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Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Associated Press
Defendant in Mississippi auditor's ‘second largest' embezzlement case in history goes free
Four years ago, agents from the state auditor's office arrested Tunica nonprofit operator Mardis Jones in what the office trumpeted as the second-largest embezzlement case in its history and demanded Jones return over $1 million to the state. The charges accused Jones of stealing $750,000 from a home rehabilitation program he was supposed to be administering while turning away needy rural residents living in crumbling houses. But his defense attorney attacked holes in the case, and last month, a local jury found Jones not guilty of the criminal charges. Now, the state has made no indication it will bring a civil case to try to claw back the money from him. Jones' nonprofit Tunica County Housing Inc. secured a subcontract with the county through the North Delta Regional Housing Authority in 2014 to run the county's home rehabilitation program funded with casino revenue. For his work, vetting applications and managing expenses, Jones earned $12,000 a month. At the core of the criminal case were 'strange money transfers' and a finding that several of the people whose applications for home rehab were approved allegedly never received any repairs to their homes. According to the auditor's office, investigators found less than 20% of the nearly $2 million Jones' nonprofit received went to the contractors working to rehab homes. 'Once again, an arm of government trusted a private organization to run a government program, and a large percentage of the program's spending was flat out stolen,' State Auditor Shad White said in a press release after the arrest. Attorney General Lynn Fitch echoed White, saying, 'These funds – hundreds of thousands of dollars – were meant to help the elderly, handicapped, and poverty stricken. But the funds never got to the vulnerable citizens who needed it most.' Jones' lawyer Carlos Tanner explained to Mississippi Today that the program operated with an extreme backlog, and that 'some of the people they were claiming didn't get their houses done actually did' by the time the trial was held this year. The program was poorly administered, Tanner said, meaning that even if a person's application was approved and a rehab contract prepared, county officials could direct Jones to put someone else's repair job ahead of his or hers. 'But just because it was run like a first weekend lemonade stand does not mean Mardis Jones stole money,' Tanner said. Tanner said the investigators gathered paltry evidence, only looking at details that fit their narrative. While Jones did earn a large salary through his contract, Tanner said prosecutors never presented evidence that Jones converted money that was supposed to be used on home rehabilitation to his personal use. Investigators got a warrant to seize Jones' electronics, Tanner said, but 'they never bothered to search it.' 'The two OSA (Office of the State Auditor) officials who were running the investigation, I questioned them about it during trial, and neither of them could tell me where the computer was, where the phone was, or what the contents were,' Tanner said. Jacob Walters, a spokesperson for the auditor's office, defended the way the investigators handled the case, saying, 'The state auditor's office is never going to turn a case we investigated over to a prosecutor unless we're fully confident in the work that we did.' At the time the auditor's office announced the Jones arrest, it also said it delivered a demand letter ordering Jones to repay over $1 million, the money it alleged he stole plus interest and investigative expenses. It's up to the attorney general or local district attorney to decide how to prosecute auditor investigations, or in Jones' case, what happens to the civil demand now that a jury found him not guilty in the criminal case. When a person receives a demand alongside his or her arrest, regardless of what happens with criminal charges, the claw back can be enforced through civil litigation — much like the case against several defendants in a stunning Mississippi Department of Human Services fraud case, which began in 2020 and has yet to be resolved. Walters said the demand against Jones is still the office's next-largest in history, second only to the welfare scandal. The government might choose to pursue civil litigation, even if criminal prosecution is unsuccessful, because there is a lower burden of proof to win civil cases. But the attorney general's office told Mississippi Today last month that it had not received the Jones demand letter from the auditor, meaning it has nothing left to enforce. Walters said the auditor's office sent the letter along with the case file four years ago, but that with a turnover in attorneys prosecuting the case, the auditor had to resend the file last year. If the attorney general's office no longer possesses the demand document, Walters said, 'it's an incredibly easy problem to resolve.' 'Just reach out to us with a single phone call or email and we can get it to you,' Walters said. After the interview, the auditor's office sent the demand letter by email, and the attorney general's office confirmed it was received. ___ This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mullen Automotive Enters Into Settlement Agreement with GEM Group
