A federal grand jury indicted Rudolphus Warnock, Eric Gilkey, Cleveland Anderson, and Andrew Grant of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud as they allegedly worked together to loot Canton Municipal Utilities.
The grand jury indicted the defendants on December 8, 2021 but the indictments were not unsealed until today. The indictment charges:
Rudy Warnock: Conspiracy to commit bribery (2 counts), Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud
Cleveland Anderson: Conspiracy to commit bribery (2 counts)
Andrew Grant: Conspiracy to commit bribery (2 counts), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud
Eric Gilkey: Conspiracy to commit bribery (2 counts), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud
Warnock was a controversial engineer who worked for Madison County and CMU. His blood feud with Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler was the stuff of local legend in Madison County. Gilkey and Grant were Canton Aldermen. Grant pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to commit voter fraud. He received a suspended prison sentence of five years. Anderson served as a CMU Commissioner.
The indictment alleges the defendants bilked CMU from the beginning of 2016 to the end of 2017. Commissioner Anderson moved to hire Warnock as CMU's civil engineer on August 16, 2016.
The indictment charges Warnock made regular payments to Anderson, Gilkey, and Grant in exchange for contracts and "favorable treatment" at CMU.
Some of the Warnock gifts included tickets to luxury suites at New Orleans Saints games and concerts in the Crescent City.
The indictment charges Warnock deposited a check "in the amount of $9,200, made payable to J.M. through the automated clearinghouse system of the Federal Reserve Bank System. Part of the proceeds of this transaction were given to defendants Grant and Gilkey in the form of $4,000 cash each.
U.S. Attorney Darren Lamarca is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department seeks the criminal forfeiture of all gains made through the conspiracy.
All defendants were released after posting bond of $10,000.
The initial appearance for Anderson and Warnock is scheduled for November 30. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate.
Kingfish note: It appears Grant and Gilkey may have pleaded guilty today. The docket states for the two men:
"Change of Plea Hearing set for 11/21/2022 at 1:30 PM in Courtroom 6A (Jackson) Wingate before District Judge Henry T. Wingate."
There is no petition to change plea in the docket but it appears the two defendants pleaded guilty, hence the unsealing of the indictments today.
Attorney Joe Holloman represents Gilkey.
48 comments:
Only in Canton does someone consider $4,000 big money. What chumps.
For all of you naysayers - they are finally indicted.
Deja vu Warnock's gifting members of the Madison County Board of Supervisors for years in exchange for their hiring him and directing contracts to his businesses. Including but certainly not limited to a million dollar contract (twice) to study the feasibility of a Madison County airport.
Hell, as we all know, Warnock milked the county through and with an ongoing conspiracy with certain Board members to include having their campaign signs manufactured and even stored in his personal barn. One of those supervisors is deceased but several (three in fact) are still sitting members of The Board. Several others involved are and/or were holding down official County positions.
It will take quite a forensic investigation to determine just how many millions the Board funneled to Warnock and Associates in exchange for Christmas envelopes, campaign funds and other gifts.
Assholes are tightening up right here at Thanksgiving. The OH SHIT band is in town.
Are the charges against the Canton insurance agent who was on the Canton Municipal Union Board, for “tornado insurance” still pending? Apparently, this agent pocketed $40,000.00 for a non existent insurance policy, at least for one year. If anyone knows the status of this case, please post. I am tired of seeing my Canton city tax money being misused.
Ah, who is J.M.?
The real question, as 7:45pm alluded to, is who all in Madison County is Rudy gonna rat on to save his own hide when the feds turn the screws.
Gerald Steen took his money through campaign contributions and cash from Rudy. Dig deep!!!
For goodness sakes, don’t let this thing go too far. It might have a negative effect on our “Zebra tent” at the Ole Miss football games!!!
Tip of the iceberg.
Roudolphus was hiding in in Mexico.
Warnock? What year is this? Old Crow, you have keeping me in the dark...
After all the redneck bitching about Rudy over and over 5 or so years ago, I would have thought you hemorrhoids would be more vocal about this coup. LMAO. All just jealous "lovers".
I notice Rudy's PE license is still valid with an address in Hoover, AL. I'm surprised the Board hasn't revoked it.
The rules about who you can take campaign donations from are pretty liberal, but then think about who wrote them.
Let him rat out all of the other co conspirators, then let him go. Obviously, he needs all professional licenses revoked. Does he still own that Bentley?
Arrogance brews bitter tea.
Charlie Chan
Going after the insurance agency is a moot point now. The owner is dead and the agent you speak of is bedridden from a stroke requiring 24x7 care in the nursing home.
I notice Rudy's PE license is still valid with an address in Hoover, AL. I'm surprised the Board hasn't revoked it. November 21, 2022 at 11:15 PM
Yep, still active. He's always managed to fly under the radar. In fact the MadCo Board now contracts with the firm that employs Rudy. The Board promised, tho, to not use Rudy. Wink Wonk.
… Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
… We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
Jackson is Canton on steroids.
I can hear the crazy dictator in Madison, Mary, kackling from over here. She is hitting the Griddy all over the mayor's office today.
a drop in the bucket-
Mess with the Queen and you are going to get stung.
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, Rudy
What have you got yourself into now?
Can't cry racism since Canton is all black.
7:41 AM
Hoo-hoo-hoo, go on, take the money and run
Go on, take the money and run
Hoo-hoo-hoo, go on, take the money and run
Go on, take the money and run
Hoo-hoo-hoo, billy Mack is a detective down in Texas
You know he knows just exactly what the facts is
He ain't gonna let those two escape justice
He makes his livin' off of the people's taxes
Rudy is the most pompous asshole I've ever ran across. Good for him. COuldnt happen to a better person. Dude thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread.
When is EMA Director Albert Jones III going to be told to remove his personal boat from a county storage building and required to pay storage fees? Typical Canton area asshattery, waste, fraud, and abuse.
I wish Rudy well in the federal pen.
Attn 7:35 The previous owner of the insurance company is indeed bedridden. I am terribly sorry about that. The “agent” who hatched this plot is alive and well, thus the “zebra tent” reference.
The state board can't likely request a hearing and/or revoke his PE license until Rudy's has been convicted.
Although, engineers are responsible for maintaining good character and reputation. Rudy hasn't done that for years.
9:48 I did not realize those lunatic Zebra tent people were tied up in Rudy drama.
Fascinating. And I suppose I should not be shocked.
Thieves almost always flaunt their ill-gotten income more loudly than people how actually earn an honest paycheck. And nothing louder than a circus tent-animal print explosion in the grove.
@11:16 in fairness, not everyone in the zebra tent is involved. But one is definitely tied up heavily in the CMU/Rudy/County/insurance issues (we will call him JN). The stories I could tell about JN and the Terry Lovelace/Claude Banks partnership. Terry Lovelace owns Utility Constructors (huge Lumumba donor), and Claude Banks is the son of Madison County supervisor Karl Banks.
I talked with an acquaintance associated with a state investigating organization recently, and he told me that they are not through with those well known shenanigans which have (are?) taken place in Madison county. P.S. he also told me that there are no statutes of limitations on fraud and theft.
Sounds like someone needs to “lawyer up” if he hasn’t already done so.
Phil Bryant and Brett Favre you are officially on the clock…..
Attn 12:35. Has that person JN, the one involved in this scheme, gone to prison yet?
Wingate has the case . . . justice will be very SLOOOOOOWWW in coming.
@ 10:12 - a conviction is not necessary
Rule 17.5 Solicitation of Work
The licensee shall not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, gift, or other consideration in order to secure work, except when the licensee is securing salaried positions through employment agencies.
Rule 17.7 Character and Reputation
...being convicted of a felony or misdemeanor shall be grounds for a disciplinary hearing which may result in revocation of his certificate of licensure.
Rule 18.10 Discipline
Upon a finding that the accused has violated any enumerated provision of Title 73, Chapter 13 or any rule adopted pursuant to Title 73, Chapter 13, the Board may censure; reprimand; admonish; require the completion of a course in ethics and additional education as approved by the Board; fine the accused; revoke or suspend the accused's licensure to practice as a Professional Engineer and Professional Surveyor...
This should just be a start to investigate the illegal schemes concocted by Rudy Warnock.
There seem to be several people involved here that people despise and want them to go to prison! One is this Rudy fellow and the other is JM (whoever he is?).
1:06 pm, a quick search told me there was a statute of limitations on fraud and theft in Mississippi. Is google wrong or is your friend an idiot?
This is nothing more than another witch hunt. Rudy will come out on top.
Rudy Warnock. Our very own Madison County Socrates.
The state of Mississippi is so corrupt.
Apparently, 6:42 pM is the unknown “JN”!!!!
Attn 6:42, your research is flawed.
I don't know who JM is as mentioned in the indictment. However, JN as mentioned by @12:35 of zebra tent fame is a very Noble guy. He's not your average John.
For those of you who think Rudolph will skate, take note. This was a FEDERAL grand jury, not a bunch of local yokels or state employees auditing a spread sheet. The feds don't fart around with 'low hanging fruit' or managers who take pencils and legal pads to the deer camp for personal use.
Gilkey is Paul Griffin’s man on the inside in Canton government. Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his hand caught in the cookie jar also.
Gilkey is Paul Griffin’s man on the inside in Canton government. Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his hand caught in the cookie jar also.
7:57 is right. Rudy has kept a double handful of county supervisors from having to hold-down second and third jobs for many years. I'm thinking the feds are a bit smarter than these country bumpkins.
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