4:00 PM update: U.S. Magistrate Keith Ball set a $10,000 unsecured bond for Dr. Reddix. Dr. Reddix was represented by attorney Lisa Ross. He admitted to the court that he is currently undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse.
The U.S. Attorney's office issued the following press release:
MISSISSIPPI DOCTOR CHARGED WITH BRIBERY OF FORMER CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER
Jackson, Miss – Dr. Carl Reddix, 57, of Jackson, was charged today with paying bribes and kickbacks to former Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) Commissioner Christopher B. Epps in exchange for receiving contracts involving the MDOC and its operations, announced Acting United States Attorney Harold Brittain and FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Donald Alway.
Dr. Reddix was charged in a seven count indictment returned by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and with six counts of bribery. According to the indictment returned against Reddix, starting in 2012 and continuing until October, 2014, Dr. Reddix gave Epps bribes and kickbacks in exchange for the awarding and retention of MDOC contracts for Dr. Reddix’s company, Health Assurance, LLC to provide inmate health care services at four facilities: Walnut Grove Correctional Facility; East Mississippi Correctional Facility; Marshall County Correctional Facility; and, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility. The contracts were valued at over $29,000,000.
The indictment also alleges that Dr. Reddix made cash payments to Epps ranging from $8,000 to 9,500 per month from May through October of 2014.
“This indictment alleges a pattern of fraud and deceit based on greed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain. “Corrupt individuals who place the integrity of government contracts at risk will be held accountable for their actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to root out public corruption at all levels and to restore the public trust.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway applauded the investigators and prosecutors, whose hard work and determined efforts revealed these additional participants in this conspiracy of public corruption and led to the charges announced today. “Individuals and companies who do business with the government are held to a high standard of accountability,” said Alway. “When these individuals decide to use the government to supplement themselves at the public’s expense, they can expect the FBI to come knocking to hold them accountable. The FBI in Mississippi will continue to work alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those that criminally exploit the government.”
Dr. Reddix is scheduled to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball today at 2:00 p.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine for the conspiracy count, and a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine for each of the bribery counts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Darren LaMarca, Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Lemon, and financial analyst Kim Mitchell.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Kingfish note: Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham tried to bring Reddix back on board in providing medical services to Hinds County inmates last November. Earlier post.
JJ reported last year that Dr. Reddix's company was involved in an illegal kickback scheme in Harrison County with one Supervisor who committed suicide after he was indicted. February 27, 2015 post.
40 comments:
Epps is singing like a bird. Apparently, he is in no hurry in going to the big house.
Do ya think he can work as a prison doctor in any way?
I'm going to Sam's Club and buying me some popcorn in bulk so I can sit back and enjoy watching all this drama play out.
Glad to see that Sup. Graham was able to get a starring role as an actor in this feature event.
Sad that it takes the FBI to police Mississippi government. Pickering is too busy spending his 'contributions'. Besides, he does not want Feel to look bad.
Who else is going down?
So who are the other nine to be indicted Monday?
Wonder what the comments will be once some republican politicians are announced as part of the indictments....
I'm asking b/c I have no idea....but $ 29,000,000.00!!!! Are all of his accounts and assets seized and turned over to the state as recovery of damages caused?
I can't help but think the FBI may need a bigger office and more agents to stop the corruption that is MS / Hinds Co. / Jackson politics and pandering
This indictment does not even get into all of the county jail contracts that were purchased by Reddix and his co-conspirators. I sure hope Epps has told the FEDS about the paper products contract given to a very prominent person(in his own mind).Maybe those who interacted with Epps to lobby for this contract will also be exposed.The more they squeeze the Charmin the more people will be available to be squeezed.This could go on for years and could require many more trips to Sams.
Looks like Epps is singing but doing so very, very slowly.
Wait til Reddix starts talking.....
this is about to get interesting
It won't be long and the Epps case and the DA case will cross paths. Playing with the same crowd. Doesn't Hinds have a phone contract? Will be interesting who else Reddick sings on.
Wonder who paid for Robert Graham to go to Australia, wonder how he got paid for doing a conference as well... Hmm double dipping I think.
Don't think this has anything to do with Epps "singing", although he certainly offered to sing from the very first day they walked into his office. But understand that what he offered, they already had.
He is still trying to help himself out with anyway he can - and is willing to sell anyone he can for a day or two off his eventual sentence. But Reddix was a done deal a long time ago - and I figure several of the ones to come in the next few days were also.
