Southern District of Mississippi

Jackson, Miss. – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. 

In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities.

“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”

“The Department of Justice has been working hard to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other law enforcement partners in order to better address violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi.

“The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

“DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.”

“The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is pleased with the dedicated coordinated efforts between Tribal law enforcement and federal and state partners who respond to missing or murdered indigenous person cases,” said Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben. “These partnerships are critical when a tribal member goes missing or is murdered, as these types of cases may cross jurisdictional boundaries and often require the involvement of neighboring departments.”

Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases

Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. 

In the Southern District of Mississippi, the United States Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted a training event on March 19, 2024, with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (M.B.C.I.), the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, the Leake County Sheriff’s Department, and the Carthage Police Department regarding the implementation of the FBI’s Safe Trails Task Force, which brings together federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement officers to focus on violent crime in Tribal communities and surrounding areas.

“The recent implementation of the FBI Safe Trails Task Force has enhanced these public safety partnerships and brought additional tools and resources to our law enforcement agency and those local law enforcement agencies participating,” said Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben. “The Tribe will continue to support and promote collaboration with all of our law enforcement partners to enhance our collective capabilities to respond to incidences of crime.  I commend the efforts of our federal, local, and state partners who assist the Tribe in responding to our MMIP cases.”

In recognition of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, the United States Attorney’s Office has joined forces with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to raise awareness for MMIW by asking everyone to wear red on Friday, May 3, 2024, to make visible those indigenous women that have disappeared and/or been murdered.  The United States Attorney’s Office works closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit and the Choctaw Police Department regarding cases concerning reports of missing or murdered indigenous persons.   

The MMIP Regional Outreach Program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. 

Not Invisible Act Commission Response

The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States.

Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country

As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons.

Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate. Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. 

For instance, on April 4, 2024, U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, and AUSA Kevin J. Payne, Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of Mississippi, met with Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, Choctaw Attorney General Dianne Maxwell, and M.B.C.I. Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding between the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi regarding the duties and responsibilities of the M.B.C.I. Special Assistant United States Attorney and how the United States Attorney’s Office can assist with the prosecution of violent crime, sexual assaults, domestic violence, missing persons and narcotics offenses on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.

The Department of Justice has successfully prosecuted several violent crimes against Tribal members this year.  For example, on April 30, 2024, a sentence was imposed in the case of United States v. Tyreese Smith, a non-Indian male who committed an act of domestic violence against a tribal female in the Bok Homa Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation.  Smith was sentenced to 24 months after pleading guilty to assault with intent to commit a felony.  This case was a collaborative effort between the Choctaw Police Department, Jones County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the FBI’s Safe Trails Task Force.

Accessing Department of Justice Resources

Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice's efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety ad Justice website.

Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.

Gulfport, Miss. - Todd Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today that the United States obtained a civil judgment in the amount of $916,392 in connection with fraudulent veterans assistance claims made by barber school and salon owner April Tucker Beard; Beard’s salon and barber school, April’s Mane Attraction, Inc. (AMA); and April’s Mane Attraction, Inc., Academy (AMA/Academy).  

On October 5, 2023, the United States filed a civil complaint against these defendants pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA) seeking treble damages and penalties and alleging that Beard and her school knowingly defrauded the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ Post-9/11 GI Bill education assistance program.  The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides educational assistance benefits for eligible veterans and members of the armed services who enroll in qualified education or training programs.  The VA pays benefits for tuition and fees directly to qualifying schools and provides qualifying veteran students a monthly housing allowance and stipend for books and supplies.  These benefits are part of the United States’ promise to support veterans after honorably serving our country.

In its complaint, the United States alleged that Beard and AMA/Academy falsely certified that they provided 1500 hours of formal class instruction to its students when they did not do so; and further, that they charged comparable tuition for VA and non-VA students.  Instead, Beard and her school charged grossly inflated and disproportionate tuition and fees for VA students in the amount of $22,400 as compared to $2,400 ($50/week) for non-VA students.  According to the United States, Beard did not regularly conduct classes or otherwise provide instruction and most of the veteran students for whom AMA/Academy received Post-9/11 GI benefits did not receive certificates of completion and did not test with the Mississippi State Board of Barber Examiners to fulfill licensing requirements in Mississippi.  The United States alleged that Beard did not maintain accurate attendance records and payment ledgers as a means to conceal her failure to adhere to program requirements.

As a result of Beard’s false certifications, the United States claimed Beard fraudulently received $235,734 in tuition payments for barber instructor and/or training services she did not provide to veterans.  Under the FCA, the United States is entitled to an award of three times the government’s loss plus penalties for each claim filed. On April 19, 2024, United States District Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden entered judgment against Beard, AMA, and AMA/Academy for $916,392.

“The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an important part of our promise to aid our military veterans and their families for honorably serving our country,” said Todd Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This type of fraud drains funds from vital veterans’ programs and this office remains committed to holding offenders who abuse and exploit these programs accountable.”

“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority, and this judgment is a testament to our commitment to holding accountable those who would defraud VA’s benefit programs,” said Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.” 

This investigation was the result of a dedicated and coordinated effort from the VA OIG, the Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDMS.  Assistant United States Attorney Deidre Colson investigated and litigated this matter.

Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Todd Gee announced today that his office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. MCDs present a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement. An individual found in possession of an MCD will face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported a 570% increase in the number of MCDs collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021, the most recent data available.

Today in the Southern District of Mississippi, defendant Kylin Demond Russell of Jackson, 22, pled guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun by possessing a Glock pistol with an attached MCD. According to court documents, on Friday, February 9, 2024, Russell led Capitol Police officers on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph, after failing to yield for a traffic stop. When his vehicle ultimately came to a stop, he attempted to flee on foot, was detained, and two Glock pistols with attached MCDs were found in the vehicle. Capitol Police contacted the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The vehicle driven by Russell appears to match the description of a vehicle seen in a video, taken by a citizen in Jackson and widely distributed on-line, showing a person firing a weapon from the vehicle.

Russell was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024. He will be sentenced on August 2, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal 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 Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.  

