Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Seawright Sentencing Scheduled

Former Baker Donelson attorney Jon Seawright will face the music this fall.  The docket in USA v. Jon Seawright states: 

Set/Reset Hearings as to Jon Darrell Seawright: Sentencing set for 10/11/2023 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 5B (Jackson) before District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.

Seawright pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in U.S. District Court a year ago.  He has not been associated with Baker Donelson for 2 1/2 years.  

The attorney waived indictment and accepted a bill of information.  The bill of information states Seawright conspired with co-defendant Brent Alexander to sell phony timber investments from 2011 to 2018 through their company, Alexander Seawright Timber Fund, LLC (ASTF).   The bill states: 

It was part of the agreement and conspiracy that JON DARRELL SEAWRIGHT and TED BRENT ALEXANDER, did knowingly and intentionally participate in a scheme and artifice to defraud investors by soliciting millions of dollars of funds under false pretenses and failing to use investors' funds as promised.  Co-conspirators SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER represented to investors that ASTF was in the business of loaning funds to a "timber broker" to buy timber rights from landowners and then to sell the timber rights to lumber mills at a higher price. SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER promised ASTF investors a return of 10% or more over twelve or thirteen months on each unit of invested capital.

 

The Baker Boyz didn't inspect any properties related to the investments nor did they verify the timber deeds were indeed valid.  In short, all they cared about was cashing checks, investments be damned.  They also misled investors on their compensation for promoting the investments: 

SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER represented to their investors that SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER would only profit from each series of the investment if it performed as promised to the investors. This gave the ASTF investors the misleading impression that their interests were fully aligned with those of SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER. In fact, in addition to receiving a predetermined percentage of return on the investors' funds, SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER also received undisclosed payments of approximately 3% for recruiting investments to the timber investment scheme immediately upon transferring the investment funds to the purported timber broker. SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER did not disclose to the ASTF investors: (a) the fact of these payments, or (b) the amount of the payments in relation to the investments made, or (c) the timing of the undisclosed payments to SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER before any repayment was made to the investors.
It was further part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER lulled and persuaded investors to maintain their investments and to invest additional funds by asserting that SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER themselves had personal funds invested in ASTF units, when in fact SEAWRIGHT and ALEXANDER rarely, if ever, invested their personal funds in a full ASTF unit.


U.S. Attorney Darren Lamarca will seek criminal forfeiture of all assets gained through fraud.  U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves will sentence Seawright in October.  Seawright faces a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of $250,000 or less.  

Alexander pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to defraud investors in the phony timber deed investment scheme. 


15 comments:

Anonymous said...

As long as you are able to bring in money for the FIRM, the firm will provide the money for the alcohol for partners, jr. Partners, and other people begging for jobs. Watch John Grisham’s take on this. There is no care for people outside of these law firms unless the firms can find a way to make money.

Anonymous said...

When will Mike Billings be sentenced? He’s the one who swindled me.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it ironic that here in the center of the Bible belt there is a high incidence of immorality/fraud/stealing/embezzlement/scams, etc?

Anonymous said...

So, this guy is an attorney. The courts are not in any hurry to sentence him, because he is an attorney. Theft is theft. Send his a## where he needs to go. How much is a degree from Ole Miss worth? How long would a person who stole you auto be free? Of course, a car thief probably would not have an “OLE MISS” graduate degree.

Anonymous said...

The "FIRM"? Dummy, his firm made no money from this. He and whats his name were pocketing checks. It's not like the BD partners were divvying it up.

Anonymous said...

So many lawyer troll comments, so little time.

Anonymous said...

Mike Billings-is he a Mississippi native? Anyone know him personally?

Anonymous said...

Has he been disbarred yet? He doesn’t appear on the Mississippi Bar attorney directory.

Anonymous said...

So many lawyer troll comments, so little time

So much time, so little to do. -- Willie Wonka

Anonymous said...

What? No lawyer jokes?

Anonymous said...

@6.34 AM

I may be wrong (not an attorney) but I believe pleading guilty to a felony is automatic disbarment.

Anonymous said...

@9:40

That's true unless the felony is manslaughter or violating the Internal Revenue Code.

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile....McHenry.

Anonymous said...

Jon surrendered his law license long ago.

Anonymous said...

12:02 - That's like saying a man charged with third offense DUI 'surrendered' his driver license.


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
.