Jackson Jambalaya

Allen feeds at one of the many troughs of unwatched money that exist here in Mississippi. In addition to DJP, these would include the campaign accounts of most statewide and legislative elected officials, the funds received by recipients of noncompetitive contracts (see McCrory and Epps), and the Jackson Public School district (a huge gravy train for the connected). On a more local level, it includes the funds collected these neighborhood associations that are mandatory in some neighborhoods, and also the funds collected by water associations in rural areas. These are largely unwatched sources of grey area money which is used to benefit officials, lobbyists, Jackson law firms, consultants, cronies, and the relatives of those people. The very impotent Open Records laws here in MS help protect the feeders at the gravy trains.

Are the Frazier's out of jail yet??

A 1988 Silverado? Really?

11:46, do you think a person who will steal a pickup will not steal other things? It is car theft.

Can someone provide an overview of what is going on here for those of us who have not been following this and are not familiar with Allen.

Just re-read the 2014 article and must say some of these, while sounding bad, appear to me to be legit. The City of Jackson cannot entertain potential businesses and I believe DJP can and should. The Incubator was a great idea and would have promoted more downtown businesses. We used to have one on Highway 80, but I am not sure who promoted it. I have seen the videos that are shown to those interested in relocating to Jackson and I have probably sat on one of the expensive bar stools. Know I have attended meetings and partaken of Cokes and bottled water that were probably purchased at Sam's when it was in Jackson. Many of these functions should have been provided by the Chamber, but they went metro and forgot about Jackson until after DJP was authorized. The Chamber even took away Leadership Jackson and made it Greater Jackson although the outlying counties have their own leadership programs. If we didn't have DJP, the City would be in worse shape. Good grief. Plus, I love the flowers downtown and the ambassadors.

@12:07, is it theft if you save $1,600. for DJP and assume liability? Sounds more like mercy. Who actually was in charge of this investigation is what I would like to know? Is this more Pickering? You know, the guy who lives at the state park?

Really sad, if true. Ben Allen is one of the city's best promoters and business developers. Downtown Jackson Partners is one of the best things going for downtown.

I can't think of a single proactive thing to market and the city that didn't come from DJP.

I have noticed he is acting very strange as of late and always was outgoing and friendly to all of his neighbors until a month or so ago. Seems depressed or worried. Now I know why.

I'm reminded of the many times I have wished that Jerry Mitchell would put more of his energy into current issues such as this. He's a great investigative reporter.

@11:43 I haven't spotted the Fraziers at Barnettes so I assume they are still incarcerated...heaven forbid they stopped coloring

The key to all this is these are tax dollars that are paid to DJP. People have to pay these money and it not a free decision. Many nonprofits earn their money through contracts grants or get donations which are voluntary. When a nonprofit get a direct tax it must do business according to the rules of a public agency. Who has been auditing this organization all there years. In addition to Ben, the board of directors failed and is at fault.With just a fair system of internal controls this can not happen. Wonder what type of Officers and Directors coverage there is.

1:37, is that the same as the car thieves in Jackson? They are saving people the cost of tags and insurance. Should they be commended for saving people money or arrested?
He is just a thieving thug that lets other defend his theft. Doesn't say much for your morals either.

Hard to believe this Board would not require oversight of the monies received and spent. But let's wait until all facts are know and proven.

I am a Downtown Jackson property owner and probably never would have invested in my property if it were not for DJP. They work tirelessly on improving our community. The property owners formed a business improvement district and vote for a self-assessment to fund the non-profit organization. There is no cost to the outside community. DJP funds The Block by Block Ambassadors that patrol Downtown, along with security, trash pick-up, and beautification. There are no city or state funds involved. Anyone who has ever had any dealings with Ben Allen, know that he is squeaky clean. This is some sort of sick game being played by the District Attorney.

@ March 9, 2016 at 11:36 AM

With all due respect, Allen has made plenty of money running a private business - probably a lot more than you! But, running a non-profit is different and that may have led to some of these indiscretions. Until I see 1000's upon 1000's of dollars coming into play, I'll stick to innocent until proven guilty on this one.

The crackpot racist element of the Jackson City Council and their friends in the peanut gallery (Enoch Sanders et al.) have always had a weird obsession with, and hatred for, Downtown Jackson Partners and Ben Allen. They cannot tolerate the notion that business owners (meaning, white people) have formed an organization to improve conditions and provide security which is not answerable to black politicians.

Sad to see Shuler-Smith aligning with that crew of miscreants. Any port in a storm, I guess.

Gee, I would have thought the damn Prophet would have seen this coming, wouldn't you?

Ben Allen is a nice guy. He coached my son's soccer team. Susie is a nice woman. They have plenty of money. I am certain this is just someone who has it out for Ben.

Glad this thug is off the streets.

This is sad to see. I met Ben in church choir when I moved to Jackson more than 20 years ago. Nice guy.

But this is bad, and I bet there is testimony of cooperating witnesses, and not just documents.

It's bittersweet to see the seminar posters here defending him & DJB.

I bet he pleads to something to avoid jail.

And I think it would be false pretenses, not car theft per se.

Not very neighborly of you 1:47. You didn't reach out when you noticed something wrong. Now you assume the worst. Shame.

The truck will stick with him, and my bet is he pleads to one count on the truck with no jail time and restitution. The other charges can be argued all day long and odds are a Hinds jury wouldn't understand them. Changing title on a vehicle is simple. If it was given to him by DJP, then the repairs were wrong. Either way, no way out of the truck. Hate to see it because it will fuel the continued hatred of some. Bad for Jackson. Ben's done a good job, just made a mistake.

7:13 --

I hope you're right. And no, a Jackson jury wouldn't understand the complex (to them) elements of various white-collar crimes.

Sadly, the only thing they'll need to understand is that the defendant is a rich white man.

4:15, these are taxes because they are collected under the authority of a State law and must be treated as public funds like it or not. If all these property owners did not want public oversight should have not used this State law to create DJP. Could have set up a private non-profit 501-c-3 type corp. and provided voluntary funding each year. But rather the founders used a taxing method so now the money is public and must be treated that way.

The other charges can be argued all day long and odds are a Hinds jury wouldn't understand them.

Who said there has to be a jury?

Ben, by his own mouth had stated, he not a detail person but someone has to be when spending tax dollars. I bet no big money missing but not the type of public accountability normally required. Just a little white collar free spending of some else money that is common in business.

Is this the same ADA or do all the ADA's sign "W"?

Is W like making your mark by using an X?

With plenty of time on hand to follow this story, I'm wondering why people are trying to put Ben Allen up on a pedestal. This is so transparent and everyone knows there Is evidence of wrong doing and he is going down like Monica Lewinsky!