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

The case is being investigated by the ATF and Capitol Police and is a result of Operation Unified and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), both of which are coordinated efforts between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies participating in Operation Unified include the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Narcotics, Capitol Police and Office of Homeland Security; the Jackson Police Department; the Hinds County District Attorney and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office; the Mississippi Department of Corrections; and the FBI, DEA, and ATF, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The PSN Program is 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 Red Water woman was sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiring to possess over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, in May of 2021, Kelsy Ann Billie, 24, conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

In September of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Billie for her role in the distribution of methamphetamine.  On January 8, 2024, Billie 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 Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer 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 who investigated the case.

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

Gulfport, Miss. –  A Picayune man was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 27 grams of methamphetamine.

Conel Lamont Holloway, 40, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court records, on November 2, 2018, Holloway sold 27 grams of methamphetamine to an individual for $700 in Picayune, Mississippi. 

Holloway was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022.  He pled guilty on November 29, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. 

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.

Hattiesburg, MS – A Laurel man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

According to court records, Danny Ray Cole, 46, was caught distributing pills to a buyer that contained 12.46 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that defendant had additional amounts of drugs in his possession.

Cole was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023, and pled guilty on December 12, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

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

Homeland Security Investigations and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department 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, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 61 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Ronald Gardner, 51, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gardner and his co-conspirator, Anthony Craig Myrick, opened an account at a Jackson bank in another person’s name in September 2022. Gardner and Myrick deposited several counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks in the account at various bank branches in the Jackson metro area and withdrew the cash before the checks were determined to be counterfeit. Gardner admitted to manufacturing the counterfeit Treasury checks and creating a false identification card using another person’s name and identity. The Court found that, as part of the scheme, 10 or more victims had their personal identifying information used unlawfully or without authority.

Gardner and Myrick were indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2023. Myrick pleaded guilty on October 17, 2023, and Gardner pleaded guilty on February 2, 2024. Myrick was sentenced on March 11, 2024, to 26 months in prison. Both defendants were ordered to pay restitution to the bank as part of their sentences.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement.

The U.S. Secret Service and Rankin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 360 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production of child pornography.

According to court documents, Delvan Jerrod Howard, 43, produced a video of an adult man engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a child. Howard was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022.  He pled guilty on January 11, 2024, to production of child pornography.

Howard was ordered to pay 3,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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 and the Mississippi Attorney General Office’s Cyber Crime Unit investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes 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, Mississippi – A Biloxi City Councilman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.

Robert Leon Deming, III, 47, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.  

According to court documents and information presented to the court, in 2019, Deming founded the Candy Shop, LLC to operate Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina. The Candy Shop stores sold CBD and vape products.   

In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the Candy Shop.  The investigation revealed that some of the vape products sold by the Candy Shops in Mississippi contained Schedule I controlled substances and controlled substance analogues. In 2022, the DEA also received complaints that some of the products at the Candy Shops were making customers ill.

Agents obtained search warrants for the Candy Shops located in Mississippi and North Carolina.  They also obtained a warrant for Deming’s residence.  The warrants were contemporaneously executed on January 26, 2023.  During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement officers seized over $1.8 million in cash from Deming’s residence and additional cash and controlled substances from his stores. 

As the investigation continued, agents learned that Deming was aware that his vape additives did not contain CBD; rather, they contained synthetic cannabinoids. This was evidenced by group chats in which Deming’s employees complained about how the additives were too strong and could hurt their customers.  Despite this fact, Deming misbranded the additives as containing CBD. 

In addition, through the course of the investigation, agents were able to determine that in May of 2022, Deming sent an uncharged coconspirator $2,200.00 to purchase 1 kilogram of 5F-AB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled substance, for use in the Candy Shop’s vape additives and that, at the time Deming sent the money, he knew that 5F-AB-PINACA was a controlled substance.  

The Government’s investigation also revealed that Deming’s gross sales of vape additive products containing either Schedule I controlled substances or their analogues totaled over $2 million.

Deming was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 19, 2023.

“A public official’s side job should not be running a business that distributes millions of dollars in illegal controlled substances and endangers the health and safety of its customers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee.  “We appreciate the hard work of investigators with the DEA, FDA, and MBN to put a stop to the distribution of these dangerous vape additives.”

"The DEA is committed to holding all individuals accountable for drug trafficking, regardless of position,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “Mr. Deming's guilty plea is a reminder that no one is above the law. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who violate the Controlled Substances Act."

“U.S. consumers are put at risk when labeling is false and misleading,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “Labeling is designed to provide information that can help consumers make informed choices about what they purchase and consume.   The FDA is committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who unlawfully mask controlled substances as known consumer products to be sold to the American public.”

As part of the plea agreement in this case, Deming agreed to forfeit a yellow Monster Truck with oversized tires and a lift kit and over $1.9 million dollars. His sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lee Smith.

Jackson, Miss. – A Magnolia man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Edward Dewayne Cockerham, 35, of Magnolia, Mississippi 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal 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 Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, and 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, Miss. – A Jones County man was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for assault with intent to commit a kidnapping on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, Tyreese Khalia Kejuan Smith, 23, assaulted an adult tribal female in the Bogue Homa Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023 and pled guilty to the assault on January 30, 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’s Safe Trails Task Force which is comprised of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Police Department, Jones County Sheriff’s Department, and various state and local law enforcement agencies.

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

Gulfport, Miss. – A California man was sentenced yesterday for sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.

Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, of Gardena, was sentenced to life in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after a jury found Fulcher guilty in January.  

“This significant sentence imposed by the court reflects the severity of the defendant’s abuse and exploitation of the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant traumatized the victim, robbed her of her dignity and deprived her of the choice and control essential to her personal autonomy by forcing her to engage in prostitution for his own profit. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders accountable and to seek justice for survivors of these heinous crimes.”

“Human trafficking is not just a plot for Hollywood movies,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “It happens all over the country in a variety of ways, and even here in Mississippi as the tragic facts of this case show. The strength and resiliency of the victim in this case to escape the defendant and then report what happened will ensure that he never harms anyone else again. But this crime sadly still occurs all too often, and law enforcement needs your help to stop it. If you are a victim of human trafficking or believe that you may have witnessed it occurring, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.” 

