A company that was a prime beneficiary of MDOC's no-bid contract policy under Chris Epps also landed a lucrative contract with Harrison County for providing medical services to its inmates. MDOC paid Health Assurance, LLC more than $49 million for medical services to MDOC prisons from 2003 to 2014 while Harrison paid more than $14 million. Incredibly, the dates of the payments coincide with dates cited by prosecutors for when now-deceased Harrison County Supervisor William Martin accepted bribes in his indictment.
Health Assurance, LLC is owned by physicians Carl and Michael Reddix and is located on Ridgewood Road in Jackson. It was formed in 2001. The registered agent is attorney Charlene Priester although Judge Melvin Priester served in that capacity in previous years. All members of the black power structure in Mississippi. The company has provided medical services to correctional facilities throughout Mississippi .*
Seethespending.org records state that MDOC made payments from 2003 until 2014**. This page from the current contract for the Wilkinson County facility shows how Health Assurance was able to obtain "sole-source" contracts and thus avoid bidding requirements under state law:
MDOC paid the company over $49 million dollars according to see the spending:
However, the Reddix brothers did not stop at state contracts but pursued county business from the Gulf Coast to the Gold Coast.
Harrison County awarded a contract to Health Assurance, LLC in 2004 for the provision of medical services at county correctional facilities. See page 92 of the minutes.
Supervisor Martin seconded the motion to award the contract to the company and usually seconded motions whenenever the motions where favorable to Health Assurance. Mr. Martin was the only black member of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors. Seethespending.org records state that Harrison County paid Health Assurance, LLC over $14.6 million from 2005 to 2012 for services provided to the county jail and youth detention center.
Harrison County paid Health Assurance the following amounts of money each year:
FY 2012: $2.0 million
FY 2011: $2.4 million
FY 2010: $1.9 million
FY 2009: $1.9 million
FY 2008: $1.9 million
FY 2007: $1.5 million
FY 2006: $1.2 million
FY 2005: $1.7 million
FY 2004: $0.0
The county terminated the contract in July 2012.
The Martin indictment states:
That from on or about January 2005 through on or about August 2012, in Harrison County, in the Southern Division of the Southern District of Mississippi and elsewhere, that the defendant, William Martin, did corruptly solicit, demand, accept, and agree to accept multiple things of value from a person, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a transaction and series of transactions of Harrison County, involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more.This time period just happens to be the exact same time period when Harrison County made payments to Health Assurance financial. Sources on the Gulf Coast told JJ that State Auditor representatives copied records regarding medical contracts for Harrison County as well as travel and other records for Mr. Martin.
Kingfish note: Priesters? In fact, Junior bragged about representing Health Assurance on his campaign Facebook page:
*Good story by Jerry Mitchell in December 2014 on relationship and controversy between Health Assurance and MDOC.
**Current data is not available.
38 comments:
I believe they were in Rankin County too.
Page 1
February 7, 2011
MINUTES
BE IT remembered that on the 7th day of February 2010, at 9:00 A.M., the Board
of Supervisors of Hinds County met in the
"Reddix Group’s Attorney Melvin Priester, Jr. stated that changes to the terms
agreed upon last week would require the reopening of negotiations. Supervisor Calhoun
requested that the Board advertise for Requests for Proposals for Inmate Medical
Services. Supervisor Graham agreed that we should request proposals; however, we
cannot do this now and potentially loose services. There was additional discussion on
this matter. Document affixed hereto and incorporated herein."
http://www.co.hinds.ms.us/pgs/boardminutes/docs/February%207%202011.pdf
There was a filing at the Secretary of State website on December 31 2014 by Health Assurance L.L.C. to remove a Melvin Priester as a Current Party On Record.
The filing to change Health Assurance L.L.C. registered agent from Melvin Priester to E Charlene Stimley Priester Esq was dated June 6, 2013.
Does this indiacate something?
Got anything on which to base your speculation regarding the Priesters and the supposed bribery scheme involving Martin? Or is this another round of your favorite game "Six Degrees of Bennie Thompson?"
The Priesters are good people. Not fair to lump a crook's attorney in with a crook.
Very few people would be surprised to learn that Graham was dirty.
I merely pointed out who the company's attorney's were. Given the political nature of this story, that is important. Don't like it? Not my problem.
Company docs state in 2001 that Melvin Priester was the registered agent. Given that Junior had not passed the bar at that time, I think we can say it is Senior. He probably had to divest himself of that client when he became a judge, hence the change. Completely above board and ethical thing to do.
Eichelberger posts here all the time anonymously.
Save your uncertainty for a court of law, Matt. In the court of public opinion (i.e. the real world), the rules of evidence don't apply. In fact, they're irrelevant. Bennie and the Priesters are thick as thieves (see what I did there?), though it may be that only non-lawyers have the clarity to recognize it. Shalom.
Rankin County Sheriff terminated Health Assurance in April 2013.
