Monday, March 5, 2012

Judge orders Shackelford to produce money or explain why he should not go to jail.

Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas ordered Linus Shackelford to return several hundred thousand dollars to the estate of Demon McClinton Friday or face incarceration at a hearing scheduled for March 20. Judge Thomas decreed money from the estate was "illegally taken" by attorney Mike Brown and "invested or loaned to Mr. Shackelford and/or Lakeland Place LLC without court approval." Judge Thomas called the transaction an "illegal transfer".

Damon McClinton inherited $3 million when his mother, Rebecca Henry, died in 2000. Ms. Henry was the daughter of Mississippi civil rights legend Aaron Henry. Damon McClinton's father, Thomas, hired attorney Mike Brown to establish a guardianship for young McClinton. Then-Chancellor Stuart Robinson established a guardianship and ordered Mr. Brown to deposit the money in a bank account and decreed the money could not be withdrawn without court approval.

Judge Thomas ruled at a February hearing Mr. Brown never deposited the money in an account nor was one ever established. Judge Thomas threw Mr. Brown in jail after he could not account for the money. The attorney also claimed the file (he checked it out in 2006) and bank statements were destroyed when a water pipe burst in his office. Judge Thomas set bond at $100,000 at a later hearing. Mr. Brown made bail and is free.

Judge Thomas said in his findings Mike Brown "loaned" over $500,000 to Linus Shackelford out of Damon McClinton's estate. Mr. Shackelford owns Lakeland Garden Place cemetery on Lakeland Drive. Judge Thomas gave Mr. Shackelford 40 days to return the money to the estate or face jail at a hearing scheduled on March 20. The March 2 order states if the monies and interest are not returned, Mr. Shackelford "will have to show cause" why the Chancellor should not order his incarceration.

Earlier posts:
Attorney Mike Brown accused of embezzlement and jailed.
Bond set for attorney Mike Brown
Bar suspends Brown, Judge Grant grills attorney
Where is the money? Copy of file included.
More Shackelford shenanigans

*Note: JJ reported two years ago Mr. Brown was sanctioned by the Bar. From the Mississippi Lawyer:

"Michael J. Brown of Jackson: Public Reprimand. Entered into loan agreement with client. Loan was to finance another lawsuit by another client. Didn't advise clients to get second opinion on the transaction and the chances of success for the financed litigation and no recovery was made."


68 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to see Judge Thomas is riding these guys and appears serious about getting the young man's money back. Shackelford had to have known where the money came from and that the whole deal was bad. Both of them need to go away for a long time. In Brown's prior sanction, there was also something about it being unethical for an attorney to enter into an agreement to share proceeds of a settlement with a non-attorney.

Shadowfax said...

"In Brown's prior sanction, there was also something about it being unethical for an attorney to enter into an agreement to share proceeds of a settlement with a non-attorney".

So, if an attorney enters into an agreement to share proceeds with another attorney, it's more likely to be ethical?

Anonymous said...

Brown thinks he is way too smart... I am sure he has the smae scams going on right now.. I guess it will not be illegal for him to do it now since he is not an attorney for the second.

Anonymous said...

That's a whole lotta $$$ to pony up in a hurry.

Anonymous said...

8:02. I don't know why, but to my non-attorney knowledge, an attorney can sell off a piece of the case to another attorney, but can't do so to a non-attorney. That's how so many attorneys got filthy rich off of the tobacco and asbestos settlements. Whether that's ethical to the rest of us is not up to me to opine on.

Anonymous said...

At the end of the day Shackelford and Brown are going to walk. There is no way the Judge will keep either one in jail.

Anonymous said...

I can hear it now-
"Judge I can't come up with any money because YOU froze my assets."

Anonymous said...

It will be interesting to see if Shackelford can sell the Judge a bottle of snake oil.

Anonymous said...

This whole this is grand lanceny at its finest!

Anonymous said...

"explain why he should not to to jail....." What in the world does he have to explain??? I can just hear it now...."yes, your honor. I stole that money but I shouldn't go to jail, well, because I AM Linus Shackelford!" Good grief! Come on, judge! Go ahead and sentence these crooks!