“This investigation exemplifies how human trafficking is not just a physical crime but is also conducted through emotional and psychological abuse,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Sex trafficking has devastating short term and long-term consequences, and the FBI will continue to investigate traffickers and pursue justice for the victims.”

The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home where he sexually assaulted her.  

Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with a co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth.

Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away. While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment for an existing chronic illness.

Hamilton was previously sentenced on April 9 to 29 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to interstate transportation for prostitution.

The FBI Jackson Field Office, Gulfport Resident Agency investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

A California man was sentenced yesterday for sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.

Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, of Gardena, was sentenced to life in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after a jury found Fulcher guilty in January.  

“This significant sentence imposed by the court reflects the severity of the defendant’s abuse and exploitation of the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant traumatized the victim, robbed her of her dignity and deprived her of the choice and control essential to her personal autonomy by forcing her to engage in prostitution for his own profit. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders accountable and to seek justice for survivors of these heinous crimes.”

“Human trafficking is not just a plot for Hollywood movies,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “It happens all over the country in a variety of ways, and even here in Mississippi as the tragic facts of this case show. The strength and resiliency of the victim in this case to escape the defendant and then report what happened will ensure that he never harms anyone else again. But this crime sadly still occurs all too often, and law enforcement needs your help to stop it. If you are a victim of human trafficking or believe that you may have witnessed it occurring, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.” 

“This investigation exemplifies how human trafficking is not just a physical crime but is also conducted through emotional and psychological abuse,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Sex trafficking has devastating short term and long-term consequences, and the FBI will continue to investigate traffickers and pursue justice for the victims.”

The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home where he sexually assaulted her.  

Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with a co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth.

Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away. While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment for an existing chronic illness.

Hamilton was previously sentenced on April 9 to 29 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to interstate transportation for prostitution.

The FBI Jackson Field Office, Gulfport Resident Agency investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Gulfport, Miss.  -- A Biloxi, Mississippi, man was sentenced to 136 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.

Christopher Lee Parker, 36, was sentenced on April 12, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.  In addition to Parker’s term of imprisonment, the Court ordered restitution for victims in the amount of $31,000, and imposed an assessment of $2,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

According to court documents, Parker was identified in Cyber Tipline Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as the user of social media accounts discussing the trading of child exploitation materials. These Cyber Tipline Reports were forwarded to law enforcement for investigation. A federal search warrant obtained for Parker’s Biloxi residence resulted in the recovery of Parker’s cell phones, in which Parker, at times using mobile applications, possessed over 5,000 visual depictions, in still and video formats, of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct with some images including minors who had not reached 12 years of age.

Parker was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023.  He pled guilty on December 18, 2023, to possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance from the Cyber Crime Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Biloxi Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones 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 please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.  

Jackson, MS - U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee announced today that in Fiscal Year 2023 the Southern District of Mississippi collected more than $22 million in criminal and civil matters.  Of that amount, approximately $10,157,069 was collected in civil and criminal asset forfeiture actions, approximately $4,176,826 was collected in criminal debts owed to the United States and victims, and approximately $8,089,178 was collected through Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE).

“The Department of Justice collected millions of dollars from criminals and civil litigants in Mississippi that will now be used to help victims get back on their feet, ensure law enforcement agencies have additional resources to fight crime, and restore to the government monies wrongfully procured through waste, fraud, abuse or failure to adhere to regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Gee.

Out of the funds recovered by financial litigation, $2,025,799 was returned directly to victims of criminal activity in the district through restitution imposed in criminal cases.  Moreover, nearly $400,000 of additional money was recovered and returned directly to victims of email fraud in the district through civil asset forfeiture cases.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The mission of the asset forfeiture program is to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes, including the assets purchased with those proceeds, and to disrupt criminal activity.  Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

ACE cases allow recovery of tax payor dollars lost to fraud or other misconduct or to impose penalties for violations of Federal health, safety, civil rights, or environmental law.  One of the primary tools used in ACE cases is the False Claims Act (FCA).  The FCA allows recovery of up to three times the damages suffered by the United States, plus monetary penalties for each violation.  Many of these cases result from whistleblower lawsuits, which allows individuals or entities who have inside information about fraudulent conduct to file qui tam lawsuits on behalf of the United States. Some of the areas where the office has successfully employed the FCA include fraud perpetrated on federal healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), the Department of Defense military programs and contracts, and federal grant programs. 

In the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, the asset forfeiture program and the financial litigation program are part of the office’s Asset Recovery Unit within the Criminal Division, which is coordinated by Assistant United States Attorney Clay B. Baldwin.  Multiple Assistant United States Attorneys in the Civil Division handle ACE matters and cases.

Jackson, MS – A Southaven man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for possession of a stolen firearm.

According to court documents, Jordan Dale Burgess, 33, was captured on surveillance video stealing a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in March of 2023.

Burgess was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023.  He pled guilty on December 12, 2023, to possession of a stolen firearm.

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 case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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.

Gulfport, Miss. – A Fremont, Ohio man was sentenced to 47 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  

Trayvion Joaquin Scott, 25, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court records, Scott previously pled guilty to his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that began operating in Picayune, MS, as far back as 2015.  Scott’s primary involvement in the conspiracy was making drug payments on behalf of the drug trafficking organization to their source of supply in California via money transfers. 

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.

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

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, MS – A McComb man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Norkeithus Malik Reed, 24, was found in possession of a firearm by the Brookhaven Police Department when responding to a complaint of a disturbance caused by Reed at an area restaurant. Reed had previously been convicted in state court of drug-related felony charges. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Reed to possess any firearm.

Reed was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2023.  He pled guilty on January 30, 2024, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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 case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Randy Rodriquez Jones, 49, sold a firearm to an individual on January 8, 2020.  Jones had multiple prior drug-related felony convictions and a previous state court conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Jones to possess any firearm.

Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 11, 2023.  He pled guilty on January 30, 2024, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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 case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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 Flowood man was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of abusive child pornography materials depicting minors, including some toddlers, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to court documents, Timothy Daniel Steele a/k/a Timothy Daniel Gantenbein, 26, possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography depicting adult men engaging in sex with minor children.  Steele was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2021, and pled guilty on July 7, 2023, to possession of child pornography.

