Thursday, September 22, 2022

Davis Pleads Guilty to State Charges

D.A. recommends 32 years in prison.  

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

Hinds County District Attorney, Jody E. Owens, II, announced on Thursday, September 22, 2022 that John Davis, the former Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, pled guilty to five (5) counts of Conspiracy and thirteen (13) counts of Fraud against the Government. 


“While this case is far from over, John Davis’s guilty plea is a resounding victory for the State of Mississippi and its citizens.” said District Attorney Owens. 


Davis was one of six Defendants arrested and later indicted in February of 2020 in one of the largest embezzlement schemes in the history of the State of Mississippi. Davis was charged in a multi-count indictment for: illegal misappropriation of funds, bribery, mail fraud, conspiracy, fraudulent statements, and embezzling millions of dollars from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF). 


Under the Plea Agreement, the State recommends that Davis be sentenced to ninety (90) years with thirty-two (32) years of that sentence to be served in prison. Additionally, Davis is required to pay restitution in the amount of $220,897.00. 


“Today marks an important day for justice for Mississippians in the massive welfare scheme that my office uncovered more than two years ago.” said State Auditor White. “District Attorney Jody Owens and his team did an incredible job putting a stop to the flow of money to the fraudsters who took from the poorest in the state. We would not be here if they had not shown courage and the willingness to charge these individuals with crimes. My team has given every piece of evidence we have to federal investigators and will continue to work jointly with them to see this matter to its conclusion.” 


“In the face of jurisdictional disputes and criticism for doing too much or too little, this office stayed focused on what is most important, justice for a crime that involved abuse of power and the misappropriation and unlawful diversion of millions of dollars intended to help our State’s most vulnerable citizens.” District Attorney Owens said. “My office will always stand against public corruption in all its forms, regardless of the scale or the individuals involved.” 



41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Shadrick White really " uncover this scheme"? And how far will he pursue it? Is he still even investigating?

Song Birds are Singing said...

Indictments for the Mr. Bigs in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Anonymous said...

This man gets 32 years, and murderers get MUCH less. Make it make sense.

Anonymous said...

"In the face of jurisdictional disputes"!!! Baawaahaa. Thanks Shad. Yes, it is great that the State DA is recommending that Davis serve 32 years. He didn't note, however, that the time will be served in the FEDERAL prison system, based on Davis's plea agreement.

Shad, that means that the FEDS have a major interest in this prosecution as does the state. And you SHAD refused to involve the FEDS in your investigation or report. In fact, you kept the FEDS out of the deal, knowing that they wouldn't stop at Davis's office but would likely move over to the top floors of the Sillers building where your benefactor had his office at the time.

I am pleased with what you (SHAD) have been doing in your position, and in chasing down this scam at DHS. But your work to keep the focus off what you labeled as the 'whistleblower' has been shameful. Hate it that what you have otherwise built as a good reputation is forever marked with the dirty stain of your attempt to hide all the emails that were in your possession from disclosure both in your report and from the FEDS who could have and would have pursued them and included anyone and everyone; not just the easy prey.

All said, glad to see Davis is (1) going to jail, and (2) evidently willing to help point the fingers at the ultimate culprit.

Anonymous said...

Dr. John was in the right place, but it must’ve been the wrong time.

Anonymous said...

ok, is it me or is this not just off. "one of the largest embezzlement schemes...." and restitution is $200K. Seems a little light on the restitution part to me.

Anonymous said...

The feds don't worry about picking low hanging fruit like collecting restitution from has been and broke former Mississippi big shots.

Anonymous said...

12:18 for the win !!!!

Anonymous said...

who is next in the story to be smoked?

Anonymous said...

11:58
A big money dump was coming into the State and had Shad involved the feds that money would not have been cut off ! This move saved millions .

Anonymous said...

Bet right about now ole philster is looking like a shark eating yellow jackets...

Anonymous said...

@11:55- Agree!

Anonymous said...

11:55 is correct. Please, someone, make this make sense that this crime is so harsh that it gets a recommended sentence from the DA that is longer than a sentence for someone that commits murder.

I'm not diminishing or disputing the wrong-doing - just questioning the sentencing recommendation.

Anonymous said...

This guy needs to serve serious time to deter future corruption, but 32 years when there are much more violent crimes by repeat criminals that serve less time?

Anonymous said...

1;00 -sounds like a great story, but actually a nothing burger. Must be a line stolen from our radical Mayor's repertoire.

Anonymous said...

Thirty two years???? That money is wayyyy more important than peoples lives obviously because there are convicted murderers walking the streets of Jackson right now.

Anonymous said...

Hang on, pundits. Davis has not been sentenced. Don't waste valuable "Outrage Energy" until we have some facts that deserve it.

Anonymous said...

He accepted 32 years in custody as part of a plea deal? The dude is 54 and doesn't look to be in the best shape. These are not capital offenses. Why would he agree to spend the rest of his life in prison? What was his incentive to take this deal?

Anonymous said...

Davis is the poster child for fat cat/good 'ol boy from the South.

Anonymous said...

If these were federal charges and indictment, why is this jack-wagon even commenting, much less taking a victory lap?

PS: 11:58 said..."Yes, it is great that the State DA is recommending that Davis serve 32 years."

Meanwhile, there's no such thing as a State DA.

Anonymous said...

"I'm not diminishing or disputing the wrong-doing - just questioning the sentencing recommendation.

September 22, 2022 at 1:36 PM"


I'm not diminishing or disputing the wrong-doing - just questioning the sentencing in murder cases.

There. Fixed it for ya.

Anonymous said...

