Southern District of Mississippi

Jackson, Miss.  – A Pearl woman pled guilty to carrying out a scheme to defraud the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

According to court documents, Robbie Reese, 46, fraudulently claimed and received over $1.3 million in federal tax rebates and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. Reese submitted false Internal Revenue Service tax forms claiming reimbursement for payments to nonexistent employees and false loan documents for PPP loans.

Reese is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Supervisory Special Agent Louis Norvell of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the Secret Service made the announcement.

The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Secret Service are investigating the case.

Deputy Criminal Chief Lynn Murray is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Gulfport, MS – A Compton, California man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 113 grams of fentanyl.

According to court documents, Jayma Nettles, 46, was identified as being a member of a drug-trafficking organization in California that was sending packages of narcotics to Mississippi dating back to 2019.  The overall investigation yielded 5,766 grams of pure methamphetamine, 236 grams of fentanyl, 84.2 grams of cocaine, and 7.8 kilograms of marijuana that were shipped to the Gulf Coast.  Jayma Nettles was responsible for sending 113 grams of fentanyl to the Coast in October of 2022.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.  The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.  More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.

Nettles pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2024, and faces up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, MS – A Wiggins man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 96 grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on February 16, 2024, an investigation revealed that Daniel Daughdrill, 42, was selling methamphetamine from his Wiggins residence.  A search of his residence yielded 96 grams of methamphetamine as well as a firearm. 

Daughdrill will be sentenced on October 30, 2024 and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and Stone County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.

Jackson, Miss. – Five individuals were arrested yesterday pursuant to a federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Mississippi charging defendants from Hinds, Madison, and Newton counties. The charges stem from a multi-year federal investigation of a drug trafficking operation distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs in the area of Jackson, Mississippi and elsewhere.

The indictment charges nine individuals with various drug trafficking crimes, including, but not limited, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do so.  Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences because of the significant quantities of illegal drugs. Additionally, some defendants have been charged with firearms-related crimes.

“The Department of Justice is working hard with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to help make the Jackson area safer by conducting major investigations, like this one, that dismantle drug trafficking and violent organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “Criminals in Jackson should be on notice that committing crimes as part of a large group is a one-way ticket to federal prison.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration is committed to protecting our communities from the scourge of drugs,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “These arrests are the culmination of a multi-year investigation, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those who poison our communities with deadly substances.”

“Citizens throughout Mississippi deserve to live in drug free communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff. “These arrests exemplify the collaborative efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement partners in thwarting illegal drug trafficking operations, as we continue to work together making our communities safer.”

“Working alongside our local, state, and federal partners demonstrates that cooperation consistently leads to successful outcomes,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “I am proud of the work done in this case to ensure that we are all united in continuing to combat drug crime and ensure safety in Mississippi.”

“I am extremely excited about the collaboration and collective efforts with our federal partners, state partners, and the U.S. Attorney," said Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade. "U.S. Attorney Todd Gee continues his commitment to assisting JPD in our efforts to combat violent crimes.  This effort exemplifies his work, along with the federal partners and the hard work of the men and women of the Jackson Police Department to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the City of Jackson.” 

The following defendants were arrested yesterday:

James Naylor, 59, of Jackson; Donald Jordan, 49, of Jackson; Cedrick Barber, 48, of Jackson; Aron Brown, 53, of Madison; and Danita Wheeler, 58, of Jackson.

Initial court appearances were held this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal Mark Shepherd, Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade and Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones.

The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Clark assisted in the investigation. The Office of Enforcement Operations in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division also provided assistance. 

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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

Jackson, Miss. – A Crystal Springs man pled guilty to brandishing a firearm while carjacking a woman in front of her home in Jackson.

According to court documents, Christopher Lawrence Murray, 31, brandished a pistol during a carjacking in the Jackson area. In May of 2021, Murray and another man approached a woman sitting in her car in front of her home.  Working in tandem, both men pointed pistols at the woman and demanded she hand over her cellular phone and the keys to her car. The woman, at gunpoint, complied with the demands and the men left in the woman’s car.

Murray was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 6, 2023.  He pled guilty today to brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“We are working to reduce carjackings in Jackson by prosecuting offenders in federal court and bringing together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest individuals and groups involved in carjacking,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee.

In an effort to focus resources on carjacking in Jackson, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jackson Police Department and the Capitol Police Department formed a carjacking task force in April of 2024.  In keeping with the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, the task force represents a strategic enforcement priority for the department, focusing federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Jackson Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.

Jackson, Miss.  – A Mendenhall man pled guilty today to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Koda Tye Williamson, 39, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department during the execution of a search warrant on his home for narcotics distribution and illegal firearms possession. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Williamson has previous felony convictions for manslaughter and methamphetamine possession.

