State Auditor and DA Announce Additional Plea Agreement in Public Corruption Investigation

Corinth, Miss-Joseph Lin McNair, Jr, Alcorn county vendor, pled guilty to false representation to defraud government. McNair received 5 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, placement in the MDOC intensive supervision program, followed by 4 years of post-release supervision, $5,000 in fines, and court costs in the amount of $631.50.
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State Auditor and DA Announces Additional Plea Agreements in Public Corruption Investigation

Corinth, Miss-William Paul Rhodes former Alcorn County Purchasing clerk, pled guilty to hindering prosecution, fraudulently obtaining public funds, and false representation to defraud government. Rhodes received 15 years in the custody of the MDOC with 10 of those years suspended, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, restitution in the amount of $72, 466.28, $5,000 in fines, and court costs in the amount of $1,894.50.
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State Auditor and DA Announces Multiple Plea Agreements in Public Corruption Investigation

Corinth, Miss –Former Alcorn County Supervisor, Jimmy Dallan Nelms pled guilty to false representation to defraud government, fraudulently obtaining public funds, and embezzlement. Nelms, already in custody after his bond was revoked in an unrelated arrest, pled guilty before Circuit Judge Paul Funderburk. Nelms received 30 years in the custody of the MS Department of Corrections (MDOC) with 18 of those years suspended and 12 years to serve followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, and restitution in the amount of $308, 244.71, $5,000 in fines, and court costs in the amount of $3,157.50.
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Two Mississippi Businessmen Charged With Bribery of Former Corrections Commissioner

RELEASED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

United States Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Mississippi

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

Jackson, Miss –State Auditor Special Agents arrested former Town Clerk of Gunnison, Marquita Payne. Payne was also served with a demand today totaling $70, 392.66.
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State Auditor Makes Arrest and Issues Demand for Two Hundred Thousand Dollars

Jackson, Miss –State Auditor Special Agents arrested former Administrative Assistant of Meridian Community College, Sandra Gail Young, after a Lauderdale County Grand Jury indicted Young on embezzlement charges. Young was also served with a demand in the amount of $202,919.72. This amount represents funds misappropriated by Young during the time period of August 2008 through February of 2015.
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State Auditor Stacey Pickering Returns Funds to Warren County

JACKSON – The State Auditor’s Office has returned a check for $279,112.82 to the taxpayers of Warren County today. These funds were recovered as part of the investigation of former Warren County Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree.
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State Auditor Releases FY2015 Exceptions Report

JACKSON-State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced the release of the Fiscal Year 2015 Audit Exceptions Report.
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State Auditor Issues Demands Against Neshoba County Employees Totaling More Than $1.3 Million Dollars

JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced today Tammy Gomillion, Neshoba County Payroll Clerk; Julie Faye Russell, Neshoba County Purchasing Clerk; and, Jill Watkins, Neshoba County Comptroller; were issued demands totaling more than $1.3 million dollars.
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Judge Signs Final Judgement Against Palmertree’s Bond

JACKSON, MS – Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Dewayne Thomas ruled in favor of the Office of the State Auditor today, ordering former Warren County Circuit Court Clerk Shelly Ashley Palmertree’s bonding company, Western Surety, to pay $300,000 to the taxpayers of Warren County.
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