Steele was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $324,876.39 to his victims and pay $5000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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 Flowood Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes 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 New Orleans, Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one ounce of fentanyl.

According to court documents, Angelle McLaughlin, 30, was caught in the parking garage of a Mississippi casino engaging in a drug transaction.  McLaughlin traveled with two other individuals from Louisiana to the Mississippi casino to sell fentanyl.  Officers encountered the trio and found that McLaughlin was in possession of one ounce of fentanyl that was intended for sale to a recipient 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.

McLaughlin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 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 and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

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

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

Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Marcus Delars Branson, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by U. S. Probation Officers during a visit to his home. Branson had a prior felony conviction for bank robbery and was on supervised release.

On July 25, 2023, Branson was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, 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 Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.

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

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.

Gulfport, Miss. –  A Jackson County man was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 70 grams of methamphetamine.

James Richard Morgan, 42, of Jackson County, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, on September 11, 2018, Morgan and co-defendant Karlos Brown sold 70 grams of 42% pure methamphetamine in the parking lot of a Walmart in Pascagoula, Mississippi.                     

Morgan and Brown were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2022.  Both defendants pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Brown was sentenced on February 27, 2023, to 70 months in prison.

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 Pascagoula Police Department, 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.

Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River woman pled guilty to assaulting a tribal member with a knife in the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation. 

According to court documents, in 2023, Telinah Kowi Tek Farve, 25, stabbed the tribal member with a knife causing serious bodily injury.  Farve was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury and she pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Farve is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years 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 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. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

Gulfport, MS – A Picayune man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 13 grams of fentanyl. 

Brandon Lamont Myers, 41, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court records, on August 14, 2023, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the residence of Brandon Lamont Myers in Pearl River County, Mississippi.  Agents seized $61,276 and 13 grams of fentanyl.  They also seized a box of clear plastic bags and several digital scales. 

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.

Myers pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 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, 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, Homeland Security Investigations and the Picayune Police Department.

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

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. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on April 16, 2021, Samual McCray, 26, was found in possession of a firearm when Jackson Police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment. Upon arrival, officers located two firearms in the apartment that belonged to McCray. When taking McCray into custody, officers found an additional firearm in his front left pants pocket. McCray has a previous felony conviction for manslaughter and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.

McCray pled guilty on July 26, 2023, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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

The FBI and Jackson Police Department 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, MS – A Carthage man pled guilty to possession of 13 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, in September 2023, Roby Lee Jackson, Jr., 31, possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the Red Water Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.  Court documents revealed that Jackson also possessed two firearms at the time of his arrest. Jackson was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024.

Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, 2024, and faces a penalty of not less than five years and a maximum of forty years in prison on the methamphetamine charge, and not less than five years and a maximum of life in prison on the firearms charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

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

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

Jackson, Miss.  –  U.S. Attorney Todd Gee announced the establishment of a carjacking task force in the Jackson, Mississippi metro area to focus efforts and resources on this important public safety threat.

“The threat of being carjacked creates fear in people’s daily lives, whether in their driveway or when loading groceries at the store," said U.S. Attorney Gee.  "The Department of Justice will work together with federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Jackson metro area to leverage all of our resources to investigate and prosecute carjackings.”

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.

“Our team of ATF special agents will work tirelessly with our partners in the Jackson carjacking task force to seek justice and prevent these dangerous crimes,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Carjacking is not only a deadly dangerous crime, it is a serious federal offense, carrying lengthy federal prison sentences, even for first-time offenders.”

“The Jackson Police Department will work together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners as a part of the carjacking task force in Jackson,” said Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade. “We are witnessing on a regular basis the benefits of working collaboratively in order to combat crime.”

"I am proud of the collaborative effort among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and our ability to tackle crime and uphold public safety, demonstrating the power of unity and coordination in law enforcement,” said Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey. “We will utilize all branches of our law enforcement resources to ensure that every avenue of accountability is pursued, and these criminals are held accountable.”

Carjacking and other violent crime task forces have proven to be an effective part of successful violent crime reduction strategies by focusing on significant crime drivers and taking violent offenders off the streets of our communities.

The newly formed task force will be led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with state, local and other law enforcement partners, including the Jackson Police Department and the Capitol Police. Task force members will share and act promptly on information related to car thefts, carjackings and the recovery of stolen or suspect vehicles. The task forces will also collaborate on how to use federal sentencing enhancements for cases where adults use juveniles to commit carjackings, as well as working with state and local authorities to ensure the appropriate handling of juvenile suspects. The task forces will also assist state and local officials who wish to seek Justice Department grant funding for juvenile intervention and diversion resources.

Gulfport, Miss. – An Edinburg, Texas man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for conspiring to possess with intent distribute cocaine.

Jose Humberto Gandara, 52, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to Court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016, Jose Humberto Gandara was stopped in Gulfport while driving a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta.  The Jetta contained almost $150,000 hidden in a concealed compartment located under the center console.  Gandara initially denied any knowledge of the money. Officers then showed Gandara a pair of shoes, which they located in the hidden compartment.  The officers previously cut the shoes to see if they contained a tracker.   Gandara asked the officers why they cut his shoes, and when they confronted him with the fact that the shoes came from the hidden compartment, Gandara admitted to moving the money for a percentage.  Gandara denied being involved with narcotics, but photographs from his phone appeared to depict bricks of cocaine.

In January of 2015, Gandara bought a different 2012 Volkswagen Jetta that was subsequently stopped at the border of Mexico/Texas.  While Gandara was not driving that Jetta, the driver was an individual that Gandara had previously identified as his employee.  Border Patrol agents found approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment, which matched the hidden compartment in the vehicle Gandara was driving in Gulfport.  

Officers were also able to determine that in September of 2015, Gandara was stopped in Alabama with nearly $360,000.  The money was divided into multiple bundles, each of which were wrapped in green plastic wrap and stuffed inside the front seats of the car Gandara was driving.  Gandara again denied knowledge of the money, but the money found in the seats matched a bundle of money Gandara claimed from his duffle bag.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the $150,000 seized from Gandara in Gulfport was payment for cocaine that was interdicted in Louisiana, while bound for Moss Point, Mississippi.  The evidence and testimony at trial showed that Gandara was acting on behalf of a source of supply, located in Texas, who was importing cocaine directly from Mexico and sending it on to Moss Point, Mississippi.