Anonymous said...

Shackelford has connections. He will be given plenty of time to settle.

Anonymous said...

What about Linus' deal with the secretary of states office? Also know that he was sued and owes at least one local company thousands of dollars. He's a snake a crook a con and a cheat.

Anonymous said...

He snookered MCClinton
He Snookered Brown
He will snooker Thomas too.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many favors Shackelford is trying to call in.... He is notorious for making under the table deals. It will be interesting to see if that is allowed in this case!

Anonymous said...

Betcha he settles with McClinton for pennies on the dollar.

Anonymous said...

Why has there been no criminal charge?

Anonymous said...

If he sits in jail the money will appear. He's got it. He will have to be squeeeeeezed for it. It is just like putting dead beat dads in jail. The money WILL show up! Remember this post.

Anonymous said...

How is this man allowed to operate a cemetery? Doesn't the Secretary of State's office regulate cemeteries? Have they not investigated this place? The cemetery that he supposedly owns is a dump and obviously just a front for him to fraud people!!!! There is NO way that any money that he stole, was "loaned" or somehow acquired was put into THAT business. Isn't it convenient that his business puts him at the front door of people who are potentially heirs of an inheritance? VERY, VERY convenient! This man is sick!!!!

Anonymous said...

@12:49....I've also been wondering why this isn't a criminal case

Anonymous said...

Our Judicial system is flawed. Criminals walk. Our own governor turned murderers and criminals loose on good citizens and on the victims of the released felons.

I am interested in the articles and the opinions here. It appears that nobody thinks justice will be served when Brown and Shackelford are charged with criminal activities. From what I am reading this is nothing new for either of them. So they will both walk because they have unsavory connections that will intercede for them? So good people will still be subjected to evil?

I want to believe that good wins over evil. More and more I am losing that hope.

Anonymous said...

I think at the very least, Brown will no longer be practicing law and hopefully permanently. They're both crooks and deserve to be in jail more than a lot of people who are serving time. With the period of time that has elapsed since the money disappeared, it would seem like it would make it more difficult to prosecute them. I also don't know what the statute of limitations is on what they did and if that will help them get off. Would be a crying shame if they did.

Anonymous said...

This judge can still do the right thing and make these crooks pay for their crimes! A lot of eyes are on Judge Thomas right now to see what happens next. Let's just hope what's next is the right thing!

Anonymous said...

1:09- he owns the Secretary.

Anonymous said...

Judge Thomas,

Given that the court has already determined Mr. Shackelford is in contempt of a court order and illegally took his client's money; will you, Judge Thomas, please "show cause" to your constituents why you have NOT ALREADY ordered lawyer Shackelford's incarceration?

Oh! I forgot; Mississippi judges aren't accountable to anyone other than the lawyers who contribute to their election campaigns - which are the same lawyers who obtain monetary judgments from them.

I apologize, your "honor" - puke....

Anonymous said...

Linus Shackelford is a very creative con man. He comes up with some very off the wall but believable lies to wiggle out of trouble. I hope Judge Thomas doesn't fall for this man's schemes. I'm also sure he's trying his hardest to con Brent Hazzard into settling his debt owed to McClintock. Surely, these grown men won't be outsmarted and conned by Shackelford any longer!

Anonymous said...

I saw Shackelford at the music store. He was getting his violin fine tuned for his March 20th performance. He was also seen at New Stage working on his drama skills.
- Concerned Citizen

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know the cash amount due?

Anonymous said...

Where is Chokwe? These whiteys sucked up the funds from "A-ron Henry," our field secretary after Medgar was killed by " Bay-Ron D La Beck-With." These white homies diss'ed "us.". WTF R We Gonna do ? Chokwe and Stokes are needed now more than ever. They must smell our facility and drink our tea!

Anonymous said...

That's and easy choice. He will take option 2 and just explain why he should not go to jail.

Anonymous said...

