary operators in Nigeria via Western Union. The investigation revealed over 590 wire transactions and over 100 mailings in furtherance of the scheme to defraud, with a total victim financial loss of more than $534,600.

"The Postal Service will continue to identify and pursue dishonest mailers who deliberately avoid proper payment of postage. When unscrupulous people use the mail to defraud, Postal Inspectors will not hesitate to ensure they are brought to justice," said Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss. "Unfortunately, in these challenging economic times, the Postal Inspection Service has no shortage of fraud schemes to investigate."

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Meridian Police Department.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Hattiesburg, Miss - Joseph C. Ziegler, Jr., 67, of Gulfport, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to misprision of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp.

Ziegler admitted helping conceal the crime of mail fraud which involved diverting funds intended for the State of Mississippi into a private bank account controlled by William Walker, former Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

Ziegler will be sentenced on November 10, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in Hattiesburg. The maximum penalty for misprision of a felony is 3 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Criminal Division Chief John Dowdy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden are prosecuting the case.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss – James Allen Myers, 66, of Carriere, Mississippi, was found guilty following a three day trial in United States District Court to one count of transportation of child pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.

Myers, who lived in North Port, Florida, until 2013 when he moved to Carriere, Mississippi, was found to be in possession of numerous computer hard drives, CDs, and other computer devices which contained over 20,000 images and videos of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults. HSI agents examined the images and videos found on the electronic devices seized from Myers and were able to identify and locate three victims living in Florida who were depicted in the images found on Myers’ computers.

Myers will be sentenced on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola. The maximum penalty for transportation of child pornography is 20 years in prison . The maximum penalty for each count of possession of child pornography is 10 years in prison.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation agents in both Mississippi and Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenda Haynes and Andrea Jones.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss - Former attorney Jason Zebert, 45, of Pearl, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves, Jr. to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. He was also ordered to repay $198,669.14 to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Zebert worked as an attorney and fiduciary representing veterans. He pled guilty to stealing funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs which had been entrusted to him for spending solely on behalf of the veterans he represented.

The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat Lemon.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss. - Gary Tubby, 53, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves, Jr. to 25 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.

On several occasions, Tubby sexually molested two children, both of whom were under the age of twelve, and took sexually explicit photographs of the children. The photographs were then posted to a photo sharing website. The offense occurred on the Tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis praised the investigative work of the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Child Exploitation Task Force for their investigation of this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon who prosecuted the case.

Attorney General Jim Hood stated: “This case really highlights the benefits of our partnership with the FBI on the Child Exploitation Task Force and why we have dedicated resources to it. This defendant admitted to producing his own child porn and stated in court he had victimized other children in the past. We appreciate Judge Reeves for putting him away for many, many years to come and hope doing so can be the start of the healing process for the children who were victimized.”

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

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(225) 334-4707

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Jackson, Miss. – Brandon Farmer, 21, of Philadelphia, Miss., was sentenced on July 31, 2014 by Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee to 108 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for sexual contact with a minor under the age of twelve, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Farmer must also register as a sex offender. Farmer previously pled guilty to the crime which occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss - Gregory Bernard Griffin, Jr., 23, of Jackson was sentenced to 10 years and 7 months in federal prison as a result of his convictions for bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Griffin was order to pay restitution in the amount of $75,000 and to forfeit 2 vehicles along with several other items he obtained with stolen and laundered funds. His sentence will run consecutively to a nine year sentence he recently received from Madison County Circuit Court for a separate fraud conviction. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Griffin was charged in a 17 count indictment with using a stolen identity to open a bank account at a Jackson area credit union, stealing $193,205.43 from a local Marriott hotel, and laundering some of the proceeds of his fraud with the help of his sisters, Tiffany Griffin, 30, and Erica Griffin, 27, both of Jackson. A jury convicted him of all 17 counts after a three day trial in May, 2014.

Tiffany Griffin, 30, and Erica Griffin, 27, both of Jackson, previously pled guilty and were each sentenced to 3 years of probation for their roles in the crimes. They must also pay restitution.

