Texas Women Plead Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery

GULFPORT, MS—Evie Mearlene Herrin, 58, and Amelia Darci Crew, 30, of Cleveland, Texas, pled guilty in U.S. District Court today to armed bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen, and Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford.

Herrin is the mother of Crew. Herrin and Crew pled guilty to robbing the Regions Bank on Highway 49 in Gulfport, Mississippi, by force, violence, and intimidatio, and putting in jeopardy the lives of the employees of the bank by the use of a dangerous weapon. The robbery occurred on March 26, 2012.

Herrin and Crew will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Walter J. Gex III on January 7, 2013. They each face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“We are pleased with the efforts put forth in the joint investigation between the Gulfport Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is evident that this working relationship is a benefit to the Gulfport Community, as made evident by the successful prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office,” said Gulfport Police Chief Weatherford.

This case was investigated by the Gulfport Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan.

FBI Top Stories: Murder and the Dixie Mafia

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the murder of Judge Vincent Sherry and his wife, Margaret, whose deaths at the hands of the so-called Dixie Mafia exposed the lawlessness and corruption that had overtaken Mississippi’s Gulf Coast in the 1980s.

“It was out of control,” said retired Special Agent Keith Bell, referring to the level of corruption in Biloxi and Harrison County—so much so that in 1983 federal authorities would designate the entire Harrison County Sheriff’s Office as a criminal enterprise. Special Agent Royce Hignight initiated the investigation of the sheriff and was soon joined by Bell.

“They were doing anything and everything illegal down here,” said Bell, who grew up on the Gulf Coast. “For money, the sheriff and officers loyal to him would release prisoners from the county jail, safeguard drug shipments, and hide fugitives. Anything you can think of, they were involved in.”

Bell is quick to point out that there were plenty of honest officers on the force, and some would later help the FBI put an end to the culture of corruption in Biloxi. But for a long time, Sheriff Leroy Hobbs and his Dixie Mafia associates held sway.

The Dixie Mafia had no ties to La Cosa Nostra. They were a loose confederation of thugs and crooks who conducted their criminal activity in the Southeastern United States. When word got out that Biloxi—with its history of strip clubs and illicit gambling—was a safe haven, the criminals settled in.

At the same time, members of the organization incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola were running a “lonely hearts” extortion scam with associates on the street. The scam (see sidebar) targeted homosexuals and brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars—money they entrusted to their lawyer, Pete Halat.

But Halat, who would later become mayor of Biloxi, spent the money. When it came time to hand it over to the crooks, he said the cash had been taken by his former law partner, Vincent Sherry. So the mob ordered a hit on Sherry, a sitting state circuit judge who had no direct ties to the criminals. On September 14, 1987, Sherry and his wife were murdered in their home.

“Gulf Coast residents were shocked by the murders,” Bell said. Local authorities worked the case unsuccessfully for two years. The FBI opened an investigation in 1989, and Bell was assisted in the investigation by Capt. Randy Cook of the revamped sheriff’s office—Leroy Hobbs was convicted of racketeering in 1984 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The federal investigation into the Sherry murders lasted eight years. In the final trial in 1997, Pete Halat was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Kirksey McCord Nix—the Dixie Mafia kingpin at Angola who ordered the hits—as well as the hit man who killed the Sherrys each received life sentences.

As a result of the cases, Bell said, “Gulf Coast citizens started demanding more professional law enforcement and better government.” Bell—who wanted to be an FBI agent since he first watched The FBI television series as a child—added, “It meant a lot to me to return to my home and do something about the corruption that had worked its way into government and law enforcement there.” He added, “The majority of citizens realized that if the FBI had not stepped in, the lawlessness and corruption would likely have continued unabated.”

The ‘Lonely Hearts’ Scam

Dixie Mafia inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola were behind a scam that brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ringleader Kirksey McCord Nix—a convicted murderer serving a life sentence without parole—believed that if he raised enough money he could buy his way out of jail.

Here’s how the scam worked: Inmates paid guards to use prison telephones. Then they placed bogus ads in homosexual publications claiming they were gay and looking for a new partner to move in with. The men who replied to the return post office box address got additional correspondence and racy pictures. But there was a catch—the scammers told their victims a variety of lies about why they needed money before they could leave where they were.

