Ocean Springs man indicted on charges of hoarding PPE during COVID to plead guilty
A Mississippi businessman indicted on charges of defrauding the government and health care providers notified the court he plans to plead guilty.
Kenneth Ritchey of Ocean Springs was indicted in January 2021 of charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to commit hoarding of designated scarce materials, and hoarding.
Ritchey filed his intent in federal court on Monday.
The indictment says Ritchey participated in a scheme to defraud health care providers, including the VA, of more than $1.8 million by acquiring PPE and other scarce materials and hoarding it during the COVID crisis.
The plan was to sell the materials at inflated prices.