The case was investigated by United States Secret Service Special Agent Scott Frazier and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gilbert.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

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Gulfport, Miss. – Glynell Cook Anderson, 61, of Wiggins, was sentenced to two years on probation with six months of electronic monitoring for theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration in the amount of $36,831.

Anderson previously pled guilty to providing repeated false statements to the Social Security Administration and receiving $36,831 in Social Security Supplemental Security Income payments to which she knew she was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Gulfport, Miss. – Richard Terrell Jasper, 39, of Gulfport, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan with IRS Criminal Investigation.

Jasper pled guilty on May 5, 2014, to one count of aggravated identity theft, which charged that he knowingly used, without lawful authority, the means of identification of another person, that is, the name and social security number of another person, during and in relation to the felony of theft of government funds. The theft of government funds involved numerous income tax refund checks that the defendant obtained and deposited into his bank accounts. The refunds were issued based on fraudulent income tax returns filed using unknowing victims’ names and social security numbers.

Jasper was sentenced by United States District Judge Sul Ozerden to a term of imprisonment of 24 months, to be followed by one year of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $43,215.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

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Jackson, Miss - Jeremy J. Brantley, 33, of Forest, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. He was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine.

Forest Police Officers on patrol in a Forest neighborhood arrested Brantley after he was seen carrying a firearm in his waistband. Brantley has prior convictions for possession of marijuana and burglary of an occupied dwelling.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Forest Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin O. Chalk.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

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Jackson, Miss – Darren K. Smith, 33, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, was sentenced on July 24, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves, Jr. to 23 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.

On March 18, 2014, Smith pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The crime occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Smith had been convicted of business burglary on November 6, 2000 in the Circuit Court of Neshoba County, Mississippi.

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

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

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(225) 334-4707

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Gulfport, Miss. – Katisha Lombardo Deroche, 32, of Bay St. Louis, was sentenced on July 24, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to six months in federal prison, six months in a community correction center and three years of supervised release for mail fraud in connection with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to repay $13,600.00 in restitution to the BP Gulf Coast Claims Facility.

Deroche submitted false claims and documentation to the BP Gulf Coast Claims Facility claiming she lost earnings and profits as a result of the oil spill. As a result, she received funds from the Claims Facility to which she knew she was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones. It was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at disaster@leo.gov or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

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Jackson, Miss -    Twelve current or former Mississippi Army National Guard soldiers have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in defrauding the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Recruiter Assistance Program (“GRAP”) which provided financial incentives to enlisted soldiers for assisting in recruiting potential soldiers into the Mississippi Army National Guard, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. 

Antonio L. Hales, 40, of Laurel; Tyrone Strickland, 46, of Pachuta;  Ralph Smith, III, 33, of Soso; William David Middleton, 36, of Raleigh;  Michael Joseph McNeil, 49, of Louin; Crystal A. Mayers, 32, of West Point;  James Anthony Holder, 49, of Bay Springs; Esau Moffett, 27, of Hattiesburg;  and Kaya T. Durr, 36, of Hattiesburg are all charged  with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to steal government funds, conspiracy to commit identity theft, and theft of government funds.  The indictment alleges that Hales, McNeil and Moffett provided the personal identification information of recruited soldiers to the other co-defendants for the purpose of filing false GRAP claims.  Strickland, Smith, Middleton, Holder, Mayers and Durr falsely represented that they assisted in the recruitment of certain potential soldiers when they had not actually assisted in the recruitment.  According to the indictment, the conspiracy began in January 2006 and continued until February 2011.  

In a separate indictment, Jamie E. Jackson, 43, of Mendenhall, is charged with six counts of theft of government funds and six counts of wire fraud; and Byron J. Collins, 24, of New Hebron, is charged with making a false statement.  The indictment alleges that Jackson, a National Guard Captain, obtained GRAP incentive payments to which he was not entitled because he was a commissioned officer.   Byron J. Collins is alleged to have made a false statement to a U.S. Secret Service Agent who was investigating the case when he told the Agent that he had received the GRAP incentive payments when, in actuality, Jamie E. Jackson had received the payments.   

A third indictment charges Roshanna Edwards, 43, of Lumberton, with theft of government funds.  Edwards is alleged to have received $10,000 in GRAP incentive payments to which she was not entitled. 