No doubt that Davis is guilty but 32 years is a death sentence for a weak guy who was just following orders. I also have no doubt that he was used by Ex Gov Phil to facilitate every misused dollar. Phil’s wife was buds with Nancy New who funneled the money where she was directed while taking a large cut. Anyone who doesn’t think Phil directed the whole scheme is brain dead. Farce, I don’t have any idea what he was thinking. Maybe he is as dumb as some have claimed. He will have to buy his own Wranglers from now on.

Anonymous said...

If the Hinds County DA starts giving time like this for convicted criminals that physically harm our citizens. Dang we won’t have hardly anyone in the Sheriffs hotel.

Come on DA, have some balls putting away the violent criminals, like when you walked in that apartment with only a holster! You a bad man. You put Andy Griffith to shame!

Anonymous said...

3:10 and 4:14. Did either of you READ the entry or is your deductive reasoning that horrible? Good lord. I am not going to point out why your comments are so airhead.

Anonymous said...

I’ve professionally known John Davis since the early 1990’s when he was the Lincoln County DHS Director. Then he was the most pleasant, honest man in that capacity I’ve met. Sorry that John trusted his boss( former Governor). But John knew better! To all of John’s underlings at MDHS, you knew better! But naw, you are just as wrong as John! I bet that year after John’s firing there was an exodus of Directors within MDHS that retired or jumped ship.

John, you will do good in prison just follow the bosses orders as you’ve done prior to your firing/resignation!

I’ll get your address and put money on your books/commissary. Just kidding!

Anonymous said...

@4:00

Reading is best accomplished top to bottom, left to right.

Davis pled to 18 felony counts in hinds county circuit court today

Anonymous said...

Maybe he can share a cell with former MDOC Commissioner Epps.

Anonymous said...

My prayers go out for Phil,his family and his consultant friends who steered his political ship. His moving way out in the country makes a lot of sense now.

Anonymous said...

to 4:14..........you are a total moron.....''just following orders",,,,,,,,,,ahhh yes the nuremberg defense,,,the same defense used at the nuremberg trials for the nazis.........
maybe davis should hire you as a lawyer
the 'just following orders'' defense didn't work too well....just ask herman georing who used it and ended up committing suicide just before his scheduled hanging

Anonymous said...

Phil Bryant is sure looking in the rearview mirror!
His wife will be able to visit him twice a month in the federal correctional facility! Maybe even get conjugal visits!

Anonymous said...

Dear Kingfish,

You da man!

Say hello to Shad.

Sincerely,

One of your Little Trolls

Anonymous said...

You goobers keep falling for the “bombshell” reporting from the faux Investigative reporter and her “woke” editor with the Oedipus complex stories on the former Gov. They keep rewriting the same story hoping somehow it will come true. Those of you convicting the former Gov based on the “yellow” journalism by editor “Oedipus” and his pot aficionado squeeze reporter should pray that nobody you care about is ever treated in the same fashion. Evidence is more than just someone’s mouth opening and shutting or their speculation. Shame on those who convict a man in the court of public opinion based on the “pinhead” biased ramblings of a quisling third rate reporter.

Anonymous said...

What Bryant Songy Smell doing?

Anonymous said...

9:09, think Phil's wife is innocent? Kinda makes you wanna say, "hummmmm".

Anonymous said...

The fall guy took the fall. Looks like they agreed to let him serve his time in federal prison instead of the shitholes run by crooked Mississippi. I’m sure John realized he wouldn’t survive very long and jumped at the chance to extend his life In the federal pen.

Anonymous said...

@9:09, last I heard, which has been quite some time ago now, MDOC no longer allows conjugal visits. At the time the practice was halted, only inmates of the Mississippi and California penal systems still allowed the conjugal visit.

Anonymous said...

"ok, is it me or is this not just off. "one of the largest embezzlement schemes...." and restitution is $200K. Seems a little light on the restitution part to me."

Does it really matter how much restitution is ordered since he will die in prison?

Anonymous said...

The MSM,ESPN and cable news network shows are all now doing stories on "the largest embezzlement scheme in the history of Mississippi". One reporter stated Brett Favre took $70+ mil from needy families. Another ex-DOJ attorney talking head was certain both Favre and Phil Bryant will be indicted and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for their involvement. Another big factor that could make an arrest and conviction of both a sure thing is the fact that they are both big time Trump supporters. This makes them semi-facists and a threat to the soul of this nation. Just hope they also were not in Washington DC on that fateful J6 day.

Anonymous said...

Marshal Ramsey often misses the target with his cartoons, but his most recent cartoon about Davis/USM/etc. is HILARIOUS!

Anonymous said...

@5:09- most of his underlings retired, left, or were fired as soon as they caught on to the corruption. Reports were made to HR by various employees. I can’t think of a single one still employed with MDHS. The environment in that office was more than toxic, it was suffocating. The man you knew in the 90s is not the man JD is, today. He put his entire floor on lockdown and I don’t know if it ever came to fruition, but there was talk about employees only having key card access to their specific areas of the building. Have you seen “The Dropout”? He was preventing people from having access to one another. He and the News’ would walk down the hall with their tagalong crew like a scene from “Peaky Blinders”. Some of his underlings needed to feed their families and saw what was happening to people who spoke out. Put that same energy in coverups by the AGs office, the IHL, USM, and all the others who signed off knowing full well that when a non-profit comes into large sums of money, you should be checking to see where it comes from.

Anonymous said...

11:38 you must be a Phil crony or maybe Phil himself! Whichever, your guilty as hell, Shad tried to cover it up, ruining his political career forever, all to protect his mentor and sugar daddy!
Guilty should have to pay, be charged accordingly, and be punished. That includes Phil, Shad, and Tater Tot.
They keep adding to the story because new details keep emerging. When you get new story lines, you add to the story!



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