The Justice Department and State Auditor Shad White issued the following statements.
Justice Department
The former Mayor of Moss Point, Mississippi, and his wife were sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud relating to the Mayor’s Gala held in 2019, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
Mario King was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $6,937.98 in restitution and an $8,000 fine.
Natasha R. King was sentenced to a three-year term of probation with six months of home confinement. She was also ordered to pay $6,937.98 in restitution and a $5,500 fine.
According to court documents, former Mayor Mario King, 33, and his wife Natasha R. King, 32, began soliciting funds in late 2018 for a Gala to be held on March 23, 2019, in Moss Point. The written solicitation stated that the “gala honors and supports organizations that are making a difference for the mental health community. Proceeds support the efforts of mental health in the City of Moss Point with a focus on the Moss Point School District, converting spaces into a therapeutic and innovative learning environment.”
On March 4, 2019, Mario King and Natasha R. King appeared together on WLOX television and described the event, stating that funds from the Gala were to be used to create safe spaces for mental health counseling in the Moss Point School District.
It was the understanding of those contributing to the Gala, either in the form of tickets purchased or contributions, that the proceeds from the Gala would go to the Moss Point School District. Some of the funds were used to pay for the cost of the Gala, but the remaining proceeds did not go to the Moss Point School District. Instead, the defendants used the proceeds for personal purchases, including the down payment on the purchase of a vehicle, cash withdrawals and the payment of credit card debts involving charges to complete the purchase of a personal pet.
The Kings pled guilty on February 24, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie prosecuted the case.
State Auditor Shad White
The
King case came to our office when a whistleblower approached me many
months ago. We then began working closely across state and federal
entities to move the case forward. It’s good to see the
case come to a conclusion today,” said Auditor White. “This should be a
lesson to every politician: you cannot lie and defraud the public of
money.”
Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275.
13 comments:
Phew, I'm going to sleep better tonight knowing these masterminds are behind bars forever (forever how long 30 months will last).
It NEVER stops!
No question about it. Crime is crime. We get it Shad. No crime is too small.
But please show us that no crime is too big. C'mon Shad. You can do it!
He’ll be moving to Jackson once he gets out of prison to run for mayor next term.
What kind of horseshit is this? Barely 2 years.
curious to know if the water meter lawsuit against MR is still going forward.
No need to comment in all caps.
AP mentions Feds also were investigating Mario King for mortgage fraud in Texas, delaying sentencing one month from original sentencing date of June 16th 2021.
https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-sentencing-government-and-politics-91cf129889ffa9b0af28cb82950a2b7d
I may have missed it but did Conspiracy to commit crimes get brought up? Why does she get a break.
@9:54am
"Why does she get a break?"
Natasha was judged to have "followed Mario's lead" into schemes by husband Mario.
Wonder who they rolled on to get treated so nice ? Shad needs to focus on Hinds County.
"Why does she get a break?". If you look at the comparison of punishment you will more than likely will see that women do get a break when it comes to punishment for the same crime as men.
Paging Carlos the Clown....
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