The Justice Department opposes reinstating Rudolphus Warnock's bond.
A jury convicted Warnock of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bribery on July 16. Warnock was once the Madison County Engineer and CMU Engineer. The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Kristi Johnson revoked his bond after he attempted to commit suicide later that day. He has been incarcerated in the Forrest County jail since revocation.
The freshly-convicted Warnock was driving on I-20 (mile marker 71) when he crashed his Ford F-150 truck. Someone called 911 at 3:30 today. Witnesses stopped to check on him. When they did so, Warnock slashed his neck and wrists. After he was transported to UMC, U.S. Marshals took custody of the defendant. Judge Johnson ordered a mental evaluation for Warnock, which he subsequently passed.
Warnock filed a motion to reinstate his bond earlier this week. The defendant called the events of July 16 an "aberration" and "clearly a reaction to an emotional breakdown." He pointed out a mental evaluation found him to be stable.
Prosecutors said, not so fast my friend. The Justice Department's response stated:
Warnock’s post-trial actions were the subject of the government’s motion to revoke his bond. In ruling on the motion, the Court found pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3143, “that Warnock poses a flight risk and poses a risk of danger to the safety of others, the community, and himself.” Although defense counsel reserved the right to revisit the issue of pre-sentence detention, Warnock has not met the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he will not flee and that he does not pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community.
Kimberly Purdie represents the Justice Department. Attorneys John Collette and Jeffrey Graves represent Warnock. Judge Johnson will sentence Warnock on December 10.
Synopsis of Case
A federal grand jury indicted former Canton Municipal Utilities engineer Rudy Warnock for conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud and Cleveland Anderson for two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery in December 2021. The indictments were unsealed nearly a year later on November 22, 2022.
The grand jury also indicted former Canton Alderman Andrew Grant and Canton Alderman Eric Gilkey for Conspiracy to commit bribery (2 counts), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud in December 2021. The two defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
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.
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy to commit bribery is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalties for the wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges are 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
9 comments:
Didn’t take long to go from big dog to little bitch.
The thought that Rudy and his attorneys thought he could be released on bond is a delusion
Go get Mike Espy now!
Move up his sentencing date.
It could help but Rudy has run out of palm grease.
You mean Mike who hasn’t been charged with anything related to this pos? That Mike? If you want to go get him you’ll need to go to his office or home where he lives a pretty damn good free life.
to 844....very true , but at this point i dont cost anything to ask.
12:26 Rudy's attorneys probably don't think the judge will grant the release. But they file the motion so that they can bill the hours. Filings and paperwork equals defense attorney billings.
*Sigh* Rudy-listen man, it's simplest engineering of all - don't steal money, OK ?
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