Williamson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Simpson County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Jackson, Miss. – A Magnolia man was sentenced to 26 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Edward Dewayne Cockerham, 35, was found in possession of a firearm by Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents and a Pike County Sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop.  Cockerham had a prior felony conviction for failing to support minor children and was on supervised probation at the time he possessed the firearm.

Cockerham was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing the firearm as a convicted felon.  He pled guilty on April 30, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

JACKSON, MS– Five individuals with ties to Mexico have pled guilty over the past month to felony offenses related to drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and immigration offenses as a result of a law enforcement investigation involving sales of cocaine in Mississippi to purchase firearms and machine gun conversion devices for delivery to Mexico.

According to court documents, Rosendo Gonzalez Mora, 40, Jaime Bladimir Dela Cruz, 28, Oscar Gonzalez, 39, Juan Deferia Mondragon, 32, and Gabriel Guerrero Gallegos, 36, were indicted by a federal grand jury for various felony offenses as a result of a joint operation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.

Jaime Bladimir Dela Cruz, an American citizen residing in Richland, MS, pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

Rosendo Gonzalez Mora, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2024, to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

Mora and Dela Cruz’s charges stemmed from their attempts to barter an exchange of cocaine for fully automatic firearms, machinegun conversion devices, and explosives. It was the intent of Mora and Dela Cruz to source firearms and explosives from Jackson, Mississippi, and deliver them to organized crime syndicates in Mexico.

Oscar Gonzalez, an American citizen residing in Jackson, MS, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2024, to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His charges stem from his attempt to barter an exchange of cocaine for three machinegun conversion devices. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison with a maximum of life in prison.

Juan Deferia Mondragon and Gabriel Guerrero Gallegos, both citizens of Mexico, also pleaded guilty on June 17, 2024, to illegal re-entry of a previously removed alien for their unlawful return into the United States after being previously deported. Mondragon had been previously removed from the United States on three separate occasions. They each face a maximum sentence of two years in prison followed by possible deportation.

In addition to criminal prosecution, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi has seized numerous firearms, machinegun conversion devices, and over $200,000 of suspected drug trafficking proceeds as a result of this investigation. After discoveries made during the execution of various search warrants during the investigation, the Department of Justice has also initiated legal proceedings to seize over twenty acres of real property in Hinds County, Mississippi used in furtherance of the firearms and drug trafficking scheme as well as an illegal animal fighting venture involving over 200 illegally owned fighting chickens.

“These charges demonstrate how transnational criminals are reaching even into Mississippi to obtain the weapons they are using to fuel violence abroad and in the United States,” said United States Attorney Todd Gee.  “I want to thank all the federal, state, and local law enforcement agents that helped investigate and dismantle this international firearms trafficking network.” 

“ATF will continue to lead in investigating and disrupting firearms trafficking as we bring our expertise and resources to enhance law enforcement’s collectively ability to disrupt deadly weapons trafficking between Mississippi and Mexico,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The guilty pleas from these five individuals send a strong message to drug and gun traffickers that ATF will work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.”

“This case highlights the dangerous intersection of drug trafficking and firearms smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer, with the Drug Enforcement Administration New Orleans Division. “These transnational criminal organization not only fuel addiction in our communities, but they also put weapons in the hands of violent criminals, both here and abroad.”

“These individuals, who were willing to trade illicit, deadly narcotics in exchange for firearms and explosives intended for Mexican organized crime syndicates, showed complete disregard for the safety of our communities and willingness to contribute to international violent crime,” said HSI New Orleans acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “This case is a great example of how HSI leverages its unique transnational authorities, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, to disrupt narcotics and firearms traffickers.”

“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity involving drugs, firearms and gambling,” Special Agent-in-Charge Dax Roberson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General said. “Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures.” 

Mora, Gonzalez, Mondragon, and Gallegos are scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2024.   Dela Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2024.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration,  Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General are investigating the case with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau, the Jackson Police Department, and the Capitol Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff and Matthew Allen are prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, Miss.  -- A Vancleave man was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, for possession of over 83,000 depictions of child pornography.

According to court documents, Cameron Willis Cotrill, 68, was identified in an online child exploitation investigation as being a user on the BitTorrent network for offenders possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material.  Further investigation revealed that Cotrill possessed 2,308 image files and 1,082 video files, which constituted 83,458 known visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.    

Cotrill was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 21, 2023, and pled guilty on December 19, 2023, to possession of child pornography.

At today’s sentencing hearing, the Court also ordered restitution for the victims in the amount of $237,194.12. Cotrill must also pay a $5,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018, and $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Cyber Crime Division at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.  