On January 11, 2024, after a trial, a federal jury convicted Jose Humberto Gandara of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.  Gandara faced a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The DEA, United States Border Patrol, Gulfport Police Department, Louisiana State Police, and Alabama’s 17th Judicial Task Force Team investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.

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, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Todd Gee announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted a United Against Hate community outreach program at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Gulfport.

The United Against Hate program was launched by the Justice Department to connect community groups with federal, state, and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate.

In May of 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced steps towards the Department of Justice’s enhanced efforts to combat and confront hate crimes.  Attorney General Garland stated: “Hate crimes and other bias-related incidents instill fear across entire communities and undermine the principles upon which our democracy stands.  All people in this country should be able to live without fear of being attacked or harassed because of where they are from, what they look like, whom they love, or how they worship.” 

The United Against Hate program gives the U.S. Attorney’s Office an opportunity to connect with faith-based leaders to help effect positive change within the community.  Faith-based leaders are usually the first persons contacted when individuals or families face hateful behavior. Often hate crimes and incidents go underreported, allowing offenders to continue to spread their hate, fear, and intimidation.  This event assisted faith-based leaders in the Gulfport area in identifying hate crimes, understanding the importance of reporting these crimes and most importantly, discussing strategies to prevent acts of hate. 

Today’s presentation, entitled “United Against Hate:  Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Acts of Hate”, was led by U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Dease Paige, Glenda Haynes, Andrea Jones, Angela Givens Williams, Keesha Middleton, Shundral Cole, Jonathan Buckner, and Max Myers, along with law enforcement partners who investigate hate crimes, including agents from the FBI and a representative of the District Attorney’s office for Harrison, Hancock, and Stone Counties.  At the conclusion of the program, members of the media were invited to gather outside of the church to ask any questions about the initiative.  Today’s event was the second of its kind to be hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.  The first program was held in Jackson in June 2023.   

Additional information about the Justice Department’s United Against Hate Program can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/spotlight/united-against-hate

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 USAMSS.CivilRights@usdoj.gov , or concerns can be shared by leaving a voice mail for our Civil Rights Division at (601) 973-2825.

Jackson, Miss. – A Mexican National was sentenced to 24 months in prison for unlawful return of an alien removed after conviction for a felony and unlawful possession of a means of identification.

According to court documents, Juan Carlos Troncoso-Garrido, 53, was convicted in 1999 of possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. As a result, he was placed in removal proceedings, and subsequently removed from the United States and returned to Mexico.

At some point thereafter, Troncoso-Garrido reentered the United States without inspection and assumed the name and identity of a United States citizen. After assuming the identity, Troncoso-Garrido fraudulently applied for a Transportation Worker Identity Credential (TWIC). This document can be used to gain access to critical infrastructure areas or sites. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Transportation Security Administration were able to intervene and apprehend Troncoso-Garrido before he received a TWIC card.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations, and Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Whitmore of the Transportation Security Administration made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Transportation Security Administration investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.

Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 81.1 grams of fentanyl.

Ashton Craig Cuevas, 19, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, on April 21, 2023, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant on the residence of Ashton Craig Cuevas, 19, in Gulfport.  The search took place the day after Harrison County conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Cuevas.  The search of Cuevas’s home yielded 81.1 grams of fentanyl, as well as the pre-recorded buy money from the controlled purchase on April 20th.

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.

Cuevas pled guilty on August 22, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

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

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

Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, in June 2022, as part of an ongoing investigation, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Charleston Porter, 34, in Jackson where they recovered a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Glock magazine, ammunition, and methamphetamine.  Agents also found an extended handgun magazine containing ammunition.  

Porter pled guilty on July 19, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.   

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the 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 Hinds County, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. The operation 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.

Jackson, Miss. – A man from the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians pleaded guilty in federal court to knowingly engaging in a sexual act with a member of his family.

According to court documents, in July 2021, 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.

Reed is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years 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 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. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula man was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Jerome Clifton Clegg, 39, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

 According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Southern Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team received information that Jerome Clifton Clegg was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Pascagoula. In August 2023, agents began surveillance of Clegg’s residence and observed drug transactions taking place.  A traffic stop conducted on one individual who purchased drugs from Clegg yielded 58 grams of methamphetamine, and a traffic stop with a second individual yielded an additional 3 grams.  Based on this information, agents conducted a search of Clegg’s home which yielded additional narcotics and a handgun.

On December 4, 2023, Clegg pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.   

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

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

Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Marietta, Georgia woman was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $74,847.52 fine and restitution in the amount of $123,116.50 for her role in an overseas fraud scheme.

Aniekeme Etim, 24, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.

According to court documents and information presented to the Court, between 2018 and 2022, fraudsters based in Nigeria targeted men and women 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.

After investigating the money transfers, the FBI determined that Etim, Uyoyo Mercy Abire, Raymond Ekevwo, Toluwani Adebakin, Ngoni Chadyiwa, and Emmanuel Ineh, were all receiving and transferring the proceeds from the fraud schemes.  At the time that they were engaged in this activity, each of the individuals were collegiate track and field athletes.

Etim and Adebakin, originally from Nigeria, were track and field athletes at William Carey University. Abire, originally from Nigeria, was a track and field athlete at Louisiana State University.  Ekevwo, originally from Nigeria, was a track and field athlete at the University of Florida. Ngoni Chadyiwa, originally from Zimbabwe, was a track and field athlete at William Carey University.  Finally, Emmanuel Ineh, originally from Nigeria, was a track and field athlete at William Carey University and the University of Alabama.

Ultimately, the investigation did not show that any of the athletes directly contacted any of the fraud victims.  However, as a result of the fraud schemes, the athletes received funds from over 100 victims and transferred over $820,000.00 overseas. 

Etim was sentenced today after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmission business. Abire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Ekevwo pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmission business and was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Adebakin pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Chadyiwa pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmission business and was sentenced to three years of probation.  Ineh pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to time served and 3 years of supervised release.  

Additionally, as part of their sentence, all of the defendants were ordered to pay restitution to the victims from whom they personally received funds. Each of the defendants also remain subject to potential deportation and/or removal.

