Sentencing delayed in Mississippi prison contract bribery case

November 6, 2015 admin News Comments Off on Sentencing delayed in Mississippi prison contract bribery case
Sam Waggoner of Carthage, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery after waiving indictment before a federal judge. He admitted paying more than $108,000 in kickbacks to former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps. His sentencing has been delayed indefinitely while he recovers from open heart surgery. AP File Photo
Sam Waggoner of Carthage, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery after waiving indictment before a federal judge. He admitted paying more than $108,000 in kickbacks to former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps. His sentencing has been delayed indefinitely while he recovers from open heart surgery. AP File Photo
Sam Waggoner of Carthage, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery after waiving indictment before a federal judge. He admitted paying more than $108,000 in kickbacks to former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps. His sentencing has been delayed indefinitely while he recovers from open heart surgery.
AP File Photo

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Sentencing has been indefinitely delayed for a Carthage man who pleaded guilty to bribing former Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.

Court records show U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on Monday put off the Thursday sentencing date for Sam Waggoner.

Waggoner’s lawyer requested the delay, saying he needs more time to prepare, and that Waggoner is recovering from Oct. 8 heart surgery.

Waggoner pleaded guilty in August to one count of bribery after waiving indictment in an agreement with prosecutors. He told Wingate he paid more than $108,000 in kickbacks to Epps from a consulting contract with prison phone company Global Tel-Link.

Epps and former state Rep. Cecil McCrory pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Former state lawmaker Irb Benjamin of Madison has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for January.

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