Thursday, August 23, 2018

Embezzler Gets Nearly 20 Years

Rankin-Madison District Attorney Michael Guest issued the following press release. 

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Steven Brooks Russell of Hinds County received a 20-year prison sentence for embezzlement. A jury convicted Russell of Embezzlement in an amount greater than $25,000.

On February 7, 2017, Detective Lee Drake of the Richland Police Department was contacted by members of KLLM management, who reported a possible theft by Russell, one of KLLM's long time trusted employees. Russell worked in dispatch, scheduling repairs of tractors and trailers for long haul KLLM truck drivers.

An unscheduled internal audit revealed that multiple Comchecks were being cashed at the Pilot Truck Stop on Gallatin Street in Jackson. KLLM records revealed these repair orders were for tractor and trailer repairs allegedly conducted all over the country. Despite the vendors being located throughout the United States, all the payments were cashed locally, thereby triggering automatic review. Each of these repair transactions were also opened and closed by Russell.

On February 8, 2017, KLLM informed Detective Drake that Russell had opened, closed, and issued a Comcheck shortly before lunch. Detective Drake went to the Pilot on Gallatin and found Russell's vehicle. Upon entering the truck stop Drake saw Russell in the process of cashing a Comcheck. Drake videotaped Russell cashing a Comcheck and receiving the money.


Drake stopped Russell and found the receipt and money from the Comcheck in question. Drake located a post-it note with the Comcheck code in the Defendant's pocket and additional blank Comchecks in the Defendant's pocket.

Drake interviewed Russell who claimed he was acting as a middle man, cashing Comchecks for other drivers. During the 30-minutes interview, Russell made several statements that Drake began refuting. Russell ultimately invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

Assistant District Attorneys Dewey Arthur and Al Jernigan tried the case. At trial they introduced documents, including work orders, repair orders, Comchecks, and Comcheck receipts showing more than one hundred ninety thousand dollars ($190,000.00) was stolen by Russell.

During sentencing, Dewey Arthur presented evidence that Russell had been previously convicted for embezzling fifty thousand dollars. A Hinds County judge gave Russell a suspended sentence in 1998. Based on the facts of the case, the large loss to KLLM, and the prior embezzlement, Judge William E. Chapman sentenced Russell to the maximum penalty, 20 years to serve in the penitentiary.

Assistant District Attorney Dewey Arthur argued, “the maximum sentence is required to send the message to other criminals that businesses can operate safely in Rankin and Madison Counties. Russell failed to change his conduct after being given a second chance following his conviction in Hinds County and now he should be held accountable for his continued criminal behavior.”

Guest concluded, “I cannot thank Richland Detective Lee Drake, Dewey Arthur, and Al Jernigan enough for their hard work in bringing to justice a defendant who has stolen almost $250,000.00 from businesses in Hinds and Rankin County. While any business or organization can be the victim of theft it is important to hold accountable those who would steal from others. ”

District Attorney Michael Guest was sworn into office in January 2008 and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, Madison and Rankin Counties. For more information regarding the District Attorney’s office, please visit www.daguest.comy


Defendant:

Name: Steven Brooks Russell
Address: 121 Tracewood Cove, Clinton, MS 39056
Date of Birth: March 30, 1964

Kingfish note: Mr. Russell will probably only have to serve 25% of the sentence since it is considered to be a non-violent offense.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

“Only 25%”??? That’s FIVE YEARS in a state prison. Hardly a slap on the wrist. Also, if he is lucky enough to receive parole at that point, he will spend a very long time on parole monitoring. Seems like a pretty steep punishment to me. We should prioritize paying back the employer instead of simply “punishment.”

Anonymous said...

So long, scumbag! Hope whatever you spent it on was worth it!

Anonymous said...

2:23pm In 1977 under The first commissioner of Corrections Mr. McDougal we started the first restitution center in Mississippi at the old county farm buildings in Pascagoula. The Center was to train Men into the various disciplines used at Ingalls ShipBuilding. Then they were to pay for not only their room, board and security, they were to have a court ordered plan on paying back their victims. Sadly the entire program fell apart due to the extremely high number of criminals sent to Parchman in that and subsequent years, which led the legislature to pass a law allowing for anyone convicted of a non violent crime to be released after one year. This was done so that the DOC could comply with Judge Bill Keady's overcrowding reduction Federal Court Order..

Anonymous said...

2:33 - if he were to steal $200k from you, would you still feel like he shouldn't spend 5 in the pokey? Plus restitution?

And, before you answer, remember this was his second rodeo - so he's had his slap on the wrist.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with 2:33. Bernie got 25 years and Lamar Adams will get 25 at the most. Make the guy pay it back but to house him with violent criminals seems off . But then we don’t want to delve into the doings of Judge Chapmen and his former cohort in business/ Developing residential properties non other than the one and only Levon Owens. Between Chapmen and Owens they ruined Hinds County by influencing claimants of prescription drug lawsuits awarded in Jefferson County to but in their subdivision s

Anonymous said...

few criminals such as this one have the ability to pay restitution. send them to jail.

Anonymous said...

Pure coincidence that Arthur is running for Circuit Court Judge and got quoted in a Guest press release. I’m sure Guest and Co. will do a press release and ask for maximum jail time on their employee’s embezzlement.

Anonymous said...

I know this loser. He's a lying piece of pond scum.

IS IT THE TRUTH? said...

The bait seemed alluring, but there are bigger fish to fry.

Anonymous said...

Guest is busy shopping at Target and Dollar Tree for his D.C. apartment. Hope his collections business will handle that D.C. lifestyle and cost of living.

Anonymous said...

Tell Guest if he doesn't want to sleep in his office, he can probably find a nice Garage Apartment (550 sq ft.) for $3k right off of Pennsylvania Ave.on S.Carolina SE.



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
.