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.            

Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for incest on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, Ronnie Reed, Sr., 52, had a sexual relationship with a family member in the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation.  Reed was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023, and pleaded guilty to the charge in April 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. 

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Lamar County man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud which resulted in the loss of over $1 million.

According to court documents and information presented to the Court, beginning as early as January of 2021, Aaron Brown, 42, conspired with multiple individuals to use his auto sales company and companies owned by his co-conspirators to engage in a systematic check kiting scheme. As part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators would continuously issue and deposit nonsufficient fund checks into their companies’ bank accounts.  Many of these checks indicated that they were for vehicle sales that the conspirators knew had not actually occurred.

Prior to the initiation of the scheme, between May and December of 2020, Brown’s auto sales company received a total of 163 incoming checks and issued a total of 50 checks.  This resulted in over $5 million in deposits and withdrawals.  However, at the height of the check kiting scheme, between June and August of 2021, the company received a total of 1,204 checks and issued 1,161 checks to just one of the companies owned by his co-conspirators.  The total deposits and withdrawals for that three-month period exceeded $60 million.  Ultimately, the financial institutions discovered the scheme and stopped payment.  However, one of the financial institutions suffered a loss of over $1 million.

Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  He will be sentenced on October 22, 2024, and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.  A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.

Jackson, Miss. – A Carthage man was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over 5 grams of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, in September 2023, Roby Lee Jackson, Jr., 32, possessed the methamphetamine near the Red Water Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

In October 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Jackson for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  On April 23, 2024, Jackson pled guilty to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. 

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.

Gulfport, MS –  A federal jury convicted a Harrison County man for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, George Wesley Washington, Jr., 32, was found to be in possession of over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine on March 16, 2023.  Further investigation revealed that Washington had been engaged in drug trafficking activity for at least 16 months prior to the March 16th incident.  Evidence related to both counts was presented to the jury, who found Washington guilty on both counts of his indictment. 

Washington will be sentenced on October 24, 2024 and faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Meynardie and Erica Rose prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man pled guilty to assault with intent to do bodily harm and use of a firearm during a crime of violence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, in September 2022, Jessie James Clay, Jr., 42, shot a tribal member at a residence in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.  Clay was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023.

Clay is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2024, and faces not less than ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. - An Indiana CPA pleaded guilty yesterday to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns on behalf of clients who participated in an illegal tax shelter. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2013 and 2022, Jason L. Crace prepared income tax returns for clients that claimed millions of dollars in false deductions for so-called “royalty payments.” However, as Crace knew, these “royalty payments” were merely circular flows of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. In reality, tax shelter participants sent their money to bank accounts controlled by scheme promoters, who then sent the money right back to different bank accounts that the participants controlled. In this way, tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns. Participants’ decision regarding how much (and even whether) to pay “royalties” was driven purely by the amount of income they wanted to shelter from the IRS on their tax returns.

In total, Crace’s preparation of false tax returns claiming fraudulent “royalty” deductions caused a loss to the IRS of at least $2,532,936.

Crace is scheduled to be sentence on Jan. 14, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William M. Montague and Matthew C. Hicks of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.

Jackson, Miss.  – A Meridian man pled guilty today to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Ernest Quintez Clark, 24, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a handgun while attending a Meridian High School football game on October 20, 2023.

Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2024 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Meridian Schools Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jackson, Miss. –  A Jackson man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

Bernard Caston, 54, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

According to court documents, Caston and Fredrick Harper, 44, both of Jackson, stole four firearms from another individual on February 24, 2018.  Caston and Harper were stopped by a Jackson police officer when they were driving to another location in Jackson to sell the stolen guns.

Caston will be sentenced on October 1, 2024. He will be sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act based on his prior felony convictions for crimes of violence, including a federal armed bank robbery conviction and multiple house burglary convictions in Hinds County.  Under the Armed Career Criminal Act, Caston will face a minimum of 15 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Harper previously pled guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the ATF and the Jackson Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber Jones and Dave Fulcher are prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, MS – A Puerto Rican man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 2000 grams of methamphetamine in the Southern District of Mississippi in connection with shipments of drugs across state lines.

Ricardo Roman Rivera Santana, 32, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, in 2021, an investigation was initiated involving John Michael Villafana-Mendez who was believed to be trafficking narcotics in Mississippi. During the investigation, agents identified Ricardo Roman Rivera Santana as the sender of two packages of narcotics, which were mailed from California to Mississippi. One package was mailed to a Vancleave address associated with Villafana-Mendez and the other was sent to a Pascagoula address. Both packages were intercepted by law enforcement. Lab reports for the substances in the 2 packages revealed 1043.9 grams of methamphetamine at 95% purity and 975.4 grams at 97% purity.