It's a mockery to the court system to allow this man the chance to "explain"...... I guess Judge Thomas just needs a good day of endless entertainment. Are tickets for sale yet for March 20?

Anonymous said...

Shackelford screwed up bringing Mike Brown to court as his attorney. Once it was know he conspired with Brown to take Demond"s money everyone knew the fix was in. At court he should have had new legal council fighting Brown all the way. It is too late of a defense to blame Brown and file bankruptcy to get out of paying Demond. At this point it looks like there is no way out for the Cemetery Man. The debt load is closing in on 2.5 million on an appraised value of 400K. Taking the loan from a kid was bad enough. The worst part is leveraging the property for the money. The property that is already leveraged well appraised value. They led this kid to believe he had the property for the money. Instead he got property loaded with loans, liens and judgements. This makes me sick!

Anonymous said...

Trust me! If Judge Thomas put him away to pay. His family will come up with the money.

Anonymous said...

@8:48: What family? The other article on Shackelford showed all those court documents where he's already stolen money from his family.

Anonymous said...

It would be one thing if he screwed a rich investor, but to screw a young man with an average living out of so much has really altered this guys life.

Anonymous said...

This young man will never recover this loss.

Anonymous said...

The poor kid may end up as owner of a useless imitation of a cemetery.

Anonymous said...

Have any of you visited the cemetery? If not please do not comment on it, as some of us have loved ones buried there. Have never had a problem with Mr Shackelford. And on another note, alittle FYI I do not believe he is an attorney.

Anonymous said...

6:26- Since he is so nice and honest loan him you money. Punks that rob stores with guns and ski mask for $500 are far less a criminal than he.

Anonymous said...

6:26, what does people being buried at that cemetery have to do with Linus Shackelford being a thief and stealing this child's inheritance?

Anonymous said...

I hear that cemetery floods ? how many buried there? can u open cemetery anywhere??I don't think so who let them do this??????

Anonymous said...

6:26-
This is about stealing money by way of deception and nothing else. Imagine if that was your child with this money surrounded by greedy thieves. This guy could not qualify for a bank loan and no reasonably adult would invest in his project. So he conspires with Mike Brown to get a huge sum of money. His repayment schedule clearly shows his intent, never to pay it back. Linus Shackelford blatenly lied to the Clarion Liar when he said Mike Brown heard he had applied for a loan at a bank and approached him for the loan. This is BS at its finest. If I were Brown I would be singing to the DA right now to keep my jail sentence below 10 years. No doubt Shackelford will get 40 with 20 to serve.

Anonymous said...

@6:26, yes, I've visited that cemetery and it's basically a mud pit with a few burials and a rickety trailer and trashed up warehouse and some plywood signs. very professional, let me tell ya!. it looks more like the beginnings of a trailer park rather than a reputable business. Shackelford should've used some of that money he stole to build a proper office and develop his "business." he claims to have the "premiere" cemetery property of the south......complete with a double wide trailer!

Anonymous said...

No it is not a mud pit with plywood signs, get your facts straight, and if shackelford owns the cemetary it is about him NOT the cemetery. As I stated before leave the cemetery out of it as we have loved ones buried there. Kingfish, please do not post about the cemetary, as that hurts the ones that have loved ones buried there.

Anonymous said...

Linus Shackelford used that cemetery to steal from this boy and to con other victims. That makes that cemetery part of this! If you don't like that, perhaps you should pay better attention to the people you do business with and contact Shackelford about bringing that cemetery into it. I sympathize for ANYONE that has a loved one buried out there. That's just another tragic angle of this story.

Anonymous said...

The love ones have nothing to do with this.It could happen anywhere. god bless them and there Family's.The love ones are in there heart not in the ground dust to dust......

Anonymous said...

He will tell the court why he shouldn't be jailed and he will successfully sell the judge. No jail time for this guy.

Anonymous said...

Why in the world would the judge let them by with all this. That would be awful awful then I guess lawyers steal from everyone?..

Anonymous said...

The financial harm put to Demond is MIND BOGGLING!

Anonymous said...