“A lot of money came flowing in,” said retired Special Agent Keith Bell. “There were hundreds of victims.” Men from all walks of life—professors, mail carriers, politicians—fell victim to the scam. “One guy in Kansas mortgaged his house and sent $30,000 to the scammers over a period of months,” Bell recalled.

To add insult to injury, some of the inmates writing letters eventually confessed the scam to their victims—and then extorted even more money by threatening to “out” the men if their demands were not met.

Update: Final Fugitive from Narcotics Round-Up Surrenders

On Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Marquis Carl Richmond, aka “Ke Ke,” age 20, from Moss Point, Mississippi, turned himself in to authorities at the Stone County Correctional Facility in Wiggins, Mississippi. Richmond is the last of three individuals wanted by the FBI who remained at large following the August 1, 2012 multi-agency narcotics round-up. Adam Williams was arrested on August 2 in Moss Point, Mississippi, and Steven Brian Hye surrendered to members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on Saturday, August 4. These three individuals all face conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and/or other drug charges

Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, stated, “I appreciate the substantial amount of coverage given to our search for these individuals by the media, and the public’s response to our request for assistance in locating them. Through mutual cooperation, the press, the public, and law enforcement can achieve our common goal—making our communities safer for our families.”

The public is reminded that indictments and arrest warrants contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Holmes County Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Stealing County Funds

JACKSON, MS—Norman Cobbins, 61, of Lexington, Mississippi, a Holmes County supervisor, pled guilty in U.S. District Court today to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen, and Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering.

Cobbins admitted that from March 15, 2007 through December 31, 2007, he carried out a scheme to defraud Holmes County by submitting false invoices and requisitions to the county and converting the money to his own personal use.

“Mr. Cobbins admitted today that instead of lawfully carrying out his duty to serve with integrity, he chose to abuse the public trust,” said United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “The Department of Justice will continue to prosecute those officials who choose to act in their own interest rather than the public’s interest.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen added, “Investigating allegations of public corruption is a top priority for the FBI. The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners continue to identify, investigate and hold accountable those who abuse their positions of trust for personal gain.”

“The taxpayers of Mississippi will not tolerate public officials betraying the public trust, and I am pleased that Norman Cobbins took responsibility for his actions today as he pled guilty in federal court,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “Our agents have worked diligently with the FBI and the Southern District United States Attorney’s Office to bring this case to a conclusion, and I appreciate their effort to ensure justice is served.”

Cobbins will be sentenced on October 26, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing.

Sarasota Man Pleads Guilty to Four Bank Robberies in Federal Court

Michael Joseph Forsythe (49, Sarasota) pled guilty today to four counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison for each of the robberies. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to facts presented in court, on September 7, 2011, at approximately 2:05 p.m., Forsythe entered a branch of TD Bank located at 1852 Ridgewood Avenue in Holly Hill. He displayed what appeared to be a handgun to a teller and demanded money by saying, “Give me all the money in the top and bottom drawer, and I will not harm you.” Forsythe also warned the teller that there “better not be a tracking device.” The teller provided Forsythe with $8,331 and a hidden GPS tracker.

Minutes after the robbery, using the GPS tracker, local law enforcement located Forsythe in a stolen automobile. Officers from the Holly Hill Police Department found the money from TD Bank, a black and silver toy pistol, and a white hooded sweatshirt that matched the description of one worn by the robber. Shortly thereafter, Forsythe provided a full confession for the bank robbery to detectives from the Holly Hill Police Department and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He subsequently admitted to three other identical bank robberies in Georgia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Forsythe added that once he had left behind a demand note during his first bank robbery, he knew that he would eventually be caught because his fingerprints were on that note. Accordingly, he saw no reason to stop robbing banks.

This case was investigated by the Holly Hill Police Department and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

A Champion of Civil Rights: John Doar Awarded the Medal of Freedom

The following post appears courtesy of Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Tom Perez.