Rivera-Santana pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2024, and faces a minimum of ten years up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Villafana-Mendez previously pled guilty and was sentenced on December 6, 2023, to 169 months in prison. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Pascagoula Police Department, and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula, Mississippi man pleaded guilty to distribution of images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to court documents, Tyrone Lewis, 20, had sexual contact with a 14-year-old in Jackson County, Mississippi, and recorded some of the sexual acts on a cell phone. Further investigation, including an analysis of the victim’s cell phone, revealed that Lewis sent the victim videos of himself and the victim engaging in sexual activity.  The cell phone also contained a text message which confirmed Lewis knew the victim was a minor.

Lewis pleaded guilty to distribution of images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.

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

Gulfport, Miss. – A New Orleans man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Yancy Johnson, 45, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, in 2023, an investigation was initiated into a possible drug trafficking organization operating in Louisiana and the Southern District of Mississippi. Agents received information that narcotics were to be delivered at the Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County. Yancy Johnson was arrested by law enforcement when he arrived at the Silver Slipper Casino to carry out the drug transaction. Agents recovered one ounce of fentanyl from Johnson which he had intended to sell to an individual at the casino. 

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.  The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.  More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.

Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Hancock County Sherriff’s Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, Miss. – A Lawrenceville, Georgia man was sentenced to 42 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on May 15, 2023, Martin Louis Williams, 35, was pulled over in a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Hancock County, Mississippi.  Williams’s vehicle smelled like marijuana and he admitted that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day.  A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 1000 pills stamped with a “Facebook” logo.  The pills were confirmed to be 251.5 grams of methamphetamine at 5% purity mixed with caffeine.  Williams was interviewed and admitted that he was taking the pills to Georgia to be sold.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – A Standing Pine man was sentenced to 46 months in in federal prison for a domestic assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to court documents, Kendall D. Ben, 31, physically assaulted his girlfriend in the Standing Pine Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation.

Ben was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 25, 2022. He pled guilty on February 17, 2023, to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. 

The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

Gulfport, Miss.  -- A Gulfport man pled guilty to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, Rusty Holloway, 42, brandished a firearm on October 20, 2022, at a U.S. Postal employee mail carrier when she was delivering mail to a residence in Gulfport.

Holloway is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2024, and faces a minimum penalty of  seven years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.  A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Inspector in Charge Scott Pierce of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office, made the announcement.

The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.

Jackson, Miss. – Today, United States Attorney Todd Gee announced criminal charges against a defendant in connection with an alleged conspiracy to defraud the United States. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. The charges stem from a scheme to pay kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for completed doctors’ orders so the defendant could cause his durable medical equipment companies to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement. 

“This defendant engaged in a scheme that cost taxpayers in Mississippi and throughout the nation millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting fraud in Mississippi, and I encourage doctors, patients, and others that are aware of such schemes to report them to federal authorities.”

The charges announced today are part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.

The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Connecticut, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District to Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, and Eastern District of Wisconsin; and State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and South Dakota are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

During the enforcement period, the Southern District of Mississippi worked with the Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate and prosecute this case.

The defendant charged in the Southern District of Mississippi as part of this enforcement action is Reginald Fullwood, Jr., 59, of Madison, Mississippi.  Fullwood was charged by information with conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with a scheme to pay kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for completed doctors’ orders so that he could cause his durable medical equipment company, Jackson Medical Supply, to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement. When Medicare initiated an investigation of Jackson Medical Supply, the defendant opened another entity in the name of a nominee owner and again paid kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for doctors’ orders so that the new entity could continue to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces. Overall, Fullwood caused these entities to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage approximately $12,441,625.30 and the entities were reimbursed approximately $6,448,092.61 for durable medical equipment that was medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sara Porter of the Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Purdie.

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

Gulfport, MS – A Covington, LA man was sentenced to 84 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl across state borders.

Santana Phillipe Elzy, 23, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint alleging drug trafficking at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.  Agents surveilled the motel and were able to narrow down the suspected parties and rooms.  During surveillance, agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the Motel 6 to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs.  Once the vehicle departed, agents followed the vehicle across state lines and observed the occupants of the vehicle, who were identified as Christopher Fricke, Kolby Sims, Emma Stoute, and Dakari Sykes, participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction with an individual, later identified as Santana Elzy, at a Wal-Mart parking lot in Louisiana.  After the transaction, agents followed the Camry back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop where they recovered approximately 1,000 fentanyl laced pills and it was confirmed that Elzy had sold the group the pills for distribution in the Southern District of Mississippi.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.  The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.  More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.