The Guard Recruiter Assistance Program (GRAP) provided financial incentives to enlisted soldiers for assisting in recruiting potential soldiers into the Mississippi Army National Guard.  All enlisted soldiers were eligible to receive incentive payments through the GRAP, except for soldiers whose primary job assignment was recruitment.  Commissioned Officers were not eligible to participate in the GRAP. A soldier would receive $1,000 for the enlistment of each potential solider he or she assisted in recruiting to the National Guard.  The soldier would receive an additional $1,000 when the potential soldier graduated from basic training.

The statutory maximum penalties faced by the defendants are: five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count for conspiracy, ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count for theft of government funds, five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count for making a false statement, and twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count for wire fraud.    

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss - Linda Harvey-Irvin, 62, of Jackson, Donald Walton, 51, of Vicksburg, and Markuntala Croom, 45, of Columbia, Mississippi have been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to embezzle money from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Action Agency (“GCCAA”), an organization that receives more than $10,000 in federal funding each year, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp.

Harvey-Irvin, the former Director of the GCCAA and Director of the associated Head Start Program, is charged in one indictment with Donald Walton, owner and operator of Walton Construction, with conspiracy to commit federal program fraud by accepting and paying bribes. According to the indictment, Harvey-Irvin accepted money from Walton in exchange for awarding construction contracts. It is alleged that GCCAA paid Walton approximately $365,282.20 during the course of the conspiracy and Walton, in turn, paid Harvey-Irvin $31,000 in kickbacks for the awarding of those contracts.

A second indictment charges Harvey-Irvin and Markuntala Croom, owner and operator of Croom Management Services, with conspiracy to commit federal program fraud by accepting and paying bribes, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the indictment, Harvey-Irvin accepted money from Croom in exchange for awarding contracts for consulting work. It is alleged that GCCAA paid Croom approximately $649,047 during the course of the conspiracy and Croom, in turn, paid Harvey-Irvin $91,961.49 in kickbacks for the awarding of those contracts. The indictment alleges that Croom and Harvey-Irvin conspired to launder the kickbacks with Croom making cash deposits into a bank account owned by Harvey-Irvin.

The maximum statutory penalties for the offenses charged are: five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count for conspiracy, ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count for accepting and paying bribes, and 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine per count for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor - OIG. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gilbert.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Hattiesburg, Miss - Scott Walker, 34, of Ocean Springs, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 18 months in prison for federal program fraud and 18 months for conspiracy to commit federal program fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp. The two sentence terms will run concurrently and will be followed by a three year term of supervised release. Walker was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $390,000.

Walker previously pled guilty to creating and submitting a false invoice in the amount of $180,000 to the City of D’Iberville for payment of consulting services that were never performed in connection with a $3 million grant issued to the City of D’Iberville by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Walker also pled guilty to conspiring with his father, William Walker, to divert federal grant monies in a scheme that resulted in the federal grant monies being used to unlawfully purchase Scott Walker’s personal property in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. It was prosecuted by Criminal Division Chief John Dowdy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Hattiesburg, Miss - Grantham Armstrong Mitchell, 20, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and 7 years for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp. The two sentences will be served concurrently and followed by an eight year term of supervised release. Mitchell was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,591.

Mitchell previously pled guilty to producing a video of himself and a minor child engaging in sexually explicit conduct in Orange Beach, Alabama in 2012. He also possessed numerous images and videos of minor children, as young as twelve years old, engaging in sex with adults.

The investigation in this case began when a complaint was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding possible child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account via the Internet. An investigation was conducted by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) which is comprised of special agents of the FBI and investigators from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant for a computer and other electronic devices owned by Mitchell. A forensic review of the computer determined that it contained images and videos of suspected child pornography and led to the identity of the minor child in the video produced by Mitchell. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Glenda Haynes.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Gulfport, Miss – Following a two week trial in United States District Court in Gulfport, Keith Anthony Kiel, 38, of Mobile, Alabama, and Randy Laverne Marshall, 34, of Pritchard, Alabama, were found guilty of carrying out a series of eight bank robberies across the Southeast, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp.