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 United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Eichner prosecuted the case.

Jackson, Miss. – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a new document entitled “An Overview of the Department of Justice Grant Process” that provides a short, useable summary of the DOJ grant opportunities for fiscal year (FY) 2024 to assist law enforcement agencies, local governments, and other organizations interested in applying for DOJ grants.   

“We want to make it as easy as possible for law enforcement agencies, local governments, community organizations, and others to apply for Department of Justice grants that can be used to help fight crime and improve lives in Mississippi,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi. 

The 5-page document is available on the public website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/grant-information.

Jackson, MS – A Durant man was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison for bank robbery. He was also ordered to pay $6,506.00 in restitution to the bank.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Lee Williams, 22, robbed a Durant bank on July 7, 2022. The same day, one of the $50 bait bills from the bank was used to purchase three firearms from a pawn shop in Kosciusko. An arrest was made in Durant later that day following a traffic stop.

Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2023, and pleaded guilty on December 21, 2023.

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

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.

Gulfport, Miss. – A Waveland man was sentenced to 87 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 167 grams of pure methamphetamine.   

Lance Ali Vaughn, 41, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, on July 12, 2023, law enforcement officials received information that Vaughn was selling methamphetamine in Hancock County.  Agents set up a controlled purchase and when Vaughn arrived at the predetermined location for the drug buy, agents conducted a K9 sniff of his vehicle.  The K9 alerted to drugs in the vehicle and a subsequent search yielded 167 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine.   

Vaughn pled guilty on December 6, 2023, to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer 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.

Gulfport, Miss. – A fourteenth defendant pled guilty today in federal court for his role in a prison drug conspiracy.

Trae Short, 39, pled guilty to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by conspiring to introduce contraband into a federal prison.

According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in 2018, agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency received information from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that drug laced letters and greeting cards were being sent to inmates in BOP from the Southern District of Mississippi.  The drug laced letters and cards were intercepted at prisons in Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

DEA and BOP officials were able to determine that inmates were ordering the drug laced letters and cards from Johnson Tran, 46, via prison email accounts and jail calls.   The inmates would typically order the drugs using coded language. The letters or greeting cards were laced with FUB-AMB and 5F-MDMB-PICA, which are Schedule I controlled substances and synthetic cannabinoids.  Many of the letters and greeting cards were sent through the postal service in Gulfport.  Tran’s  base of operation was located in Harrison County, Mississippi.

Agents were also able to determine that Tran would ultimately receive payment for the drugs that he sent into prison via U.S. Department of Treasury checks drawn from the inmate’s prison accounts and/or peer-to-peer money transfers from associates or family members of the inmates.  When Tran’s associates would receive funds on Tran’s behalf, Tran would give them a portion of the funds they received as payment for their services. 

On April 18, 2023, twenty defendants were initially charged as part of the prison drug and money laundering ring. Johnson Tran and fourteen of the defendants have now pleaded guilty.  Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  William Hernandez and Chaze Lowery pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and they each face a maximum of 20 years in prison.  Ryan Schmittaur pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Defendants Jorge Pena, Bobby Huneycutt, Clarence Plato, Ryan Douglas, Bryan Simmons, Salomon Alaya, Stanley Spriggs, Corderius Trammell, and Jonathan Estrada have all pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by conspiring to introduce contraband to a federal prison. They each face a maximum of five years in prison.

Four remaining defendants are scheduled for trial in June 2024.  A fifth defendant has been arrested, and is scheduled to appear on April 9, 2024, in the Southern District of Mississippi; and a sixth defendant has indicated that he intends to plead guilty and is awaiting his change of plea hearing.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Prisons, is investigating the case.

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

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, Miss. –   A Picayune man was sentenced to 159 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Corrie Montrell Hinton, 46, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Picayune, Mississippi.  In 2019, DEA agents in Imperial County California along with DEA agents in Gulfport conducted an undercover purchase of five pounds of methamphetamine and arrested two drug traffickers in Riverside County California. One of those traffickers was identified as a source of supply for a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Picayune.  Cellphones belonging to one of the traffickers yielded communication between a trafficker and Corrie Montrell Hinton involving drug transactions, parcels, and account numbers for money transfers.

Hinton pled guilty on October 4, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration 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.

The Justice Department announced today that it will provide technical assistance to the Jackson Police Department (JPD) in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Hinds County Coroner’s Office in Hinds County, Mississippi, concerning their policies and procedures related to next-of-kin death notifications.

The department is providing this technical assistance to JPD and the Hinds County Coroner’s Office pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance. The lack of timely next-of-kin death notifications resulted in deceased individuals receiving pauper’s burials in unmarked graves in Hinds County, and some reports have indicated that there may be a perception that race or other factors played a role in the process concerning next-of-kin death notifications.  

“Families want and deserve transparency and the opportunity to make decisions about their loved ones’ burials,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through technical assistance, we aim to ensure that officials are able to deliver death notifications and make decisions regarding burials in a timely and trauma-informed way that complies with federal civil rights law.”

“The department looks forward to working with city and county officials to improve the death notification system in the Jackson area so that the families of missing and deceased persons can receive all the information available about their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi.

The technical assistance, which will be provided by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, will examine JPD’s General Order on Missing Persons and new General Order on Death Notifications and provide recommendations on implementation and training. The technical assistance to the Hinds County Coroner’s Office will provide recommendations on policies and training related to locating next-of-kin.

The provision of technical assistance is not a finding of fault or wrongdoing by JPD, the Hinds County Coroner’s Office or any other individual or entity. JPD and the Hinds County Coroner’s Office voluntarily agreed to receive technical assistance and support from the department.

Under Title VI, the department is working to make sure that law enforcement agencies and other recipients of federal funding take affirmative steps to comply with their civil rights obligations by offering technical assistance to facilitate Title VI compliance. Technical assistance helps agencies update and/or enhance their policies and practices, while strengthening the connection between law enforcement agencies and communities of color and other stakeholders. For example, the department has provided technical assistance through its Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative, a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in meeting their obligations to provide meaningful language assistance to limited English proficient individuals.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.

