Friday, October 30, 2015

Who is the "attorney in Jackson" mentioned in the Watts case?

The  legal world rocked yesterday upon the news that Texas superlawyer Mikal Watts was indicted in Gulfport by a federal grand jury for allegedly trying to defraud the BP Oil Spill settlement.  Mr. Watts is one of the leading plaintiff's lawyers in America.  He was indicted on 95 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, and identity fraud. The indictment states the "attorney in Jackson" was used for wire transfers. However, the "attorney in Jackson" was not indicted.  The indictment states he was involved in the case as Watts would wire large sums of money to his escrow account and then he would wire the money to co-defendant Gregory Warren.  The indictment specifies that 29 transactions were made in 2010*:




1. $100,000 on May 3 from Watts
2. $98,973 to Gregory Warren at IP Development, LLC on May 4
3. $125,000 from Watts on May 7
4. $123,973 to Warren on May 7
5. $150,000 from Watts on May 19
6. $148,988 to Warren on May 20
7. $500,000 from Watts on May 24
8. $498,958 to Warren on May 25
9.  $500,000 from Watts on June 1
10. $1,841,250 from Watts on June 2
11. $2,340,211 to Warren on June 2
12. $680,000 from Watts on June 10
13. $678,973 to Warren on June 11
14. $820,000 from Watts on June 22
15. $818,973 to Warren on June 24
16. $750,000 from Watts on June 25
17.  $748,973 to Warren on June 30
18. $750,000 from Watts on July 13
19. $748,973 to Warren on July 14
20. $1,250,000 from Watts on July 20
21. $1,248,976 to Warren on July 21
22. $1,250,000 from Watts on August 4
23.  $1,248,976 to Warren on August 5
24. $1,230,000 from Watts on August 13
25. $1227,979 to Warren on August 20
26. $500,000 from Watts on November 9
27. $498,988 to Warren on November 15
28. $250,000 from Watts on December 3
29. $748,973 to Warren on December 6



The indictment states (p.47)

It was part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that defendant Mikal C. Watts would pay defendants Gregory P. Warren... and Thi Houng Le... through an attorney in Jackson in excess of $10 million to obtain names and personal identifiers for persons to be used as clients in litigation against BP and others relating to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. 

The indictment states on page 35:

 On or about June 20, 2012, Attorney #1 sent an email with the subject line MW:BP (LA BAR)" to defendants Mikal C. Watts, David Watts, and Attorney #2 stating "Mikal, NOLA PI (RW) has met with both of them; BR has met w/NN; and, I have spoken (over the phone) w/HC.  But as I understand it, neither P claims to recall engaging WGC; and neither P claims to have worked in the seafood industry at the time of the spill. 'Yes, I would deploy the Anders' team today.  We need thoughtful, authenticate affidavits; this week.  To mitigate the risk of a grass fire. Danger, danger." 


Anders Ferrington is the only lawyer in the Mississippi Bar directory who has that first name.  Mr. Ferrington told JJ "No comment" when asked if he was the "Anders" mentioned in the indictment.  Mr. Ferrington used to work at the Eaves Law firm:


Kingfish note: This begs the next question: Is there a connection between John Arthur Eaves, Jr.'s firm and the Mikal Watts indictment?

*I took the libery of color-coding transactions that took place almost immediately and involved nearly the same amounts of money.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

More is just never enough for these types. Guess his fraud will hold up distribution to many who need it.

Anonymous said...

Likely cut a deal and will testify against Watts.

Anonymous said...

Couple of odd things here. It would shock me if Anders even had the brains to wire money. Someone must have told him how to do it. Also, Anders doesn't have a team. He is a nice guy, but this whole scheme is well above his skill set.

Trust Me. I know 2:19. said...

2:19; You've been wrong before. You will remember. Like the last time you posted here.

Anonymous said...

Just throwing this out there... There's a lawyer with the LAST name Anders in the MS Bar directory. According to the directory he works at the Secretary of State's office.

Anonymous said...

Needless to say, the whole thing sounds shady. Why would Watts need to send the money through a 3rd party unless he's hiding improper (whether illegal or unethical) conduct ? Otherwise, he could have just paid these people directly from his own firm account. Sounds like he was unethically soliciting cases via a 3rd party "case runner". Even if the "Jackson atty" didn't engage in the filing of fraudulent claims himself or herself, which arguably he/she may have participated in by wiring money as a part of the scheme, it looks like he/she knew or should have known he/she was assisting in improper solicitation, or why else was he/she needed for these wire transfers.

Also, even assuming the US Atty decided not to pursue criminal charges against this "Jackson atty", every atty in the state of MS, including the US Atty, has the ethical duty to report another atty's unethical conduct to the MS Bar Association.

Anonymous said...

The fact that Anders answers "no comment" indicates some suspicion. I can assure you if they approached me and I was innocent, I would have a lot of comments.

Anonymous said...

Does he pronounce his name like "Michael" or like "pickle"?

Anonymous said...

There were plenty of case runners all along the Gulf following the DW Horizon, many working for their typical employers here in Jackson along State Street and others working for Coast and NOLA firms. One notable runner (experienced from all his work around hometown area in SW MS) had 'subrunners' working out of his condo - the one his Jackson wife didn't know he had - and had thousands of cases all while he was trying to scam the state out of oil cleanup operations.

My bet - there are several lawyers that are now pronouncing their names like "pickle" because their A%%hole has tightened up as if they had inserted several sour ones.

Anonymous said...

"Trust Me. I know 2:19. said...
2:19; You've been wrong before. You will remember. Like the last time you posted here.

October 30, 2015 at 2:30 PM"

Now this is funny. Either you are commenting on something someone/anyone posted at 2:30 PM on sone day, or you have magic psychic abilities that let you discern the identity of posters named "Anonymous".

You need to remember - it's one blue pill and two red pills every day.

Anonymous said...

Ho hum. KF is really trying to push the conversation to this topic. What is this...four posts in the last 24 hours?

Must be running out of Bert Case updates and Bloom County strips.

Anonymous said...

How come Mike Hurst ain't in the middle of this prosecution? This would have been his ticket to winning although this might have been a little above his skill set- Better to stick with prosecuting greedy police chiefs-

Anonymous said...

Shane?

Anonymous said...

I'd bet Junior, from his office across from the Old Capitol.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.