Fourth suspect surrenders in bribery case against ex-MS Sen. Philip Moran & son
Two South Mississippi men are now out of jail on bond following their indictments on bribery and conspiracy charges in a scheme to cover up a crime committed by former Diamondhead councilman Alan Moran.
Ian Joseph Schexnayder, 23, of Pearlington, turned himself in Monday morning following his indictment for conspiracy and bribery along with Jeremy Cole Billings, Alan Moran, and his dad, former state Sen. Philip Moran. A Hancock County grand jury indicted all four on felony conspiracy and bribery charges.
Billings surrendered on May 31, records show and is out of jail on bond pending trial.
Philip Moran turned himself in on May 30, and Alan Moran was served on the same day but in the Hancock County jail. The younger Moran has been locked up since a Circuit Court judge first ordered him to serve six months in jail for a probation violation last year.
All four had bonds set at a total of $35,000 for the bribery and conspiracy charges.
However, the younger Moran remains jailed after serving six months for a probation violation against him after his arrest for stalking a teen in Waveland last year.
A state probation officer last week petitioned the court to revoke Alan Moran’s probation on his prior convictions for misdemeanor contributing to a minor and felony child exploitation.
The Morans’ arrests in the bribery case came six months after Waveland police first arrested Billings and Schexnayder for bribing a witness in a stalking case against Alan Moran, a former Diamondhead councilman. Police believe the teens acted at the direction of the Morans.
Waveland police worked with FBI agents to identify the Morans as being involved in an offer to pay $20,000 to a teen employee at Lowe’s to drop his stalking case against Alan Moran.
Billings and Schexnayder allegedly acted at the direction of the Morans to bribe the stalking victim to get him to drop the misdemeanor charge against Alan Moran. A Waveland judge later found Moran guilty of the stalking offense, though he’s appealing the ruling.
Alan Moran is scheduled for a revocation hearing later this month before Judge Christopher Schmidt.
The judge will ultimately decide how much time he will order Alan Moran to serve for violating the terms of his probation for prior convictions of stalking and felony child exploitation.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 10:49 AM.