The Justice Department announced today that it will provide technical assistance to the Jackson Police Department (JPD) in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Hinds County Coroner’s Office in Hinds County, Mississippi, concerning their policies and procedures related to next-of-kin death notifications.

The department is providing this technical assistance to JPD and the Hinds County Coroner’s Office pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance. The lack of timely next-of-kin death notifications resulted in deceased individuals receiving pauper’s burials in unmarked graves in Hinds County, and some reports have indicated that there may be a perception that race or other factors played a role in the process concerning next-of-kin death notifications.  

“Families want and deserve transparency and the opportunity to make decisions about their loved ones’ burials,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through technical assistance, we aim to ensure that officials are able to deliver death notifications and make decisions regarding burials in a timely and trauma-informed way that complies with federal civil rights law.”

“The department looks forward to working with city and county officials to improve the death notification system in the Jackson area so that the families of missing and deceased persons can receive all the information available about their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi.

The technical assistance, which will be provided by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, will examine JPD’s General Order on Missing Persons and new General Order on Death Notifications and provide recommendations on implementation and training. The technical assistance to the Hinds County Coroner’s Office will provide recommendations on policies and training related to locating next-of-kin.

The provision of technical assistance is not a finding of fault or wrongdoing by JPD, the Hinds County Coroner’s Office or any other individual or entity. JPD and the Hinds County Coroner’s Office voluntarily agreed to receive technical assistance and support from the department.

Under Title VI, the department is working to make sure that law enforcement agencies and other recipients of federal funding take affirmative steps to comply with their civil rights obligations by offering technical assistance to facilitate Title VI compliance. Technical assistance helps agencies update and/or enhance their policies and practices, while strengthening the connection between law enforcement agencies and communities of color and other stakeholders. For example, the department has provided technical assistance through its Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative, a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in meeting their obligations to provide meaningful language assistance to limited English proficient individuals.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.

El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que proporcionará asistencia técnica a la Policía de Jackson (JPD, por sus siglas en inglés) en Jackson, Mississippi, y a la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Hinds en el Condado de Hinds, Mississippi, con respecto a sus políticas y procedimientos relacionados con las notificaciones de muerte al pariente más cercano.

El Departamento está proporcionando esta asistencia técnica a la JPD y a la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Hinds de conformidad con el Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI), que prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de raza, color de piel u origen nacional en programas que reciben apoyo financiero federal. El resultado de la falta de notificaciones oportunas de muerte al pariente más cercano es que personas fallecidas han sido enterrados como indigentes en fosas no señaladas en el Condado de Hinds, y algunos informes han indicado que puede haber una percepción de que la raza u otros factores han desempeñado un papel en el proceso con respecto a las notificaciones de muerte al pariente más cercano. 

«Las familias quieren y merecen transparencia y la oportunidad de tomar decisiones sobre los entierros de sus seres queridos», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «A través de la asistencia técnica, nuestro objetivo es garantizar que los funcionarios puedan entregar notificaciones de muerte y tomar decisiones sobre enterramientos de una manera oportuna y sensible al trauma que cumpla con las leyes federales de derechos civiles».

«El Departamento espera trabajar con los funcionarios municipales y del condado para mejorar el sistema de notificación de muertes en el área de Jackson para que las familias de personas desaparecidas y fallecidas puedan recibir toda la información disponible sobre sus seres queridos», comentó Todd Gee, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Sur de Mississippi.

La asistencia técnica, que será proporcionada por la División de Derechos Civiles y la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Sur de Mississippi, examinará la Orden General de la JPD sobre Personas Desaparecidas y la nueva Orden General sobre Notificaciones de Muerte y proporcionará recomendaciones sobre la implementación y capacitación. La asistencia técnica a la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Hinds proporcionará recomendaciones sobre políticas y capacitación relacionadas con la localización de familiares más cercanos.

La prestación de asistencia técnica no es un hallazgo de culpa o conducta indebida por parte de la JPD, la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Hinds o cualquier otra persona o entidad. La JPD y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Hinds acordaron voluntariamente recibir asistencia técnica y apoyo del Departamento.

En virtud del Título VI, el Departamento está trabajando para asegurarse de que las agencias de aplicación de la ley y otros beneficiarios de fondos federales tomen medidas afirmativas para cumplir con sus obligaciones de derechos civiles al ofrecer asistencia técnica para facilitar el cumplimiento con el Título VI.  La asistencia técnica ayuda a las agencias a actualizar o mejorar sus políticas y prácticas, a la vez que fortalece la conexión entre las agencias de aplicación de la ley y las comunidades de color y otras partes interesadas. Por ejemplo, el Departamento ha proporcionado asistencia técnica a través de su Iniciativa de Acceso Lingüístico de las Fuerzas del Orden Público, un esfuerzo a nivel nacional para ayudar a las agencias de aplicación de la ley a cumplir con sus obligaciones de proporcionar asistencia lingüística significativa a personas con un dominio limitado del inglés.

Hay más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt.

Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula, Mississippi man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 55.3 grams of methamphetamine.

Timothy Harper, 42, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, on October 24, 2023, a clear plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine was purchased from Timothy Harper in Pascagoula.  A subsequent laboratory test of the substance confirmed that Harper sold 55.3 grams of methamphetamine at 98% purity.

Harper pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 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 Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team.

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

Jackson, Mississippi – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Teson Kuran Daniel, 39, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

According to court documents, on January 24, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Teson Kuran Daniel. Inside the residence, agents found methamphetamine, cocaine, and two scales. Prior to the execution of the search warrant, Daniel sold methamphetamine and cocaine to a confidential informant on two occasions.   

Daniel pled guilty on December 14, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

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, Jackson Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and the Byram Police Department.

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

Jackson, Miss. – The City of Jackson, Mississippi will receive additional federal assistance to investigate violent crimes committed with firearms. 

Specifically, this month the DOJ’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans Field will be deploying a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) mobile unit to Jackson that will assist law enforcement agencies in Jackson and throughout the Southern District of Mississippi with investigating crimes committed with firearms.  Members of the media were invited to observe a demonstration of the mobile unit in Jackson today.