Mike Brown has performed illegal acts. He need to be in prison. Linus fully knew what was going on with that trust money-I just don't know if anyone can prove it. The cemetery could be nice. It should be sold-I heard Ott and Lee would love to buy it. The money should go towards the trust fund. Linus and Brown should be fined for the difference and pay additional fine for being corrupt. The Sec. of State -if he does his job_ should have no problem taking over Lakeland Place until a buyer is found.

Anonymous said...

It's my understanding that Brown is willing to cop a plea deal in exchange for telling the whole truth.

Anonymous said...

Brown is nowhere close to being as smart as he thinks he is, but he probably knows that he will never practice law again. However, what is there about this situation that would give the DA any reason to think about a plea deal? He was responsible for the money and it is now gone. As far as I'm concerned, he and Vann Leonard can spend the next 20 years as cellmates serving out their sentences for embezzlement. Linus too.

Anonymous said...

It's just a crying shame that men like this are allowed to continue to harm people.....financially, mentally, emotionally, etc! Something HAS to be done to stop this! Judge Thomas is the one to take a stand and stop this level of corruption!

Anonymous said...

I heard he annie'd up .5 million today.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure it is Shackelford whining about "Please don't talk about the cemetary" as this is his cash cow.

Anonymous said...

@12:49.....Ya think? Ha!!! Obviously, no one else would defend that place!!!!

Anonymous said...

No wasnt Shackelford, just an old 80 year old woman. Now all you comment about my age and I must be senile for defending the cemetery.
Have a nice day !!!!! Ihave relatives buried there. Apparently you have nothing to do but take out your frustrations on this blog. GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The next time I'm at the bank trying to get half million, I wonder who will hear about it and approach me to loan me the money. Believe It? Not!

Anonymous said...

Coming soon. The big story!

Anonymous said...

I surely hope that after they are released they will turn away from these type of activities.

Anonymous said...

We're did he get.5 million from another client,,,,,,,?.....Since his assets were frozen?...

Anonymous said...

After reading all of the articles on Linus Shackelford and reading the comments, the general consensus is the same.....people want to see this man be held accountable for his crooked ways and he has apparently wronged a lot of people. If that is the case, he deserves the maximum penalty on his court day!

Anonymous said...

T minus one week and counting. Is Kingfish going to be in court to let us know how it goes down?

Anonymous said...

I have given up on justice, and no longer have hope that there will ever again be heroes. If these two individuals don't do time for their illegal activities and crime it would appear that anybody can do anything to anybody and get away with it.

Also, although this is discussed on another thread, I see today that one of the criminals the "Governor" freed from prison and pardoned was picked up by the feds. Azikiwe Kambule, released by Barbour, had been sentenced to 35 years for armed carjacking and murder. Our former Governor Barbour's unbelievable behavior, and the decision by the Supreme court to support what he did, is a blight on this state. Honest citizens and taxpayers in this state are endangered by Barbour's release of killers and criminals, and that is a fact. Others may differ, but that is my opnion.

Anonymous said...

Remember that the Chancery Court case is not a criminal action, and they have not been charged with crimes at this time. The main thing this judge can do is hold them in contempt and order the money repaid, and i believe that is what the next hearing is about.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for clarifying that for me. I was under the impression that what they did was criminal activity, so I was wrong. Based on that enlightenment, I see that they can continue with their activities unhindered. LOL.

I appreciate that information, and I love that I learn more and see more of interest here than I do in reading the Clarion Ledger!

Anonymous said...

Why has there not been a criminal charge yet? What these two men did was a crime!

So, after these two crooks are held in contempt, shouldn't they be jailed? Neither one of them has the money to repay or they would have already made an attempt to pay it back! I think they should be sent to the county farm in Raymond and make them work off their debt! If not, there WILL be other victims!

Anonymous said...

3:31 - Seems like Mike Brown's "dog ate the homework" excuse may help him in a criminal case. I'm no lawyer, but it seems like the DA is going to have to present some evidence to prosecute them criminally. According to Brown, none exists. Sounds like he's done practicing law, though.

Anonymous said...

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