Mississippi Business Journal » crime

Doctor’s murder-for-hire case postponed, mental evaluation pending

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:11:35 +0000

GREENWOOD — A trial in the murder-for-hire case against a Greenwood oncologist has been postponed indefinitely. Circuit Judge Breland Hilburn issued the order this past week because the court is waiting on Dr. Arnold Smith’s evaluation at a state mental facility. The case was to have gone to trial yesterday in Leflore County Circuit Court. [...]

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DA starts collecting evidence on alleged voting irregularities

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:34:29 +0000

CANTON — Complaints about alleged irregularities in Canton elections have prompted the Madison County district attorney’s office to start collecting information in anticipation of an official investigation. District Attorney Michael Guest tells The Clarion-Ledger seven people have contacted his office about alleged voting irregularities in the May 7 Democratic primary. Guest says he wants to [...]

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Real estate company paying $1M for compromising wetlands

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:48:58 +0000

HANCOCK COUNTY — A Mississippi corporation has pleaded guilty to illegally filling wetlands near Bay St. Louis. Hancock County Land, LLC entered the plea yesterday and agreed to pay a $1-million fine and take remedial measures for two felony violations of the Clean Water Act., said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Assistant U.S. Attorney [...]

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Two men, tobacco company indicted for contraband cigarettes

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:16:25 +0000

OXFORD — Two Kentucky men and a tobacco company have been indicted for their alleged involvement in the trafficking of contraband cigarettes. David Brian Cooper, 47, George Bertram, 53, both of Jamestown, Ky., and Tantus Tobacco Co of Russell Springs, Ky., pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Oxford. Trial is scheduled for [...]

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Investigator: Mayor double-billed, pocketed $461K

Associated Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:30:07 +0000

SOUTHAVEN — An investigator with the Mississippi auditor’s office has testified in court that Southaven Mayor Greg Davis submitted duplicate charges to the city and the Chamber of Commerce, and was reimbursed a total of $461,000. Davis’ attorney denied the claim. Karen Swain, an investigator with the state auditor’s office, said the city and the [...]

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Alderman arrested on federal bribery charges

Associated Press — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:55:13 +0000

CANTON — A Canton alderman is facing bribery charges. Louis Smith was arraigned in federal court in Jackson yesterday, entering a not guity plea, The Clarion-Ledger reports. Smith was arrested Wednesday. Unofficial results show the 56-year-old, three-term alderman lost his Democratic primary re-election bid Tuesday in Canton. He faces one felony count of bribery, which [...]

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State Farm appeals Katrina-related whistleblower lawsuit ruling

Associated Press — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:21:09 +0000

GULFPORT — State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. has asked a judge to void a jury’s finding that the company defrauded the government involving a policyholder claim after Hurricane Katrina. Motions filed in U.S. District Court in Gulfport also seek a new trial The verdict came in April in a whistleblower lawsuit against the Illinois- [...]

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Family of murdered mayoral candidate wants federal investigation

Associated Press — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:47:05 +0000

CLARKSDALE — Relatives of a slain Mississippi mayoral candidate are renewing their push for a federal investigation amid their complaints that local officials are withholding information about the case. Clarksdale mayoral candidate Marco McMillian’s nude and battered body was found Feb. 27 near a Mississippi River levee. The case drew national attention after his campaign [...]

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Ricin-laced letters case going to grand jury

Associated Press — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:48:41 +0000

OXFORD — A dust mask that tested positive for ricin also contained DNA from a Mississippi man suspected of sending poison-laced letters to President Obama and others, an FBI agent testified today. The testimony came during a preliminary hearing for James Everett Dutschke, 41, who was arrested Saturday at his home in Tupelo and charged [...]

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Suspect in ricin-laced letters to be in court for detention hearing

Associated Press — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:58:12 +0000

TUPELO — The first time James Everett Dutshcke’s name came up in court regarding ricin-laced letters sent to President Barack Obama and others, he wasn’t the man charged in the case. And it was a defense lawyer for the first man to fall under suspicion, not the government, pointing the finger at Dutschke. That was [...]

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