Philip and Alan Moran sentenced after bribery and conspiracy convictions

BAY ST. LOUIS, MS – District Attorney W. Crosby Parker announced the convictions of Philip Moran and Alan Moran for the crimes of Bribery and Conspiracy to Commit Bribery.

The verdict was delivered by a Hancock County jury after a four-day trial during the June court term.

Judge Christopher Schmidt presided over the trial. Sentencing was deferred until today. During the trial, the jury heard that in November 2024, Defendant Alan Moran stalked a Lowes employee at the Lowes in Waveland, MS.

At the time of the stalking, Defendant Alan Moran was on probation for Exploitation of a Child and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. An arrest and/or conviction of the stalking would have resulted in Defendant Alan Moran being brought back in front of the Court for a probation revocation.

The jury heard that around the same time of the stalking being reported to the Waveland Police Department and officially being filed, that Defendant Philip Moran, Alan’s father, a former Hancock County Supervisor, Mississippi State Senator, and member of the State Parole Board, withdrew $30,000 in cash—in 3 bundles of $10,000 each—from Keesler Federal Credit Union. A co-defendant, Jeremy Billings, testified that in early December, Defendant Alan Moran contacted him frantically requesting his help. Billings testified that he traveled to the Morans’ business in Kiln, MS where he met with Defendant Alan Moran.

At that meeting, Billings said Defendant Alan Moran was upset because he believed he was about to go back to jail and needed Billings’ help.

Billings testified that Defendant Alan Moran then gave Billings bundled cash to convince the stalking victim to drop charges against Defendant Alan Moran.

Billings testified that when Defendant Alan Moran gave him the money and the directions, that Defendant Philip Moran was also in the business and could hear their discussion.

Billings testified that after receiving the cash, he asked his friend Ian Schexnayder to go with him to the Lowes in Waveland, make contact with the stalking victim, and deliver the cash.

The jury heard, and watched video surveillance from Lowes from December 13, 2024, where Billings and Schexnayder traveled to the Lowes in Waveland and waited for the stalking victim to leave work that day.

As the victim was walking in the parking lot, Billings and Schexnayder made contact with him and offered the victim $10,000-$20,000 to drop the stalking charges against Defendant Alan Moran. The victim did not accept the bribe money and immediately went to the Waveland Police Department and reported the bribery.

The jury heard that after the bribery complaint was made, the Waveland Police Department, along with the FBI, began their investigation into Defendants Philip Moran, Alan Moran, Jeremy Billings, and Ian Schexnayder.

“Investigators obtained phone records of all parties and were able to inform the jury about phone patterns between Defendants Philip Moran, Alan Moran, and Jeremy Billings on significant days during the investigation,” said Assistant District Attorney Matthew D. Burrell, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant DA Chris Daniel.

Defendant Philip Moran argued that he did not have any knowledge of the money being given to Billings or its intent until Billings called him after the failed bribery when Billings was instructed by Defendant Philip Moran to return the money.

Defendant Alan Moran argued that his actions were not illegal under Mississippi law. The jury deliberated a little over one hour before returning their verdict of guilty on all counts. At sentencing Judge Schmidt stated that this case was about hubris, arrogance, and corruption. Speaking of Philip Moran’s involvement specifically, Judge Schmidt noted that it was most damaging that he committed these crimes while holding a position of public trust (State Parole Board).

Judge Schmidt sentenced Defendant Philip Moran to 15 years for the Bribery and five years for the Conspiracy for a total of 20 years, with 12 of those years to be served in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the remaining eight years to be served on Post-Release Supervision.

Defendant Alan Moran also received 15 years for the Bribery and five years for the Conspiracy for a total of 20 years, with 10 years to serve in the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the remaining 10 years on Post-Release Supervision.

Defendant Alan Moran’s sentence was ordered to run consecutive to his sentence in his prior Exploitation of a Child and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor case.

Judge Schmidt had previously revoked Defendant Alan Moran’s probation in that case and sentenced him to serve 12 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Co-defendants Billings and Schexnayder previously pled guilty to Bribery for their involvement and are awaiting sentencing in this case.