JACKSON – (AP) Federal authorities have accused seven people of participating in money laundering schemes that allegedly took place in central Mississippi.
U.S. Attorney John Dowdy of Jackson said Friday that the charges stem from large marijuana distribution operations in the area.
WLBT reported that during the investigation, officers seized $854,000 in cash, 10 tractor trucks, eight tractor trailers, 12 cars, jewelry, three houses and thousands of pounds of marijuana.
Jessie J. Hall, 38, of Forest Sylvania Laranda Young, 40, of Ferriday, La., Bridget Michelle Bland, 43, of Newton, Willie Charles Rhodes, 53, of Brandon, and Shannon Denise Hall, 40, of Morton, were charged with conspiring to launder drug proceeds, money laundering and evasion of tax reporting requirements, Dowdy said.
In a separate case, Patrina Bester Hayes, 35, of Paulding, and Lornell Von Moore, 46, of Louin, have been charged with conspiring to launder drug proceeds, money laundering and evasion of tax reporting requirements, Dowdy said.
Lornell Von Moore, Jessie J. Hall, and Shannon Denise Hall are all already serving federal prison sentences time for conspiracy to distribute marijuana, Dowdy said.
Dowdy said officers from the Ridgeland Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration to initially investigate drug distribution rings.
Fourteen people were convicted of various counts of conspiring to distribute marijuana.
Additional investigation by the Internal Revenue Service and DEA led to the new indictments, Dowdy said.