>>> He probably had to divest himself of that client when he became a judge, hence the change.<<<
Wasn't Judge Priester sworn in January 2011?
The registered agent change wasn't made until June 6, 2013.
So what is Reddix still doing out of jail?
Looks like Matt is trying to intimidate you Kingfish. Considering events of late he must be worried that other Democrats are likely to get exposed by your connecting-of-the-dots.
well lets get the teabaggers stirred up. carl riddix is an abortionist. look it up.
No, Matt is not.
@9:27
This teabagger actually likes abortion. It helps keep the numbers of the democrats in check, at least a little bit.
Or is this another round of your favorite game "Six Degrees of Bennie Thompson?"
That's creepy......
Considering all the conspiracy theories thrown out by Ryan Brown on Cottonmouth.... Its ironic.
Another entity providing services to the Mississippi DOC is "Medical Assurance of America, LLC."
Name History
Name Medical Assurance of America, LLC
Business Information
Business Type: Limited Liability Company
Business ID: 930642
Status: Good Standing
Effective Date: 04/17/2008
State of Incorporation: Mississippi
Principal Office Address: 5903 RIDGEWOOD ROAD, SUITE 320
JACKSON, MS 39211
Registered Agent
Name
Priester, Melvin V
820 North Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Officers & Directors
Name Melvin V. Priester
820 North Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Title Other
Carl Reddix
5903 RIDGEWOOD ROAD SUITE 320
JACKSKON, MS 39211
Member
Michael Reddix
5903 RIDGEWOOD ROAD SUITE 320
JACKSON, MS 39211
Manager
"Technical Violation Center Program
TVC programs are offered at MSP, CMCF and SMCI.
Technical Violation Center- Contractual Offender Treatment Services for Probationers and Parolees provided by Medical Assurance of America, LLC. The contractual providers supports the operation of technical violators program for the purpose of providing a stable environment for violators while providing programming and supportive services.
Scope of Services Provided:
· Cognitive Behavior Programming
· Substance Abuse Treatment
· Mental Health Services
Educational/Vocational Services
Employment Assistance "
http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/TechnicalViolationCenter.htm
Y'all never disappoint.
No, 9:17, I don't post here anonymously. My name is right next to my comment, just as the author's names on Cottonmouth are on each post.
9:20, I've always found it funny when someone thinks I'm Jewish, because it displays such a unique bigotry. Any run-of-the-mill conservative can hate black people, but it takes a special kind of jackass to hate Jews. By the way, I'm Methodist.
9:24, I'm not trying to intimidate Kingfish. I am pointing out that this is quite a stretch.
Kingfish at 9:45, so long as you admit this is a conspiracy theory, I'm good with that.
All, I've got work to do. Please keep the comments coming, though.
Matt, its ok. This is not 1914 anymore in Mississippi. You can admit to being Jewish now. Its ok to be proud of it. Hell, this is a pro-Israel website.
"Any run-of-the-mill conservative can hate black people, but it takes a special kind of jackass to hate Jews. "
Any run-of-the-mill liberal can hate black people too - why do you think they support so strongly programs that have destroyed black families?
It isn't 1914 in Mississippi anymore? That will be news to a good number of the folks who comment here.
I assume you condemn the Uncle Tom of the Year awards given out on WMPR on Friday nights.
1914 Mississippi - the black community at least had family structure.
just saying
BS Eichelberger. You've been caught before.
Eichelberger is a German name, you nitwits.
https://www.houseofnames.com/eichelberger-family-crest
http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=eichelberger
Anonymous said...
Eichelberger is a German name, you nitwits.
So is Einstein.
What's your point?
I wonder if the Reddix brothers are packing up for a vacation south of the border yet. If I were them I'd would have left as soon as Epps was arrested.
How are they not arrested? Whose incompetence is to blame for them still being free? Or are they just bribing all the right people?
So, if one concludes a sentence with 'shalom', he is accusing others of being Jews? What paranoia.
According to Stacey Pickering's latest news release looks like somebody will be consuming some crowBergers tonight with a little side of sauerkraut of course. William Martin was a target for his involvement with the BOP-Epps scandal.
While that may be true, 5:17, the initial warrant was issued when he failed to appear as required by probation.
The road to Bennie Thompson has now been cleared of the delta land mines.
Matt, I'm still waiting for your answer. You DO condemn those Uncle Tom of the Year awards, right?
Oh and Matt, I'd say the suicide proved the existence of a scheme as you put it.
Ok, Matt, what do you say now? Care to retract?
Come on Matt, no comment?
This is probably the post that erased what little respect I had for all media in Mississippi. The entire post was based on public records that were available online for free. His suicide was a huge story on the coast and it tied into the Epps scandal. None of the media reported on the corruption aspect until a year later when they got a nice press release that spoon fed them everything. What jokes they are. If they had any work ethic whatsoever, they could have perused the public records that were posted on this site and written their own version without giving me any credit. However, even something that simple is too much for them.
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