The defendants were charged with bank robberies spanning from March 2008 through May 2013 in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and the investigation involved federal, state and local law enforcement from four federal judicial districts. The defendants were charged in three separate federal indictments which were consolidated together for trial.

Kiel was found guilty on eleven separate criminal counts including bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent felony, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, and witness intimidation. Marshall was found guilty on seventeen counts of bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent felony, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.

Three of the robberies occurred from March – June 2008 with the other five robberies occurring from December 2012 through May 2013. Most of an approximately four-year gap in the robberies coincided with a period from July 2008 to May 2012 when defendant Randy Marshall was in continuous custody for another conviction.

A chronological list of the eight bank robberies in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida is as follows: Regions Bank, Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS (3/4/08)
First Federal Savings and Loan, U.S. Highway 90, Gautier, MS (5/13/08)
Regions Bank, Eisenhower Drive, Biloxi, MS (6/19/08)
Merchants & Marine Bank, Mississippi Highway 613, Moss Point, MS (12/13/12)
Wells Fargo Bank, Mobile Highway, Pensacola, FL (1/28/13)
Hancock Bank, Cowan Road, Gulfport, MS (3/20/13)
Bancorp South, Fort Dale Road, Greenville, AL (5/2/13)
Hancock Bank, Main Street, Moss Point, MS (5/17/13)

Marshall was arrested on May 19, 2013, on a state warrant just days after the Hancock Bank robbery in Moss Point, and Kiel was arrested on a federal warrant in September 2013. Both Kiel and Marshall will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. on October 14, 2014. The maximum penalty for each count of bank robbery is 25 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for each count of conspiracy is 5 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for brandishing a firearm during a violent felony is not less than 7 years in prison (consecutive to other penalties) and a $250,000.00 fine for the first conviction and not less than 25 years in prison (consecutive to other penalties) and a $250,000.00 fine each for subsequent convictions. The maximum penalty for each count of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle is 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for witness intimidation is 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. Two other co-defendants in the case, Lamarcus Moore and Reginald Robinson of Saraland, Alabama, previously pled guilty to related charges and were cooperating accomplice witnesses against Kiel and Marshall. Moore pled guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery. He will be sentenced on September 4, 2014. Robinson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and will be sentenced on July 28, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with substantial assistance from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, and the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team. Also assisting in the case were multiple other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies including substantial assistance from the Mississippi and Alabama State Crime Labs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

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Jackson, Miss – Lornell Von Moore, 49, and Patrina Bester Hayes, 37, both of Paulding, Mississippi, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III today for conspiracy to launder drug money, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Moore was sentenced to 178 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He is currently serving nine years in federal prison for narcotics distribution. Hayes was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Moore garnered over $2 million in drug profits in just a two year period beginning in 2008. Moore and Hayes operated LVM Trucking out of Louin, Mississippi, and washed millions of dollars of drug profits through the trucking company’s bank accounts as well as their private bank accounts.

As a result of the investigation into the narcotics trafficking of Moore and the money laundering activities of Moore and Hayes, investigators of the DEA and the IRS, through the office of the United States Attorney, seized a large amount of property associated with the money laundering conspiracy. The property included vehicles, tractors, trailers, houses and firearms.

“Today's sentencing is the direct result of the commitment of IRS Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and our state and local partners to combat illegal narcotics and narcotics related money laundering violations,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “These sentences should send a clear message that those who choose to become involved in these types of criminal activities will be identified, investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated, “Today’s sentencing of Lornell Von Moore and Patrina Hayes is a victory for law enforcement. I want the narcotics traffickers out there to know that attempting to disguise drug-related financial transactions behind businesses like LVM Trucking will not protect them from being charged with money laundering violations and suffering the stiff penalties those violations carry. I would also like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for the work done on this very significant OCDETF investigation.”

The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the criminal investigation of the financial affairs leading to the current guilty plea. Officers from the Ridgeland Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff=s Office, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, participated in the investigation of Moore’s drug trafficking organization. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca prosecuted the case for the government.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss - Rickey McDuffey, of Jackson, was sentenced in federal court today to fifty-six months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit stolen identity refund fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie with IRS - Criminal Investigation.

