Contractor gets probation for role in housing kickback scheme

by Associated Press

Published: September 17,2012

Tags: authority, contractor, court, decision, embezzlement, home, homebuilder, homeowner, house, housing, judge, judicial, judiciary, kickback, probation, real estate, residence, resident, residential, ruling, sentence, sentencing

GREENVILLE — Contractor Jimmy Johnson has been given two years’ probation for his role in aiding and abetting embezzlement in a kickback scheme from a Mississippi Delta housing agency.

He had faced up to 10 years in prison.

The Delta Democrat Times reports Johnson and South Delta Regional Housing Authority director Ann Jefferson were indicted in 2011. Jefferson was convicted and is serving a 32-month sentence.

Prosecutors alleged Jefferson paid Johnson for work on a house in Leland that had already been done. Johnson allegedly paid a kickback to Jefferson.

Johnson, who pleaded guilty in January to one count, also was ordered by federal judge this past week to pay $10,000 restitution. Three other counts were dropped.

SDRHA operates in Bolivar, Humphreys, Sunflower, Issaquena, Sharkey and Washington counties.