On May 9, 2025, Company executed a settlement agreement with GEM Group. Under terms of the settlement agreement, GEM has a 55-day due diligence period, subject to extension by GEM, to evaluate the transfer to GEM of the Mishawaka assets in complete satisfaction of the judgement. All collection activities have been suspended for the duration of the due diligence period. Mullen continues to build its business and expand its existing Tunica, Mississippi, manufacturing capabilities to meet near and long-term demands for its multiple product lines. BREA, Calif. / NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) ('Mullen' or the 'Company'), an electric vehicle ('EV') manufacturer, announces today that it has executed a settlement agreement with GEM Yield Bahamas Limited and GEM Global Yield LLC SCS (together, 'GEM'). On May 9, 2025, Company executed a settlement agreement with GEM Group. Under terms of the settlement agreement, GEM has a 55-day due diligence period, subject to extension by GEM, to evaluate the transfer to GEM of the Mishawaka assets in complete satisfaction of the judgement. All collection activities have been suspended for the duration of the due diligence period. Mullen continues to build its business and expand its existing Tunica, Mississippi, manufacturing capabilities to meet near and long-term demands for its multiple product lines. 'After four years of litigation we have executed a settlement agreement which provides a path forward to a full resolution with GEM and puts this matter behind us,' said David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive. 'I look forward to a great rest of 2025 and continued growth thereafter.' About MullenMullen Automotive (NASDAQ: MULN) is a Southern California-based automotive company building the next generation of commercial electric vehicles ('EVs') with two United States-based vehicle plants located in Tunica, Mississippi, (120,000 square feet) and Mishawaka, Indiana (650,000 square feet). In August 2023, Mullen began commercial vehicle production in Tunica. As of January 2024, both the Mullen ONE, a Class 1 EV cargo van, and Mullen THREE, a Class 3 EV cab chassis truck, are California Air Resource Board ('CARB') and EPA certified and available for sale in the U.S. The Company's commercial dealer network consists of seven dealers, which includes Papé Kenworth, Pritchard EV, National Auto Fleet Group, Ziegler Truck Group, Range Truck Group, Eco Auto, and Randy Marion Auto Group, providing sales and service coverage in key West Coast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, New England, and Mid-Atlantic markets. In September 2022, Bollinger Motors, of Oak Park, Michigan, became a majority-owned EV truck company of Mullen Automotive. Bollinger Motors has passed numerous milestones including its B4, Class 4 electric truck production launch on Sept. 16, 2024, and the development of a world-class dealer and service network with over 50 locations across the United States. To learn more about the Company, visit Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as "continue," "will," "may," "could," "should," "expect," "expected," "plans," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Mullen and are difficult to predict. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the outcome of GEM's due diligence and whether the proposed settlement will be implemented. Additional examples of such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: (i) Mullen's ability (or inability) to obtain additional financing in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms when needed; (ii) Mullen's ability to maintain existing, and secure additional, contracts with manufacturers, parts and other service providers relating to its business; (iii) Mullen's ability to successfully expand in existing markets and enter new markets; (iv) Mullen's ability to successfully manage and integrate any acquisitions of businesses, solutions or technologies; (v) unanticipated operating costs, transaction costs and actual or contingent liabilities; (vi) the ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; (vii) adverse effects of increased competition on Mullen's business; (viii) changes in government licensing and regulation that may adversely affect Mullen's business; (ix) the risk that changes in consumer behavior could adversely affect Mullen's business; (x) Mullen's ability to protect its intellectual property; and (xi) local, industry and general business and economic conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements can be found in the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed by Mullen with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mullen anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its plans, intentions and expectations to change. Mullen assumes no obligation, and it specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing Mullen's plans and expectations as of any subsequent date. Contact:Mullen Automotive, Inc.+1 (714) Corporate CommunicationsIBNAustin, OfficeEditor@
