These former MS officials who embezzled money owe millions to the state. Here’s the list.
Former Coast public officials who embezzled public money still owe a hefty amount to the state.
Each year, State Auditor Shad White issues a report of the actions he takes to reclaim misappropriated or misspent public funds.
Statewide, the Investigations Law Enforcement Division has issued 87 formal demands for a total of $101 million and recovered misspent or embezzled funds totaling $1.92 million. That total includes embezzled funds from 2022 and prior years and funds paid directly to the departments from which they were embezzled. Prior fiscal year payments are not included, but the balance owed reflects those payments.
Along the Coast, of the $2.8 million embezzled in recent years, more than $2.3 million is still owed to the state. When the cases are turned over to the attorney general’s office, the AG can choose to criminally or civilly prosecute a case.
The auditor’s office civilly demands the embezzled money, whether the case has been tried, is still waiting for a court date, or has been dropped by state or local courts. If the payment is not received within 30 days of the demand letter, the case is sent to the attorney general to hold the accused civilly accountable. Statewide, the total amount of funds recovered by the Office of the State Auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, was $1.9 million.
The following is the 2022 list for counties in South Mississippi.
George County
Kevin Mardis
- Embezzled: $13,480.94
- Payments in 2022: $400
- Balance owed: $1,802.44
Former JROTC Instructor Sgt. Kevin Mardis pleaded guilty to embezzling $13,480.94 in 2015. He was sentenced to 3 years of non-adjudicated probation and ordered to pay $6,740.47 to the George County School System and $6,740.47 to the Office of the State Auditor. After paying $400 in 2022, Mardis still owes $1,802.44.
Hancock County
Dana Beaman
- Embezzled: $197,408.94
- Payments in 2022: $1,200
- Balance owed: $95,312.43
The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor (OSA) issued a formal demand of $197,408.94 on July 28, 2017. The case was sent to the attorney general in 2018 and former Deputy Justice Court Clerk Dana Beaman pleaded guilty to embezzlement on Dec. 19, 2019.
Beaman was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 14 years suspended and 6 years to serve, plus 5 years post-release supervised probation with 9 years unsupervised probation, concurrent.
Restitution includes the remaining balance of $10,827.50 owed to Justice Court after bonds paid, plus $1,036.32 for worthless checks handled by the DA’s Worthless Checks Unit. For Fiscal Year 2022, Beaman paid $1,200, leaving a balance of $95,312.43.
Harrison County
Mike Ludlow
- Allegedly Embezzled: $6,678.32
- Payments in 2022: none
- Balance owed: $6,678.32
On May 5, 2021, the auditor’s office sent Mike Ludlow, a former maintenance director for the Biloxi Public School District, a formal demand for $6,678.32. Ludlow is suspected of “embezzlement and false representations to defraud the government,” auditing officials said.
On May 3, 2021, Ludlow was indicted on a charge of embezzlement and false representations to defraud the government. The case was turned over to the attorney general on April 19, 2022. For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
Paul Cannette
- Embezzled: $244,819.78
- Payments in 2022: $2,650
- Balance owed: $226,836.28
On Nov. 3, 2017, Cannette, the former chief of police for Biloxi Schools, was indicted on a charge of embezzlement. On Nov. 14, 2017, a formal demand in the amount of $244,819.78 was issued.
On Aug. 23, 2018, Cannette was sentenced to 10 years with 5.5 years suspended, 4.5 years to serve in prison with 5 years post-release supervision. The sentence also required Cannette pay $10,000.00 toward restitution by Aug. 31, 2018.
For Fiscal Year 2022, payments in the amount of $2,650 have been received, leaving a balance of $226,836.28.
William W. “Bill” Walker
- Embezzled: $362,689.14
- Payments in 2022: $72,170.71
- Balance owed: $206,105.14
The auditor’s office issued a formal demand for $362,689.14 to Bill Walker, former executive director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, on Nov. 7, 2013.
On March 10, 2014, Walker pleaded guilty to embezzlement and was sentenced the following June to 5 years in prison, 3 years supervised release, a fine of $125,000, $572,689 in restitution. Of the $572,689, Scott Walker shared the responsibility to repay $210,000.
For Fiscal Year 2022, payments in the amount of $72,170.71 have been received leaving a balance of $206,105.14.
Joseph Ziegler, Jr.
- Involved in the embezzlement of $258,268.75
- Payments in 2022: $12,000
- Balance owed: $158,962.57
Former DMR Chief of Staff Joseph Ziegler, Jr. was issued a formal demand in the amount of $258,268.75 on Nov. 7, 2013.
On Aug. 14, 2014, Ziegler pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of misprision of a felony, which means he was aware of a felony crime committed.
On Nov. 10, 2014, Zeigler was sentenced to serve 90 days of house arrest followed by three years of supervised probation. For fiscal year 2022, payments in the amount of $12,000 have been received, leaving a balance of $158,962.57.
Casey Craven
- Allegedly embezzled: $2,282.19
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance Owed: $2,282.19
The auditor’s office sent Casey Craven, a former Health Department employee, a formal demand for $2,282.19 in misappropriated funds on Dec. 19, 2019.
This case was transmitted to the attorney general on March 22, 2021. For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
Linda Harvey-Irvin and Markuntala Croom
- Restitution for bribery: $531,236
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance Owed: $531,236
Former Gulf Coast Community Action Agency Deputy Director, Linda Harvey-Irvin, and Markuntala Croom, a former vendor to the agency, were ordered to jointly pay $531,236 in restitution.
