Jackson physician Carl Reddix pleaded guilty to one count of bribing Chris Epps when he was MDOC Commissioner. It was quite a fall for the physician who was a mover and shaker in the black power structure of Jackson. The court will sentence Dr. Reddix on August 1. He could serve up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or less. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan.
The plea agreement states that Dr. Reddix pleaded guilty to count seven of the indictment. The count states:
27. On or about October 1, 2014, in Hinds County, in the Northern Division of the Southern District of Mississippi and elsewhere, the defendant, CARL REDDIX, did knowingly and corruptly give, offer, and agree to give something of value, that is, $9,500.00 in cash, to CHRISTOPHER B. EPPS, with intent to influence and reward CHRISTOPHER B. EPPS in connection with the business, transaction, and series of transactions of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, involving something of value of $5,000.00 or more, that is, the awarding and the retention of contracts to Health Assurance, LLC for inmate health care services at MDOC facilities.
Prosecutors stated in an earlier press release that 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.
Dr. Reddix's company, Health Assurance, was also tied to a bribery scheme in Harrison County that resulted in the indictment and suicide of a Harrison County supervisor. Earlier post.
"Consultant" Robert Simmons handled the Harrison County scheme. Dr. Reddix would pay up to $10,000 per month to Simmons. Simmons would then pay $2,000 per month to Supervisor William Martin. Harrison County contracted with Health Assurance to provide medical services to its inmates. Simmons pleaded guilty
Earlier post. He is serving 87 months in prison and has to pay a fine of $10,000.
Health Assurance was also engaged in a similar bribery scheme in Alabama. "Consultant" Michael Goddard recently pleaded guilty to one count of lying to FBI agents about payments he received from Health Assurance concerning a contract to provide medical services at the Jefferson County jail. He will be sentenced on August 2. Earlier post.
12 comments:
It still seems awkward, to me, for these people to be charged with bribery when it was Epps who made the kickbacks a condition of contracting. I realize that's the law, but I doubt any of them approached Epps and said, "I'd like to pay you to contract with me".
Meanwhile; We will one day read the headline, "Epps dies at his home in Brandon without ever having served a day in federal prison for his crimes against the state".
10:48: A kickback includes the offeror / payor's participation. There's always 2 guilty in a kickback scheme.
Of course they went up to Epps and said they wanted to bribe him. Once they learned that was the way to do business with MDOT under Epps leadership, plenty of peole carried deals to him and showed how much each of them could make. There are plenty of others that played the game that haven't been prosecuted yet, mostly those that acted only as 'middlemen' (lobbyists from the Musgrove administration era did great work for their clients, even into the HRB administration).
Now his family won't seem so high and mighty.
If paying bribes is a condition of winning the contract, then Reddix should have walked away from the proposal. Period. The fact that he didn't shows the true character of Mr Reddix.
Only $10,000? He should have to pay restitution to the taxpayers of Mississippi.
Epps will never serve a day.
I always thought Dr Reddix was shady...never saw a patient in his office
Hope the good Dr enjoys those prison showers. Time for the prostate exam
11:03...Do you think I don't know that? I'm simply pointing out the awkwardness of charging the service provider with bribery when actually it would be more reasonable to call it conspiracy to defraud the state. Epps suckered these people into his web. They didn't just decide to show up and bribe him. Semantics, of course, but nevertheless........
7:31 - you don't know what you are talking about, or else, you are trying to cover for someone. Yes they did just decide to show up and bribe him. They learned that was the way to do business, and walked in the door with envelope (offer) in hand.
I don't know if there is any legal difference in penalties or proof for your 'conspiracy to defraud' and 'bribery', but it doesn't matter. They bribed. Epps accepted the bribe. They both conspired to screw the state. Why does it matter to you.
Everyone are entitled to their opinions regarding the situation but don't attack the Reddix family. Only point the finger at the person who is accused. I come to this site to get the "low-down" and the political word on the streets but the one thing I have noticed, we have a lot of "big talkers" hiding behind the computer making awful accusations. I disagree attacking a person whole family. Sounds personal...
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