Current:Home > Contact2 Mississippi businessmen found not guilty in pandemic relief fraud trial -Ascend Wealth Education
2 Mississippi businessmen found not guilty in pandemic relief fraud trial
View
Date:2025-04-26 16:50:08
COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) — Two Mississippi businessmen, one of whom served on the governor’s economic recovery advisory commission, have been cleared of all charges in a case where they were accused of fraudulently receiving more than $2 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief.
Jabari Ogbanna Edwards and Antwann Richardson, both residents of Columbus, were found not guilty Friday by a federal jury in Oxford, court records show.
Edwards and Richardson were indicted in June 2022 on charges of money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to Clay Joyner, U.S. attorney for northern Mississippi. Edwards also was charged with making a false statement.
In April 2020, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves appointed Edwards as one of several members of Restart Mississippi, a commission to advise him on the economy as COVID-19 spread.
Edwards held a news conference Tuesday in Columbus to thank his supporters and attorneys, WCBI-TV reported.
“Your unconditional love, unyielding support have been my steadfast anchor throughout these trying times,” Edwards said.
Attorney Wil Colom said the prosecution was malicious and should have never happened. Colom said the ordeal cost Edwards two years of his life, his business, name and image.
The indictments accused Edwards and Richardson of applying for and receiving money from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for the now-defunct business North Atlantic Security.
An indictment said North Atlantic Security received more than $500,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program about one month before it sold its contracts and assets to American Sentry Security Services.
North Atlantic Security stopped doing business in March 2021, but it applied for and received more than $1.8 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds in October and November of that year, the indictment said.
Prosecutors accused Edwards and Richardson of laundering the money through their other businesses, including J5 Solutions, Edwards Enterprises, J5 GBL, BH Properties and The Bridge Group.
A June 2022 statement from Joyner said the men used the money for unauthorized expenses including personal real estate transactions, political contributions, charitable donations and loan payments for vehicles.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- MLB's five most pivotal players to watch for 2024
- NFL to play Christmas doubleheader despite holiday landing on Wednesday in 2024
- Texas’ migrant arrest law is on hold for now under latest court ruling
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- No, welding glasses (probably) aren't safe to watch the solar eclipse. Here's why.
- How Jesse McCartney Managed to Avoid the Stereotypical Child Star Downfall
- Trader Joe's bananas: Chain is raising price of fruit for first time in 20 years
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Shakira to play New York pop-up show in Times Square. Here's what you need to know.
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Costco is cracking down on its food court. You now need to show your membership card to eat there.
- Police investigate death of girl whose body was found in pipe after swimming at a Texas hotel
- Who are Sean 'Diddy' Combs' children? Family tree as mogul faces assault claims, raids
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Lego moves to stop police from using toy's emojis to cover suspects faces on social media
- Convicted sex offender who hacked jumbotron at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ stadium gets 220 years
- FBI says Alex Murdaugh lied about where money stolen from clients went and who helped him steal
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Kristen Doute's Nipple-Pinching Drama on The Valley Explained
Yellen says China’s rapid buildout of its green energy industry ‘distorts global prices’
Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight could be pro fight or exhibition: What's the difference?
Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
Case against woman accused in death of adopted young son in Arizona dismissed, but could be refiled
Search for survivors in Baltimore bridge collapse called off as effort enters recovery phase
South Carolina has $1.8 billion but doesn’t know where the money came from or where it should go