Ex-MS senator’s wife excused from jury pool ahead of this week’s bribery trial
The bribery and conspiracy trial of former Mississippi state Sen. Philip Moran and his son, former Diamondhead City Councilman and convicted sex offender Alan Moran, is set to begin Tuesday in Hancock County Circuit Court.
So far, Circuit Court Judge Christopher Schmidt has excused one person summoned for jury duty this week: Philip Moran’s wife, Shelia Moran. At least 15 people have been subpoenaed to testify, including co-defendants Ian Schexnayder and Jeremy Billings, who have both pleaded guilty to their roles in the case.
Other witnesses include Waveland Municipal Judge P.J. Mauffray; Waveland Court Clerk Rhonda Cummings; and Charles H. Johnson, Billings’ attorney; investigators and others.
Prosecutors allege Philip Moran, Alan Moran and their two co-defendants attempted to bribe a 19-year-old Lowe’s employee to persuade him to drop a stalking charge against Alan Moran.
A Waveland judge later convicted Alan Moran of stalking. According to prosecutors, the victim reported being offered $20,000 in exchange for dropping the charge.
Philip Moran has been jailed without bond since March after a judge found he violated the conditions of his house arrest.
He admitted attending Lenten fish fries, shopping at Dollar General, dining out with his wife and visiting a friend’s house to request a favor.
Alan Moran is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for child exploitation.
Attorney H.H. “Tracy” Klein represents Philip Moran, while attorney Donald Rafferty represents Alan Moran.
Orchestrating a bribe to cover up a crime
Prosecutors allege the Morans devised and directed the scheme to cover up the stalking offense involving Alan Moran.
The bribery investigation began in December 2024 after the stalking victim reported to Waveland police that two men on motorcycles approached him in the Lowe’s parking lot and offered him $20,000 to drop the stalking charge against Alan Moran.
The victim rejected the offer and reported the alleged bribe to police.
.Waveland police and FBI task force agents launched an investigation and later obtained Lowe’s surveillance video showing the encounter. Investigators also interviewed witnesses at the store.
After reviewing the footage and other evidence, authorities identified the two men as Jeremy Billings and Ian Schexnayder. Prosecutors allege the pair rode motorcycles to Lowe’s and then offered the bribe to the stalking victim outside the store on behalf of the Morans.
Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Burrell and Chris Daniel are prosecuting the case.
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$5,000 upfront and $15,000 later
According to prosecutors, the bribery scheme began when Alan Moran summoned Jeremy Billings to the family’s business in Kiln and asked him to offer money to the stalking victim in exchange for dropping the charge. Prosecutors allege Philip Moran was present and heard the discussion.
In exchange for carrying out the scheme, Billings said the Morans offered to pay off a truck loan.
Prosecutors allege the Morans supplied the cash and instructed Billings to offer the victim $5,000 upfront and an additional $15,000 after the stalking charge was dismissed.
Billings then recruited Ian Schexnayder to help carry out the plan, according to prosecutors
Authorities later learned that the same day the stalking victim accused Moran of stalking him, Philip Moran took out a $30,000 cash loan on a CD at Keesler Federal Credit Union in Diamondhead.
In video footage of the transaction, an investigator said the elder Moran is seen receiving the cash in three bundles, each wrapped in a $10,000 bank band, the investigator said.