Additionally, DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded a $675,000 grant to Jackson in 2022 as part of ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative.  This grant, which will be spent over several years, is being used to improve Jackson’s access to NIBIN to investigate the use of firearms in multiple shootings and provide other tools to improve investigations of violent crimes committed with firearms. 

NIBIN is a database of bullet casings recovered from crime scenes across the United States. Used casings have distinctive markings from the gun they were fired from, similar to a fingerprint. Investigators can check the database to see if the casings recovered from a crime scene were fired from a gun that may have been used in another crime. Through the database, one weapon could theoretically be linked to crimes across several cities and states. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. ATF maintains and operates NIBIN’s infrastructure at no charge to law enforcement partners.

More information about ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers can be found here:  https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-crime-gun-intelligence-centers-cgic. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Special Agent in Charge Joshua E. Jackson of the ATF, Chief Joseph Wade of the Jackson Police Department, and Chief Bo Luckey of the Capitol Police made the announcement. 

Gulfport, MS – A Compton, California man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Booker Washington, 52, 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 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.

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.

Washington pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years 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 Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer 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.

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.

WASHINGTON – Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced that the Justice Department is adding three new cities to its Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), building on the successful model launched in Houston, Texas, in September 2022, and expanded to Memphis, Tennessee, in November 2023. The VCI surges law enforcement tools and resources to target gangs and other violent groups that are threatening the safety and security of communities in cities across the nation.

As the Attorney General noted in his remarks this morning in Chicago, today’s announcement comes as the Justice Department is working to replicate the successes that communities across the country have seen in driving down the violent crime that spiked during the pandemic. That includes cities like Detroit, where 2023 marked the fewest homicides in 57 years; Baltimore, where there was a 20% reduction in homicides in 2023 and a 7% reduction in non-fatal shootings; New Orleans, where 2023 marked a 25% decline in homicides; Philadelphia, where there was a 20% reduction in homicides in 2023; and Chicago, where homicides decreased by 13% in 2023.

“The Justice Department will not rest until every person, in every neighborhood, in every community is safe from violent crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The FBI reports that last year we saw a significant decrease in overall violent crime across the country compared to the previous year—including an over 13% decline in homicides. That is the largest one-year decline in homicides in 50 years. The Justice Department is not easing up on our efforts to reduce violent crime. In fact, today, we are doubling down. In Houston and Memphis, we launched a Violent Crime Initiative that brought prosecutors from the Department’s Criminal Division to work closely with prosecutors already on the ground to target those responsible for the greatest violence. Today, we are launching the next phase of our Violent Crime Initiative in St. Louis, Missouri; Jackson, Mississippi; and Hartford, Connecticut.”

“No matter where violent crime occurs, it leaves a devastating impact on victims and communities,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI, as part of the Violent Crime Initiative, is renewing our focus on violent crime in three additional cities and surging tools and resources to make our streets safer. Every day, our field offices work to tear down violent criminals and gangs and this initiative will only serve to magnify their successes.”

“Violent crime demands our urgent attention,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through our Violent Crime Initiative, the Criminal Division works in partnership with local U.S. Attorneys and federal and state law enforcement to use data to focus on the worst of the worst violent offenders, to engage with the communities in which we work, and to make our neighborhoods safer. As our work in Houston and Memphis has shown, together we can make a difference.”

To focus the Justice Department’s resources on communities most in need, the Criminal Division has identified St. Louis, Missouri; Jackson, Mississippi; and Hartford, Connecticut, as the next VCI cities. The VCI utilizes prosecutors from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section—the nation’s foremost experts in racketeering prosecutions—to work alongside prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, as well as dedicated investigative agents, analysts, and forensic experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Through the VCI, the Criminal Division also works with community leaders in each city to best understand citizens’ concerns and to work to support them. Since the start of Houston VCI, Houston saw reductions of 9% in violent crime and 20% in homicides. In Memphis, when compared to 2023, official counts of murders, robberies, and aggravated assaults have decreased since the VCI has been operational.

“We have long had a focus in the Eastern District of Missouri on violent crime and complex criminal conspiracies, and the addition of two experienced prosecutors will allow us to expand that,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri. “We look forward to working with them to make the St. Louis region safer.”

“As a resident of Jackson, I know it is a great place to live and work, but it also suffers from violent crime that is largely driven by a small number of violent individuals and gangs,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “I am excited to have experts from the Justice Department join with federal, state, and local law enforcement here in Jackson to help us investigate and prosecute these sources of violent crime.”

“This office and our federal law enforcement partners have a long and successful history of working with the Hartford Police Department and our state counterparts to make our capital city safer,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “We welcome these additional Justice Department resources, which supplement our efforts to focus on the groups and individuals in Hartford that are chiefly responsible for Hartford’s gun violence and prosecute offenders to the full extent of federal law.”

“With crime rates down in so many places in 2023, now is not the time to back off. Now is the time to double and triple down on strategies that have been shown to work,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “ATF’s expertise in Crime Gun Intelligence allows our agents—and our law enforcement partners—to follow the crime gun. This leads to more impactful arrests both of those who are actually doing the shooting and those unlawfully supplying the shooters with their guns. By combining this intelligence and data with traditional techniques, ATF produces evidence-driven cases on the most dangerous offenders. We are proud to work with all our partners on this important initiative in cities around the country.”

“Drug-related crimes and violence continue to have a significant impact on our communities and demand a new approach,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Two years ago, DEA implemented Operation Overdrive, a data-driven, intelligence led approach to identifying and dismantling criminal drug networks doing the most harm in communities, including in St. Louis, Missouri; Hartford, Connecticut; and Jackson, Mississippi. This approach allows us to map the threats and shift our resources so that our drug enforcement efforts will have the greatest impact in our communities. Expanding the Violent Crime Initiative further extends our potential to successfully investigate and prosecute criminals by harnessing the full potential of state, local, and federal partnerships.”

Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon while firing at officers during a high-speed pursuit.

According to court documents, on July 21, 2021, Jerry Shannon McAlister, 47, failed to yield when officers with the Clinton Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle he was driving. This led to a high-speed pursuit into the city of Jackson with McAlister firing shots at an officer during the pursuit. McAlister has previous felony convictions, including a conviction for statutory rape. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess any firearm.

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

The ATF and Clinton Police Department 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.