Executive director of Gulf Coast shrimp group arrested for stealing millions, police say
A once-prominent academic from Biloxi was arrested on a felony embezzlement charge for allegedly stealing $3 million over six years from the American Shrimp Processing Association, Biloxi police said.
Charles David Veal, 79, was taken into custody late Thursday.
Veal had served as executive director of the nonprofit group. He is accused of stealing the money and converting it to his use beginning in 2016 and ending in 2022, a release said.
Veal worked for 35 years at Mississippi State University, co-authoring research papers on water quality, oysters, aquaculture and other topics. He retired in 2005 as executive director of the MSU’s Coastal Research and Extension Center. While at MSU, Veal also served as director of the Sea Grant Advisory Service.
After he retired from MSU, Veal went to work at ASPA.
The ASPA was formed in 1964 in Biloxi to represent and promote the interests of the domestic, U.S. wild-caught, warm water shrimp processing industry along the Gulf and South Atlantic. The association has members from from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.
The alleged embezzlement came to light after Veal was terminated and his computer was seized, according to ASPA.
Biloxi police are heading up the investigation.
After the arrest, Veal was taken to the Harrison County jail.
Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain signed the warrant for Veal’s arrest.
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 7:57 AM.