McDuffy’s co-conspirator, Alicia Haslett, of Jackson, was sentenced on June 19, 2014, to fifty-five months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both McDuffey and Haslett were also ordered to pay $306,962.17 in restitution and to forfeit that same amount to the government.

McDuffy and Haslett, who were married at the time, conspired to steal personal identifying information which they used to file false federal income tax returns from 2011 through 2013. They both pled guilty to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

Jerome R. McDuffie , Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated: “It is my hope that the sentences imposed on Alicia Haslett and Rickey McDuffey make it clear that identity theft related tax fraud is a serious crime and will result in serious consequences. The ring of fraudsters and identity thieves led by Haslett and McDuffey has been successfully disbanded. On behalf of IRS-CI, I would like to thank the Office of the United States Attorney for their aggressive prosecution of cases involving Stolen Identity Refund Fraud.”

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss - Justin D. Hurst, 25, and Audrey Lashay Tillman, 27, both of Jackson, were arrested and appeared in federal court today pursuant to criminal complaints charging them with recruiting, enticing, transporting, providing and maintaining female children under the age of 18 to engage in commercial sex acts, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Both Hurst and Tillman were held without bond pending a detention hearing which will be held on Thursday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson.

On June 19, 2014, the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force conducted an undercover operation in support of a nationwide enforcement initiative called “Operation Cross Country VIII” aimed at deterring child exploitation throughout the United States. As a part of the operation, undercover officers responded to an internet ad on a site known to law enforcement to be used for prostitution. As a result, a 15 year old girl and a 17 year old girl, both victims of child sex trafficking, were rescued by law enforcement when they were brought to a Ridgeland, Mississippi hotel.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss. – Brian K. Lee, 40, of Gulfport, pled guilty on June 24, 2014 to one count of mail fraud in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.

Lee submitted a fraudulent claim to BP’s Gulf Coast Claims Facility for lost earnings and profits which he claimed he incurred as a result of the oil spill for his loss of employment as a customer service representative at Gulf South Seafood in Biloxi and Long Beach, Mississippi. An investigation revealed that the documents and claims submitted by Brian Lee were fraudulent, the named businesses did not exist, and Lee never worked at any such company. As a result of Lee’s fraudulent scheme, a check was mailed to him in the amount of $23,541.88.

Lee will be sentenced on Thursday, October 2, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones. It was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at disaster@leo.gov or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Gulfport, Miss. – Luom Van Ngo, 44, of Diamondhead, Mississippi, was sentenced on June 17, 2014, to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for oil spill fraud, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Ngo was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola to pay a $6,000 fine and $18,575.00 in restitution.

Luom Van Ngo knowingly devised a scheme to defraud the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (“GCCF”) which was established by BP Exploration and Production, Inc., to administer, process, and settle certain claims of individuals and businesses that had been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Ngo made fraudulent representations to the GCCF claiming that he lost earnings and profits from a shrimping and fishing business as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. As a result of his scheme, Ngo received a check in the amount of $18,000.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones. It was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill.

If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at disaster@leo.gov or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

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Hattiesburg, Miss - William Walker, 69, of Ocean Springs, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit federal program fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $572,689.14 and a $125,000 fine.

Walker pled guilty on March 10, 2014, to conspiring with his son, Scott Walker, to divert federal grant monies in a scheme that resulted in the federal grant monies being used to unlawfully purchase Scott Walker’s personal property in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Criminal Division Chief John Dowdy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden prosecuted the case.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Hattiesburg, Miss - Michael Janus, 47, of Biloxi, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. Janus was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $180,000.

Janus pled guilty in February, admitting that, while serving as City Manager for the City of D’Iberville, he fraudulently obtained a $180,000 “finder’s fee” in connection with a $3 million grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to the City of D’Iberville.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Criminal Division Chief John Dowdy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden prosecuted the case.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Natchez, Miss – Two inmates were sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette on June 12, 2014 for rioting at the Adams County Correctional facility on May 20, 2012, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

Margarito Munoz-Astello, 37, originally of Tamaulipas, Mexico, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison, and Raybel Granillo, 29, originally of Juarez, Mexico, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. Both inmates were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,382,313.00.