On Feb. 19, 2015, Irvin pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced the following July to 85 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service. She was ordered to jointly pay $531,236 in restitution with Croom.
Croom also pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. She was also assigned 100 hours of community service.
This case was worked jointly with the FBI. Federal restitution is still owed.
Donald Walton
- Restitution for bribery: $31,000
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance owed: $31,000
A second vendor to the Gulf Coast Community Action Agency also pleaded guilty to bribery. Donald Walton was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. Walton also was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, and a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $31,000, which is the amount he received in the bribery scheme.
This case was worked jointly with the FBI. Federal restitution is still owed.
Courtney Page
- Allegedly embezzled: $3,106.28
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance Owed: $3,106.28
On Aug. 25, 2016, the auditor’s office sent a formal demand in the amount of $3,106.28 to Courtney Page, a former utility cashier for the Gulfport. The misuse of funds case was sent to the attorney general on March 17, 2017. For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
Pam Baker
- Alleged overpayments to staff: $423,801.15
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance owed: $423,801.15
On June 27, 2012, the OSA issued a formal demand for $423,801.15 to Dr. Pam Baker, former director of the South Mississippi Regional Center, for the overpayments she allegedly made to her staff.
The case was sent to the attorney general in 2018 and no payments have been received.
Jackson County
Allan Ladnier
- Allegedly embezzled: $9,296.53
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance owed: $9,296.53
On March 30, 2017, a no true bill was issued. The auditor’s office made a formal demand in the amount of $9,296.53 to Allan Ladnier, a former public employee. The case was sent to the attorney general.
For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
Roger Gibson
- Allegedly embezzled: $3,912.71
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance owed: $3,912.71
Roger Gibson, an employee at Jackson County Emergency Services, was indicted in December 2016 for conspiracy to commit fraud. The auditor’s office issued a formal demand for the missing $3,912.71 in March 2017. Prosecutors decided not to pursue the 2016 indictment, but the auditor sent the case to the attorney general in March 2018.
For fiscal year 2022, no payments have been received.
Cheryl McLeod
- Allegedly embezzled: $1,148.98
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance owed: $1,148.98
Cheryl McLeod, an emergency services employee, was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud and fraud in December, 2016. The auditor’s office issued a formal demand for the missing $1,148.98 in March 2017. On July 19, 2017, prosecutors chose not to pursue the case. The auditor’s sent the case to the attorney general the following March.
For fiscal year 2022, no payments have been received.
Cherie Ward
- Embezzled: $2,970
- Payments in 2022: None
- Balance owed: $1,440
Cherie Ward, a former employee of the sheriff’s office, was indicted on a charge of embezzlement of $2,970 in November 2017. That November, the OSA sent a formal demand for the missing funds. The case was sent to the attorney general in March 2018. The sentence was suspended pending no violation of state or county law for six months, payment of $100 to the Jackson County Circuit Court and payment of restitution to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $1,340.
For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
Linda Smeby
- Embezzled: $9,113.85
- Payments in 2022: $1,100
- Balance owed: $2,413.85
Linda Smeby, a former bookkeeper for the Keys Vocational Center, pleaded guilty to embezzlement and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May 2013. The sentence was suspended and she was ordered to serve five years of probation and pay restitution of $9,113.85 by making payments of $100 per month.
For fiscal year 2022, payments in the amount of $1,100 have been received, leaving a balance of $2,413.85.
PEARL RIVER COUNTY
Michelle McBride
- Embezzled: $82,416.37
- Payments in 2022: $538.50
- Balance owed: $81,877.87
The OSA issued a formal demand to Michelle McBride, a former board member of the Pearl River County Crime Stoppers, for $82,416.37 in March 2021. In March 2022, the case of embezzlement through fraudulent statements and representations was sent to the attorney general. On Aug. 20, 2021, McBride pleaded guilty to embezzlement and fraudulent statements and representations. She was sentenced to 20 years, (18 months house arrest and 18.5 years of post-release supervision).
For Fiscal Year 2022, payments in the amount of $538.50 were received, leaving a balance of $81,877.87.
Darlene Comesana
- Embezzled: $92,394.75
- Payments in 2022:None
- Balance owed: $92,394.75
Darlene Comesana, a former bookkeeper for the Pearl River County School District, pleaded guilty to embezzlement in August, 2009. The court withheld acceptance of the plea for five years and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $40,000.
The OSA issued a formal demand in the amount of $92,394.75 in March 2011 and the case was transmitted to the attorney general the following May.
For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
STONE COUNTY
In September 2021, the OSA issued formal demands to the following former and current county supervisors:
Former Supervisor Scott Strickland, $28,758.53;
Former Supervisor Dale Bond, $36,085.32;
Supervisor Lance Pearson, $29,805.33;
Supervisor Daniel Harris, $24,698.22;
Former Supervisor Clark Byrd, $36,085.32.
For Fiscal Year 2022, no payments have been received.
Jeffrey O’Neal
- Embezzled: $335,353.61
- Payments in 2022: $100,000
- Balance owed: $235,353.61
Former Circuit Clerk Jeffrey O’Neal was indicted on a charge of four counts of embezzlement totaling $335,353.61 in September, 2021. That month, the OSA sent a formal demand for the embezzled funds.
For Fiscal Year 2022, payment in the amount of $100,000 has been received, leaving a balance of $235,353.61.
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