Elzy pled guilty on March 4, 2024, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – A Rankin County woman was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for possessing and passing counterfeit currency.

Mary Glassmire Sessums, 43, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

According to court documents, an investigation by the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, the Pelahatchie Police Department and the Brandon Police Department identified Mary Glassmire Sessums and Purvis Dustin Ward as individuals who had been passing counterfeit United States currency in Rankin County. On November 2, 2019, several residents of Rankin County reported that a man and a woman had been making purchases at garage sales using counterfeit currency. One of the local residents took a picture of the suspects’ car and provided a tag number and description to law enforcement.  Officers from the Pelahatchie Police Department later stopped the vehicle.  During the stop, officers observed what appeared to be counterfeit United States currency in plain view in the vehicle.  Sessums and Ward were arrested for possession of counterfeit currency. Several victims later identified Sessums and Ward as the individuals who fraudulently passed counterfeit United States currency to make purchases.

Rankin County Deputies obtained a search warrant for Ward’s residence and located counterfeit currency, uncut sheets of counterfeit currency as well as two computers, three printers, specialty ink and paint, all of which was used to produce counterfeit currency.

Sessums pled guilty on March 13, 2024 to possessing and passing counterfeit currency.

Ward previously pled guilty to one count of making counterfeit currency and one count of possessing and passing counterfeit currency.  He was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the United States Secret Service made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, the Pelahatchie Police Department and the Brandon Police Department. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kabah Ealy and Dave Fulcher.

Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography.

According to court documents, Garald Benson Johnson, 43, admitted to filming himself having sexual intercourse with a minor.

Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 16, 2023. He pled guilty on August 29, 2023, to production of child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement. 

The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

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

Gulfport, Miss.  -- A D’Iberville, Mississippi man was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for transferring obscene material to a minor in the Philippines. 

Jeffery Steward a/k/a Jack Spangle, 54, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. 

According to court documents, Steward, using the internet and a social media account of a minor in the Philippines, knowingly transferred pornography links of obscene material to the minor victim via messages knowing the minor victim was less than 16 years old.

U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Cyber Crime Division at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Philippine National Police. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Jones and Lee Smith are prosecuting the case.

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

Gulfport, MS –A Bay St. Louis man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

Kolby Zu Sims, 21, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint alleging drug trafficking at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.  Agents surveilled the motel and narrowed down the suspected parties and rooms.  Agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the hotel to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs. Agents followed the vehicle across state lines and observed the occupants of the vehicle participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction in Louisiana.  After the transaction, agents followed the Camry back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop. Kolby Sims was identified as one of the occupants of the vehicle who had contributed funds to buy approximately 1000 fentanyl-laced pills to bring back from Louisiana for sale in Mississippi.

Sims pled guilty on March 6, 2024, to interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.  The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.  More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss.  - A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, William Charles Clemmons, Jr., 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Clemmons is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.

Jackson, Miss. – A former Pearl, Mississippi police officer was sentenced today to 12 months in federal prison for acting under color of law to deprive a person of his civil rights.

Michael Christian Green, 26, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew S. Harris.  

According to court documents and information presented in court, Green, while on duty as a certified law enforcement officer with the Pearl Police Department, forced an arrestee in custody to lick urine from the floor of a holding cell within the police department.

Green pleaded guilty to the offense on March 14, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Pearl Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse by a law enforcement officer, call the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, email tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI Jackson Field Office at 601-948-5000.

Gulfport, Miss. – A Mississippi man was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Mark Anthony Robillia, 55, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on December 1, 2022, Robillia possessed five firearms and approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine, wrapped in 13 separate baggies, at his residence in Gulfport. Further investigation revealed that Robillia purchased three of the firearms and the remaining two were given to him.  Robillia had been previously convicted and incarcerated for aggravated assault, being a felon in the possession of a firearm, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  The evidence also indicated that Robillia was distributing methamphetamine from the residence. 

On February 7, 2024, a federal jury convicted Robillia of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced today to the maximum statutory sentence of 420 months, 240 months for the drug charge and 180 months for the firearms charge. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulfport Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lee Smith prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss.  – Todd Gee, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.

Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Gee emphasized the importance of awareness and education.

“Fraudulent scams targeting elders and other forms of elder abuse happen far too often in Mississippi and throughout the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Gee.  “We can see these scams being attempted nearly every day in the junk emails and robocalls targeting elder relatives for money and personal information.  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a great opportunity to spread information about how to protect elder family and friends from fraud and other abuse.” 

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.

Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. 

