Biloxi PD asking for assistance identifying alleged fraud suspects
The Biloxi Police Department is asking for help identifying two people who allegedly stole and used another person’s credit card. The incident occurred on January 22nd around…
Fraud
Mississippi auditor demands payments in human services fraud
JACKSON, Miss — The Mississippi auditor is demanding repayment of $77 million in misspent welfare money in one of the poorest states in the nation. This includes $828,000 the auditor is seeking from retired NFL player Brett Favre and an…
Former Moss Point Mayor Mario King begins his 30-month sentence
Former Moss Point Mayor Mario King begins serving his 30-month sentence today. This sentence comes after he and his wife Natasha each plead guilty earlier this…
Mississippi pharmacist, Louisiana marketer plead guilty in health care fraud scheme
A Mississippi pharmacist pleaded guilty today and a Louisiana marketer pleaded guilty on Aug. 12 in the Southern District of Mississippi for their roles in a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE and private insurance companies by paying kickbacks to distributors…
Biloxi Police asking public's help to identify fraud suspects
The Biloxi Police Department is requesting assistance with identifying the individuals in photos released to the media. The man and woman are wanted for questioning regarding an alleged fraud that occurred on Sunday, August 8, 2021, near the 2400 block…
Former Moss Point Mayor and Wife Sentenced on Federal Fraud Charges
Jackson, Miss. – The former Mayor of Moss Point, Mississippi, and his wife were sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud relating to the…
Mother and son accused of defrauding state dept. of education face additional charges
A federal grand jury has indicted a mother and son accused of improperly obtaining millions of dollars from the state of Mississippi on…
Former Moss Point Mayor Mario King under investigation for mortgage fraud in Texas
According to our media partner the Sun Herald, former Moss Point Mayor Mario King is under investigation in Texas on allegations of mortgage fraud. He ‘engaged in other behavior that amounts to obstruction of justice,’ all of which could have…
Auditor arrests two Biloxi Public Schools employees for fraud and embezzlement
JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Michael Ludlow and Mickey Bellande, Jr. after both were indicted for fraud and embezzlement. Both Ludlow and Bellande are former maintenance employees at the…
Ocean Springs Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Commit Health Care Fraud
Hattiesburg, Miss. – Dempsey “Bryan” Levi, 51, and Jeffrey Wayne Rollins, 44, of Ocean Springs, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett for their role in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE, the health care benefit program…
New law stiffens penalties for fraud, embezzlement of public funds
A law that will take effect July 1 increases penalties for public employees involved in fraud or embezzlement of taxpayer money. State Auditor Shad White announced today that those public employees who obtain $10,000 or more of taxpayer money will…
Businessman charged in scheme to hoard personal protective equipment and price gouge health care providers
WASHINGTON – A Mississippi businessman was charged with defrauding the United States and other health care providers in a $1.8 million scheme related to acquiring and hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and price gouging health care providers, including numerous U.S.…
Man charged with defrauding fund for slain Alabama officer
By Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Authorities say a man is charged with stealing from a memorial fund that was established to help the family of an Alabama police officer who was killed last year. A news release from…
Three people sentenced for health care scheme in Mississippi
Three more people accused of participating in a multi-million dollar health care scheme have been sentenced in federal court in Mississippi. U.S. District Senior Judge Keith Starrett sentenced 47-year-old Glenn Beach of Sumrall to 13 years and 53-year-old Hope Thomley…
Moss Point residents react to Mayor Mario King’s indictment
Today, Moss Point Mayor Mario King and his wife, Natasha, were indicted on federal fraud charges. News 25’s Lorraine Weiskopf is in Moss Point where she’s been speaking to residents about the mayor’s indictment.
Moss Point Board Of Aldermen issues statement regarding the indictment of Mayor Mario King
The Moss Point Board of Aldermen have issued a joint statement regarding the indictment of Mayor Mario King: "On July 10, 2020, we, the Board of Aldermen for the City of Moss Point, were made aware of the federal indictment…
Moss Point mayor, wife under indictment on federal fraud charges
Moss Point Mayor Mario King, 33, and his wife, Natasha R. King, 32, of Moss Point appeared Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert H. Walker on fraud charges relating to the Mayor’s Gala held in 2019. The indictment alleges that…
Diamondhead man pleads guilty in truck-buying scheme
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A Diamondhead man has pleaded guilty to bank fraud, admitting that he inflated the cost of trucks he was buying to get extra money from lenders. U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst in Gulfport said Tuesday that Louis…
Mississippi seeing rising cases of unemployment fraud
By LEAH WILLINGHAM JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Employment Security is seeing an influx of fraudulent unemployment claims, mirroring a concerning trend across the country, Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday. “These are all through sophisticated networks of…
Governor Reeves addresses unemployment fraud
In his daily press briefing, Governor Tate Reeves highlighted an ongoing issue across the country. Governor Reeves said unemployment systems across the country are being attacked with false claims. They are often sophisticated networks of criminal hackers who will take…
Two New Orleans universities, Roman Catholic Archdiocese named in lawsuit alleging fraud involving Katrina aid
By Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two New Orleans universities, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and a government contractor are defendants in a whistleblower lawsuit alleging fraud involving more than $100 million in Hurricane Katrina aid. The…
Beware! Stimulus checks attract the scammers
Now that federal stimulus checks are beginning to arrive in bank accounts or mailboxes, the Biloxi Police Department is reminding residents to beware of scams. Biloxi Police Chief John Miller, appearing on the city's daily Be Prepared video, said police…
Fraud schemes widespread during COVID-19 emergency
JACKSON, Miss. – Fraud schemes become more common, according to State Auditor Shad White, during emergencies. To help combat that fraud, the Office of the State Auditor today released information on the best authorities to contact if Mississippians see a fraud…
Experts urging residents to be aware of stimulus check scams
With a stimulus check headed to most Americans’ bank accounts soon, tax experts and the IRS want to issue a word of caution. The two trillion-dollar aid package is set to hit bank accounts as early as April 17th. “Based…