Mississippi school leaders sentenced in federal embezzlement case

Three people, including two former Mississippi school superintendents, are headed to federal prison for a scheme that stole nearly $400,000 in federal education funds.

Federal prosecutors say former Hollandale School District Superintendent Mario Willis and former Clarksdale and Leake County School District Superintendent Earl Joe Nelson conspired with Missouri teacher Moneka-Smith Taylor to embezzle public money for their personal benefit.

Willis was sentenced to 20 months in prison and ordered to repay more than $393,000. Nelson is now a Biloxi resident and received a 14-month sentence and was ordered to pay more than $143,000 in restitution.

The case was prosecuted as part of the Trump Administration’s task force to eliminate fraud, federal officials say the defendants abused positions of public trust to steal taxpayer-funded education dollars intended for Mississippi students.

State Auditor Shad White is also responding to this sentencing, saying in part that the sentences were made possible through the collaboration between his office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and that they will continue to hold people who steal taxpayer money accountable.