For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.  For example, the office recently prosecuted a case involving six college track and field athletes for their roles in overseas fraud schemes targeting elders and others across the United States in romance scams, fraudulent goods scams and military scams. The victims of the fraud schemes would be instructed to send money to individuals based in the United States, who would then transfer the money ultimately back overseas.

Additionally, a Kiln man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for convincing his elderly neighbors to give him their personal identifying information so he could help them receive benefits related to the COVID pandemic.  Evans then used that information to apply for unemployment insurance under the Economic Security (CARES) Act benefits in the victims’ names and had the benefits sent to him at his residence. 

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. 

Jackson, Miss. – A Tucker man was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for burglary and sexual assault on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, Scottie Amos, 26, of the Tucker Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, entered a tribal home on September 14, 2017, and sexually assaulted a female tribal member. The indictment also charged that Amos entered a separate tribal home on November 2, 2017, and took items of value from the home.  Amos pled guilty on January 8, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Todd Gee announced today that his office joined the U.S. Secret Service, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the Mississippi Department of Education, the Brandon Police Dept., the Biloxi Police Dept., and law enforcement and education professionals from across the state for School Violence Prevention seminars this week at the Brandon Civic Center in Brandon, and the Biloxi Civic Center in Biloxi. 

For over 20 years, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) has conducted research on the thinking and behaviors of those who commit acts of targeted school violence in an effort to prevent future tragedies. These seminars highlighted past incidents as well as relevant findings and recommendations from NTAC’s latest research on targeted school violence and interrupted school plots in the United States. It also focused on how communities can use a multidisciplinary approach to identify, assess, and intervene with students exhibiting concerning or threatening behaviors as early as possible. This event was attended by law enforcement, school personnel, and other public safety professionals throughout the state of Mississippi.

“School shootings are a tragedy that can be prevented in some situations with good training on how to recognize and resolve potential threats,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “The U.S. Secret Service has substantial experience assessing and preventing violence, and we were glad to work with our federal, state, and local partners to make this training available in Mississippi.”

“The U.S. Secret Service and National Threat Assessment Center endeavors to ensure its findings proactively address the areas where we all should feel safe, such as where we work, where we learn, and where we worship,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis of the U.S. Secret Service Birmingham Field Office.

“The U.S. Secret Service and National Threat Assessment Center have cultivated powerful partnerships across our state, and this is never more important than when we are responding to events of targeted violence,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “It was an honor to join these great partners today as we continue to work towards a safer Mississippi.”

Additional information on the U.S. Secret Service NTAC can be found here: https://www.secretservice.gov/protection/ntac

Jackson, Miss. – A Yazoo City man pled guilty today to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Desmond Robinson, 28, was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop conducted by the Yazoo City Police Department. 

Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jackson, Mississippi – A local rapper was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over 37 grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Ronald Cobbs, Jr. a/k/a Lil Ron a/k/a Reverend Bankroll, 39, of Jackson, was distributing narcotics at his t-shirt business located in North Mart Plaza in Jackson. 

Cobbs was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty in February 2024 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, and Ridgeland Police Department. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.

The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Jackson, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Gulfport, Miss. –  A Gautier man was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1800 grams of methamphetamine.

Tevin Lashonfloyd Minor, 32, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.   

According to court documents, Minor sold narcotics to buyers on three separate occasions. On July 11, 2022, Minor sold approximately 206 grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi. On July 26, 2022, Minor sold 446 grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Moss Point; and on October 11, 2022, Minor sold 1209 grams of methamphetamine in Pascagoula. 

Minor was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 10, 2023. He pled guilty on June 22, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force Pascagoula Resident Agency and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Gulfport, MS – A D’Iberville man was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison followed by 17 years of supervised release for possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  

Benjamin Lee Poiroux, 40, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.  Poiroux was also ordered to pay $74,000 in restitution and a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

According to court documents, Poiroux was encountered by FBI agents at the Gulfport Airport and gave consent for his electronic devices to be forensically searched.  The search of his iPad, laptop, and cellular telephone revealed he possessed over 1,300 visual images and 75 videos of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, also known as child sexual abuse materials.  

Poiroux was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 22, 2024, to possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Cyber Crime Division at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.

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

Gulfport, MS – A Mississippi corporation operating as Mary Mahoney’s Old French House restaurant in Biloxi, Mississippi, pled guilty today to conspiracy to misbrand seafood and wire fraud. A co-owner/manager of the restaurant also pled guilty to misbranding of seafood.