Another inmate, Ian Reid, 37, of Jamaica, also appeared in federal court on June 12th to enter a guilty plea to rioting in a federal prison facility. He will be sentenced on September 11, 2014, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in 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.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss – Curtis Anthony Shell, 38, of Jackson, was sentenced on June 4, 2014, to 262 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute up to 8.4 kilograms of crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.

Shell orchestrated the distribution of crack cocaine and powder cocaine within Central Mississippi from Holmes County to Simpson County. At times, his network stretched as far as Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Twelve co-conspirators were also convicted in this case with sentences ranging from 36 months to the high of 262 months received by Shell. Large amounts of cash and several vehicles were seized as a result of this investigation.

U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis praised the cooperation exemplified by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in bringing this organization to its end.
“Thanks to the dedication and hard work of state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, another illegal drug trafficker has been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “We will continue to seek out and prosecute those who bring drugs into our Mississippi communities.”

“This case highlights the impact multiple agencies can have when they join forces. We will continue to work together and pursue those who threaten our communities through the distribution of illegal and dangerous drugs,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Floyd Baker.

The case was investigated through the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force with substantial involvement by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sheriff’s Office and Pearl Police Department..

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Gulfport, Miss – Jeffrey Jerome Isabell, 51, of Gulfport, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison and six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring for attempting to evade income taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Gabriel Grchan with IRS - Criminal Investigation. Isabell was also ordered to pay $76,953.00 in restitution and a $3,000 fine. He will be placed on supervised release for two years after serving his sentence.

Isabell pled guilty on March 19, 2014 to attempting to evade taxes by preparing and filing a fraudulent tax return for the 2010 calendar year.

“Every citizen is responsible for filing correct and accurate tax returns," said Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. "As a paid return preparer, Jeffery Isabell certainly knew he was breaking the law. For his actions he was sentenced to seven months in prison and six months home confinement. IRS-CI will vigorously investigate those individuals who knowingly and willfully evade their tax obligation."

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss – A Grand Jury has indicted Hector Miguel Diaz-Osuna, Ricardo Gonzalez-Porras and Jesus Beltran-Rodriguez for conspiracy to commit murder, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Gonzalez-Porras was also charged with assaulting a prison guard. Two other defendants, Juan Geraldo Arredondo and Ernesto Granados, were charged in the indictment with rioting.

The indictment alleges that the defendants’ crimes were committed during a May 20, 2012 riot at the Adams County Correctional Center. The case is set for trial in August 2014 before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette, III.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Jackson, Miss – Gerson Benavides, age 30, originally of Reynosa, Mexico, was sentenced on May 29, 2014, by Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette, III, to 75 months imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Benavides was previously convicted of rioting at the Adams County Correctional facility. The riot occurred on May 20, 2012. Benavides was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,382,113.00.

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

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

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Jackson, Miss – Humberto Cuellar, age 41, originally of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, was sentenced on May 29, 2014, by Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette, III, to 110 months imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Cuellar was previously convicted of rioting at the Adams County Correctional facility. The riot occurred on May 20, 2012. Cuellar was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,382,113.00.

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

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss – Fifteen individuals were arrested today in South Africa, Canada, California, Wisconsin, and Indiana, pursuant to an eight-count federal indictment filed 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. Another individual was arrested today in New York on a related Southern District of Mississippi complaint. Both the indictment and complaint were unsealed today.

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

The Department of Justice Organized Crime Gang Section has filed a related indictment against three individuals in Charleston, South Carolina, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has a related complaint in Atlanta against two additional defendants.

The investigation was initiated in October, 2011, by HSI 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 hundreds of victims of this scam in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of U.S. dollars.

Today’s arrests were 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 Department of Justice Office of International Affairs assisted in the provisional arrests of ten defendants in Pretoria, South Africa. Another defendant was arrested in Toronto, Canada, and the remaining defendants were arrested in the United States.

“Financial fraud is a danger to all Americans and a threat to everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “This round-up is continuing and powerful evidence of our commitment in federal law enforcement to aggressively identify, investigate and prosecute those who, through violation of federal criminal laws, pose a threat to the financial security of our citizens, communities and financial institutions. It is also evidence of the cooperation and partnership that exists between federal law enforcement and their international partners. Our special thanks go out to the various federal and international officers who not only assisted in the arrests of these individuals, but contributed significantly to the investigation that led us to this prosecution.”