Today, former Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division John Doar was awarded the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor bestowed by the President of the United States.  Mr. Doar was one of 13 men and women selected by President Barack Obama to receive the Medal of Freedom, and I, along with Attorney General Eric Holder and Congressman John Lewis, had the privilege of honoring him at the White House ceremony this afternoon.

Mr. Doar served as Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division from 1960 through 1967, and was a legendary public servant and leader of federal efforts to protect and enforce civil rights.  Risking his life to confront the injustices around him, he was instrumental during many major civil rights crises, including singlehandedly preventing a riot in Jackson, Mississippi, following the funeral of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evars in 1963, as well as escorting James Meredith in repeated attempts to register as the first African-American student at the University of Mississippi.

As President Obama described during the ceremony this afternoon:

It was a scorching hot day in 1963, and Mississippi was on the verge of a massacre.  The funeral procession for Medgar Evers had just disbanded, and a group of marchers was throwing rocks at a line of equally defiant and heavily-armed policemen.  And suddenly, a white man in shirtsleeves, hands raised, walked towards the protestors and talked them into going home peacefully.  And that man was John Doar.  He was the face of the Justice Department in the South.  He was proof that the federal government was listening.  And over the years, John escorted James Meredith to the University of Mississippi.  He walked alongside the Selma-to-Montgomery March.  He laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  In the words of John Lewis, “He gave [civil rights workers] a reason not to give up on those in power.”  And he did it by never giving up on them.  And I think it’s fair to say that I might not be here had it not been for his work.

Mr. Doar brought notable civil rights cases, including obtaining convictions for the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi, against difficult odds.  He also led the effort to enforce the right to vote and implement the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Congressman John Lewis, who was beaten violently as a Freedom Rider and a Selma marcher more than 40 years ago, has said, “[John Doar] was our link to the federal government….He gave us a reason not to give up on those in power….People would always say, ‘Call John Doar.  John Doar could reach Bobby Kennedy.’”  Mr. Doar was indeed considered a critical lifeline by civil rights workers in the Deep South.

We were very fortunate to have Mr. Doar as our keynote speaker during the Civil Rights Division’s commemorative event last year as well as at the 50th anniversary event of Robert F. Kennedy’s swearing-in as our nation’s 64th Attorney General.  At age 90, Mr. Doar continues to practice law at Doar Rieck Kaley & Mack in New York.  Mr. Doar remains one of the greatest heroes of the Civil Rights Division and of the struggle to ensure equal rights for all people.  His commitment to protect the core values of liberty and democracy, institutional knowledge, and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement remind us of how truly important our work here is.

Former Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan Honored by the FBI

On Thursday, April 12, 2012, FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen of the Jackson Field Office recognized former Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan for his more than 40 years of service to the citizens of Mississippi and for his support of and contributions to the FBI’s investigative and training efforts in the state of Mississippi.

Sheriff Bryan was honored at a ceremony held during the FBI’s National Academy retrainer in Jackson, Mississippi. Over 60 graduates of the FBI’s National Academy and law enforcement officers from numerous federal, state, and local agencies were in attendance as SAC McMullen presented an engraved plaque to Sheriff Bryan that states:

Presented to Sheriff Dolph Bryan

for His Committed and Dedicated Service

to the Citizens of Mississippi

and His Invaluable Contributions to the FBI.

Sheriff Bryan, who was born and raised in Starkville, Mississippi, began his career as an Oktibbeha County Deputy Sheriff in May 1973. He was elected sheriff of Oktibbeha County in 1976 and served in that position until January 2012. Sheriff Bryan is a graduate of the 178th Session of the National Academy, which ran from July 10 to September 23, 1994. He served as a member of the Executive Board of the FBI’s Mississippi Joint Terrorism Task Force and is the current chairman of the Law Enforcement Coordinating committee under the direction of the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Mississippi.

Reflective of Sheriff Bryan’s commitment to children, he co-chaired the organizing of the state of Mississippi’s Crime Stoppers Program and was instrumental in organizing the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Boys and Girls Ranches for homeless and abused children, and he has served as chairman of its board of directors. Sheriff Bryan also serves on the board of directors of the Palmer Home for Children in Columbus, Mississippi.