According to court documents, Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Inc., pled guilty to a felony Information, filed April 26, 2024, charging the corporation with conspiracy to misbrand seafood and wire fraud in connection with a scheme that began as early as 2002 and continued through November of 2019.  Mahoney’s, founded in 1962, admitted that between December 2013 and November 2019, it and its co-conspirators, fraudulently sold as local premium species, approximately 58,750 pounds (over 29 tons) of fish that was frozen and imported from Africa, India, and South America.  Additionally, Anthony Charles Cvitanovich, 55, a co-owner/manager at the restaurant, pled guilty to a felony Information, also filed April 26, 2024, charging him with misbranding of seafood during 2018 and 2019.  

Cvitanovich admitted that between 2018 and 2019 alone, he was involved in mislabeling approximately 17,190 pounds of fish sold at the restaurant. The scheme involved the fraudulent sale of fish by Mahoney’s and its wholesale supplier that was described on Mahoney’s menu as premium higher priced local species, such as snapper and grouper from the Gulf of Mexico, when the fish was actually other species from abroad, including Lake Victoria Perch from Africa, Triple Tail from Suriname, and Unicorn Filefish from India. Genetic testing of fish by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the fraudulent scheme. 

“When people spend their hard-earned dollars to enjoy the incredible local seafood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they should get what they paid for, not frozen fish from overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi.  “Mislabeling food and defrauding customers are serious crimes, and this case will help convince restaurants and seafood suppliers that it is not worth lying to customers about what is on the menu.”

“U.S. consumers expect their seafood to be correctly identified. When sellers purposefully substitute one fish species for another, they deceive consumers and cause potential food safety hazards to be overlooked or misidentified by processors or end users,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above public health.”

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Inc. and Anthony Charles Cvitanovich are scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2024.  Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Inc. faces a maximum penalty of five years’ probation and a $500,000 fine, or not more than the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss, whichever is greater. Cvitanovich faces a maximum penalty of three years of prison and a $10,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.

The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones and Senior Trial Attorney Jeremy F. Korzenik of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, Miss. –   A Picayune man was sentenced to 179 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 124.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Jeremy Cyntel Turner, 32, was sentenced on May 24, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County).  In 2018, Turner was identified as someone who was part of the conspiracy.   A 2020 arrest of other co-conspirators led agents to information that a package of narcotics was being delivered to a Picayune, MS address.  The package contained methamphetamine and was retrieved by Jeremy Turner, who admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy. The total drug quantity attributed to Turner over the course of the conspiracy was 124.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. 

Turner pled guilty on June 21, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.  

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, members of his staff, and the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service hosted a Listening Session at the Brandon Public Library on Tuesday, May 21.  During the moderated discussion, community members had an opportunity to voice concerns about civil rights issues in Rankin County.    

U.S. Attorney Gee discussed the civil rights-related work being done by his office and the importance of engaging with members of local communities to address civil rights issues, such as law enforcement accountability. U.S. Attorney Gee reaffirmed the Justice Department’s commitment to enforcing laws protecting the civil rights of all persons in Rankin County and throughout the nation.  

As the United States Attorney’s Office stated in press releases issued on August 3, 2023 and on December 4, 2023, the public is encouraged to contact the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, email tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI Jackson Field Office at 601-948-5000, if you or someone you know has been a victim of abuse by a member of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office.    

The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s online complaint form to report allegations of civil rights violations is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/civil-division webpage. The form can be emailed to USAMSS.CivilRights@usdoj.gov , or concerns can be shared by leaving a voice mail for our Civil Rights Division at (601) 973-2825.

Jackson, MS – A Mexican national, residing in the United States illegally, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to court documents, Joel Terrazas Olvera, 51, was found in possession of a firearm by a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy on September 19, 2023, during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Olvera was riding as a passenger. A federal grand jury indicted Olvera for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  He pled guilty on February 23, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on October 5, 2023, Mikel D. Williamson, 27, was found to be in possession of a firearm by the Jackson Police Department while in his automobile on County Line Road and at the perimeter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Jackson. Williamson has a previous felony conviction for armed carjacking, and federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm. 

On October 6, 2023, the FBI secured a federal complaint against Williamson for his arrest and Williamson was brought into federal custody from state custody. On October 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted him for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  He pled guilty on February 15, 2024.  

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Jackson, Miss. - A former sales employee of a manufacturer and distributor of football helmets and other sports equipment pleaded guilty today for his role in three separate conspiracies — two conspiracies to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act and one conspiracy to commit wire fraud — all related to sports equipment for schools located in Mississippi and elsewhere. At least 100 schools throughout Mississippi and elsewhere were victims of these conspiracies.

According to court documents, Charles Ferrell Trimm conspired with two unnamed sports equipment distributors and numerous individuals to rig bids from August 2020 through November 2022 and from May 2021 to February 2023, respectively. Trimm and his co-conspirators agreed to submit complementary bids to schools located in Mississippi and elsewhere in order to obtain procurements for school sports equipment and related services. Trimm also conspired with unnamed co-conspirators to commit wire fraud by submitting false bids to schools located in Mississippi and elsewhere from May 2016 to July 2023. As a part of this scheme, Trimm and others used an unidentified individual’s identity without authorization, including by forging the individual’s signature.

