By JEFF AMY
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A former state senator is expected to become the sixth person to plead guilty in Mississippi’s prison contract bribery scandal.
Irb Benjamin has filed notice through his lawyer that he plans to plead guilty Oct. 18 before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate.
Indicted in August 2015, Benjamin is charged with paying bribes to former Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps. Brandon businessman Cecil McCrory and Epps pleaded guilty to charges connected to the bribery scheme in February 2015, but still await sentencing. Three others have also pleaded guilty to charges in the case.
Benjamin faces three separate criminal charges. Friday’s filing by Benjamin’s lawyer, Joe Hollomon, doesn’t make clear to which charges his client plans to plead guilty.
The indictment against Benjamin charges that he bribed Epps in exchange for contracts at two prison work centers, as well as consulting contracts with county jails in Alcorn, Washington and Chickasaw counties.
Be the first to comment