“Financial crimes that threaten the health of our national economy and criminals who attempt to cheat law-abiding citizens out of their hard-earned money will continue to be a major investigative priority for HSI,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr. “This case illustrates HSI's practice of leveraging to the fullest extent possible domestic and international law enforcement partnerships in pursuit of justice.” Parmer oversees a five-state area of operations to include Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.

“Postal Inspectors have relentlessly pursued operators of illegal lotteries for more than 140 years, so these arrests are not the first and certainly won't be the last in our efforts to protect the public from these scams," said Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss. Wemyss oversees a four-state area of operations to include Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.

The case in Mississippi will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert, and will be scheduled for trial after extradition of the defendants to Mississippi.

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.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss – Following a three day trial in U.S. District Court last week, a jury found Gregory Bernard Griffin, 23, of Jackson, guilty of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, six counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

Griffin was charged in a 17 count indictment with using a stolen identity to open a bank account at a Jackson area credit union, stealing $193,205.43 from a local Marriott hotel, and laundering some of the proceeds of his fraud with the help of his sisters, Tiffany Griffin, 30, and Erica Griffin, 27, both of Jackson.

According to the proof presented during the trial, Gregory Griffin caused the stolen money to be routed from the Courtyard Marriott hotel in Jackson, Mississippi to the fraudulent bank account he opened, by submitting a forged account change form to Bank of America Merchant Services. The forged form directed Bank of America Merchant Services to stop depositing the proceeds from all Visa and MasterCard transactions conducted at the Courtyard Marriott into the Marriott's bank account, and to begin depositing those funds into the account Gregory Griffin had established with a stolen identity. During the trial, the government introduced evidence that Gregory Griffin spent the stolen money at various places throughout Jackson, all while posing as the victim of the Aggravated Identity Theft. The evidence showed that Gregory Griffin laundered some of the stolen money by depositing a $57,900 check made payable to his sister, Tiffany Griffin, into a bank account that she had opened at a second Jackson area bank in her name, purchasing a vehicle from a salvage yard through an intermediary buyer and obtaining auto insurance on that vehicle in the name of his sister Erica Griffin, and by paying the premium with some of the stolen money.

Tiffany Griffin and Erica Griffin pled guilty last week to misprision of a felony for their role in the money laundering offenses.

All three defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan on August 4, 2014 at 9:00 am. Gregory Griffin faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $1 million fine on each count of bank fraud, 20 years in prison and a $250,000 on each count of wire fraud, two years in prison and $250,000 fine on each count of aggravated identity theft, 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He also faces the forfeiture of two vehicles and other property he purchased with the proceeds of his fraud scheme. Tiffany Griffin and Erica Griffin each face a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Gilbert and Jay Golden.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

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Gulfport, Miss – John Wendell Boyles, 51, of Gulfport, and his son, Nicholas Alan Boyles, 24, also of Gulfport, were arraigned in federal court on May 15th pursuant to an indictment charging them with conspiracy to convert Postal Service property to their own use and unlawfully sell the property over a two-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, and Inspector-in-Charge Robert B. Wemyss, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The indictment alleges that, from approximately February, 2011, to February, 2013, John Wendell Boyles and Nicholas Boyles devised a scheme to convert Postal Service equipment to their own use and sell the equipment for scrap metal. As a part of their scheme, the Boyles stole Over-The-Road (OTR) Containers, which are made primarily of aluminum, cut them apart and sold the pieces as scrap. OTR containers are used by the Postal Service to organize and carry mail on freight trucks between Post Offices and Postal Distribution Centers.

In addition to the conspiracy charges, John Wendell Boyles is charged with 10 counts of unlawfully selling Postal Service property from approximately February, 2011, to March, 2012, and Nicholas Alan Boyles is charged with 11 counts of unlawfully selling Postal Service property from approximately June, 2011, to February, 2013.