“The charged criminal schemes harmed public schools by subverting their procurement processes and providing the false appearance of competition for precious taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its partners will continue to protect taxpayers and students across the country by stopping bid rigging and fraud that targets government procurements wherever we find it, including at the state and local levels.”

“The conspirators took advantage of schools in Mississippi by rigging bids to affect the prices schools paid for sports equipment,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting these types of anti-competitive practices and ensuring that schools and other buyers can obtain goods and services from a fair and open marketplace.”

“Charles Trimm and his co-conspirators’ actions fraudulently deprived public schools of valuable resources to support students,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to hold individuals like Trimm accountable for their actions.”

If convicted, for the Sherman Act violation, Trimm faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime. If convicted of the fraud charge, Trimm faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a criminal fine and court-ordered restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and the FBI investigated this case as part of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the school sports equipment industry.

Trial Attorneys Jill Rogowski, Laura Butte, Marc Hedrich and Evan Binder of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division prosecuted the case.

In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison for possessing over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Marcus Tubby, Jr., 31, possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.  Tubby was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2023, and he pleaded guilty on February 7, 2024. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.

Gulfport, MS – A Moss Point woman and a Grand Bay, Alabama man were sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 991 grams of methamphetamine. 

Linda Renee Mizell, 41, was sentenced to 75 months in prison and Charles Oliver Trahan, II, 51, was sentenced to 155 months in prison.

According to court documents, in early 2023, law enforcement officers received information that Mizell was selling methamphetamine in Jackson County, Mississippi.  Further investigation revealed that Mizell was working with Charles Trahan to sell the methamphetamine.  Law enforcement identified and corroborated trips where Trahan traveled from Alabama to Mizell’s residence.

On August 22, 2023, officers observed Trahan leaving Mizell’s residence and initiated a traffic stop which led to the recovery of 991 grams of methamphetamine.  Trahan was placed under arrest and analysis of his cell phone revealed that he had frequent contact with Mizell, and that multiple digital cash payments were sent from Trahan to Mizell. Agents executed a search warrant on Mizell’s residence and recovered a digital scale and methamphetamine paraphernalia. 

On September 19, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Mizell and Trahan.  Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.

Jackson, MS – The former Sheriff of Noxubee County pleaded guilty today to making false statements to agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding his relationship with an inmate in the Noxubee County jail.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Terry Grassaree, 61, of Macon, made a materially false statement to the FBI in July 2020, when questioned about requesting and receiving nude photos or videos from an inmate in the jail that he oversaw as the Sheriff of Noxubee County.

Grassaree used his position as Sheriff to solicit and accept nude photos and videos from a female inmate in exchange for favorable treatment of the inmate. Grassaree provided her with benefits at the jail that other inmates did not receive, or did not receive as often, including allowing the use of a contraband cell phone, tobacco, and other items. She was also made a trusty and given a job cooking in the jail.

On March 5, 2019, Grassaree used a social media platform to request a video from the inmate. On the same date, Grassaree received multiple nude images from the inmate via the social media platform and responded in a flirtatious and complimentary manner.

During an interview with the FBI, Grassaree lied about receiving the photographs, and these statements were intended to influence the FBI’s investigation of Grassaree and the treatment of detainees in the Noxubee County jail. 

Grassaree was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 5, 2022. One of Grassaree’s former deputies, Vance Phillips has also pleaded guilty to using facilities in interstate commerce, namely, the internet and a cellular phone, for the purpose of committing the offense of bribery. Phillips is awaiting sentencing and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Grassaree is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Purdie and Dave Fulcher are prosecuting the case.

Gulfport, MS – A Bay St. Louis man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 68.5 grams of methamphetamine.

Charles Jamaal Nichols, 37, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. 

According to court documents, On July 13, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop in Bay St. Louis on a vehicle driven by Nichols.  Nichols led agents on a foot chase and agents observed him throwing things as he ran. Agents recovered large shards of methamphetamine on the trail where Nichols ran. The methamphetamine was scattered throughout the grass, within gutters that were laying behind a business, and along the fence line. Agents were able to recover 68.5 grams of what was sent to the lab and confirmed to be 97% pure methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia, Mississippi man was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Darrell McBeath, 39, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on May 3, 2024.  

In September of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Darrell McBeath for his role in the distribution of methamphetamine.  On December 14, 2023, McBeath entered a plea of guilty to the charge. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. 

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.