I'm wanting to see some new names come out this week - some that aren't on the general betting list.
Dang, these two brothers were balling and on a runaway freight train to a Federal Facility near you! This shigity would make a damn good movie. Robert S Smith would play the FBI and Von Johnson the prosecuting Attorney and the conclusion $$$$$$$$ will make this go away. No Bill/Indictment. Is this a dream, I can't wake up!
Enjoy your popcorn because the other names are going to be very interesting. KF has the list and refuse to expose it. Good move but make sure you break it first, because you are usually good about putting out accurate information.
Carl Reddix isn't qualified to operate on a dog. He was so busy trying to impress and be seen at Annandale Golf Course.
I suppose his drinking problem started about the time Epps was busted.
3:43 - You really are an idiot if you think KF has the list of other names that are going to be indicted. Many, many folks have a good guess, but if anybody other the the various investigators actually have the list I'll kiss your ass at noontime at the place of your choosing.
While I am sure that KF has talked with many of these folks that have guesses and he has his own, you are way too deep in the koolaid if you really believe what you write.
Alcohol abuse?! Did he report this to the state medical board? Does he still have a license to practice in MS?
I wish I did but I don't although I have some ideas.
I have in the past in some cases but not this one.
I am sure this will trigger the Medical Board when he openly said he was in treatment for alcohol abuse. This malady usually is long standing when people seek treatment. I don't believe it should exempt him from anything. Surprised at the non-secured low bond.
I can tell you for dead-ass certain that no employee (or other person) can scramble and get himself admitted to treatment in order to escape termination or prosecution for drug use. Claiming addiction is no defense unless the person has requested assistance early on.....this ain't happened.
If the employee or 'other person' comes forward early and admits an addiction, that's one thing. This bullshit is......................bullshit.
Well, his name was mentioned a few months ago. Maybe he had time to get admitted to treatment before the hammer fell.
29 million dollars and he hired Lisa Ross as his criminal defense attorney?
He was a Past President of the local Boy Scout Council and last years Eagle Scout Class was named after him. Birds of a feather!
Yeah, I would wager that his alcohol consumption increased greatly starting around October 2014
John Ray Grisham, Jr needs to write a bestseller about this Mississippi debacle. The title could be Mississippi Implodes.
Josh is selling his airplane. Pretty good deal for an old Cirrus 20.
With $29 million, I was surprised to see the no-name female attorney on tv who excelled at studdering. My money was on Dennis Sweet.
Well Epps can't bragg about his money now
Yazoo County supervisors were awful tight with him.
There has been a black mafia in place in this town that has acted like race will keep them above the law. I am glad to see them all falling down one by one.
The fact that an Eagle Scout class was named after Reddix shows just how much of a joke our local Boy Scout council has become. Everyone knew he was crooked by that time. It was discussed at the BSA. But the powers that be at the BSA turned a blind eye simply because of the large donations he was making.
1:34 FBI SCHMEF-BI Do you really think they give a hoot?
10:15,Wonder why Josh is selling the plane? It does have custom parachutes which are helpful if you get in trouble. With all that is supposed to be revealed on Monday it will be a long flight home from Cleveland for some.
@11:17, how could Reddix hire Dennis Sweet to represent him when Dennis Sweet was in on this as well? I know this to be true because I work at MDOC.
For you who don't know, Lisa Ross is a kick-ass attorney. If I'm not mistaken, she has been sworn in to try cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. She's quite interesting and fun to watch in court.
Dr Carl Reddix is a wonderful caring dr. I worked beside him for several years . I seen a many of uninsured women whom he seen and treated because he is a good person, and they needed prenatal and obgyn care . Most of these people were well below poverty level and be treated them with the same respect as his high society women . He never once asked them to pay for services . I hardly doubt someone who was as smart or wealthy as him _; being a Harvard Grad and John Hopkins Grad would even stoop down to the level of what he is accused of .
KB
2:45, it is very easy to be generous when you have $29,000,000 you got through bribing someone. Then again maybe he was drunk and didn't realize he didn't charge the people.
I went to shool with both Michael and Carl at Tougaloo College. Michael was my classmate and I had the highest respet for him. He was a gentleman and a sholar. They both worked hard and became highly successful. My prayers are with them both. Their company did not get anything free. They still had to work for it. Epps was getting all the free money by taking advantage of his position by minipulation. We all make mistakes.
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