This case is scheduled for trial before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden on July 7, 2014. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on each count followed by three years of supervised release. The maximum penalty for theft of government property is ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on each count followed by three years of supervised release. A general criminal forfeiture count is also included in the indictment.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Postal Inspector Doug Wilson was the lead investigator and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case. U.S. Attorney Davis commended the Postal Inspection Service for its diligent work in the investigation of this matter.

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.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

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Jackson, Miss. - Gary Tubby, 53, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Carleton W. Reeves today to sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. The offense occurred on the Tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Tubby will be sentenced on August 5, 2014, and faces a minimum prison sentence of 15 years, a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.00.

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

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

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Jackson, Miss - Kelvin Robinson, 46, of Bolton, Mississippi, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on May 15, 2014 to 172 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and 120 months in prison for money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Special Agent in Charge Gabriel Grchan of IRS Criminal Investigation - New Orleans Field Office, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Floyd H. Baker of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Jackson office. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Kelvin Robinson operated K&J Trucking in Bolton, Mississippi. From 2006 through 2012, he used his trucks to transport thousands of pounds of marijuana from the Texas/Mexico border into Mississippi. He laundered part of his drug proceeds by purchasing a car in another person’s name. Law enforcement agents seized $7,203.00 in cash, a 2009 Suzuki motorcycle, a 2002 Acura RL, and a 2002 BMW 754i.

“Thanks to the dedication and hard work of several state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, another illegal drug trafficker has been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis. “We will continue to seek out and prosecute those who bring drugs into the Southern District of Mississippi.”

Floyd H. Baker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA in Jackson, stated: “These types of investigations are strong examples of the effectiveness of a combined effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to bring drug trafficking organizations to justice.”

Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigation (New Orleans Field Office) stated: “Narcotics related money laundering violations, such as those committed by Kelvin Robinson, cause damage to the strength of both the local and national economy. Robinson attempted to buy a vehicle using illegal drug proceeds, which is a violation of the law. IRS-CI will continue to play an active role in the war on drugs. Individuals guilty of buying assets for the purpose of laundering their illegal drug profits will be prosecuted.”

Robinson’s three codefendants, Thomas G. Steward, age 54, of Houston, Texas, David Herrera, age 46, of Mercedes, Texas, and Jacqueline B. Bailey, age 49, of Clinton, Mississippi, are awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force headed by the DEA with assistance from the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss. – Carl E. Moore, 42, of Gulfport, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to a total of 43 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to submit false claims to the United States and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Supervisory Special Agent in Charge Tara Jasinski. Moore was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and restitution in the amount of $61,267.61 to the Government.

On February 24, 2014, Moore pled guilty to conspiring with others to submit false claims to the United States Department of Defense by falsifying various travel documents while serving in the Navy at the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in Gulfport, Mississippi. He also pled guilty to aggravated identity theft for using, without lawful authority, the identification of another person during and in relation to another federal felony charged in the indictment.

This case was investigated by the NCIS and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Jackson, Miss. - Brandon Farmer, 20, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, pled guilty today, before Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee, to abusive sexual contact of a minor under the age of twelve, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. The offense occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Farmer will be sentenced on July 31, 2014, and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon..

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Gulfport, Miss. – Alton Emerson Morgan, 39, of Waveland, Mississippi, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 33 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in making and passing counterfeit money, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Craig Caldwell with the U.S. Secret Service. Morgan was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and $760 in restitution.

Morgan previously pled guilty to making counterfeit U.S. currency in Hancock County in December, 2013. The currency consisted of counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes in $20 and $100 denominations. Morgan also pled guilty to passing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes in denominations of $20 and $50 in Rankin County, Mississippi, in December, 2012.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:

(866) 720-5721

You can also fax information to:

(225) 334-4707

or e-mail it to:

disaster@leo.gov

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

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Jackson, Miss – Charles Dewayne Loper, 37, and Shamal Anton Moss, 34, of Forest, Mississippi, were sentenced in U.S. District Court today in connection with an extensive narcotics investigation, dubbed “Operation Brusha”, targeting illegal narcotics distribution in Scott County, Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

Loper was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release and Moss was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release. Both defendants previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

“Operation Brusha” was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Forest Police Department, and Scott County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin O. Chalk.

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