Former Division of Marine Resources leaders indicted

Federal, state charges announced in year-long investigation into MDMR finances

Former Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Executive Director Bill Walker, several other former agency officials and Walker’s son Scott Walker were among the many indicted today by federal and state officials in the yearlong investigation into the state agency.

Walker, Scott Walker and former DMR employees Joe Ziegler and Tina Shumate face federal conspiracy and fraud charges.

According to the Sun-Herald newspaper, the charges against the Walkers, Ziegler and Shumate involve Jackson County property Scott Walker owned. They are alleged to have conspired to induce the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain to buy the property with federal funds.

In a separate indictment, Scott Walker and former D’Iberville City Manager Michael Janus are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud, bribery and money laundering. According to the Sun-Herald, Scott Walker is accused of bribing Janus while he was city manager in exchange for an $180,000 contract being awarded to Walker’s firm.

All five are scheduled to appear in court at 10 a.m. Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Walker.

Earlier Thursday, the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office announced embezzlement charges against Shumate, the former DMR coastal management and planning director, and four other former agency officials. All five, who were indicted by a grand jury for allegedly diverting state funds for their private use, submitting false travel vouchers or buying gas for their personal vehicles with an agency credit card, reported to the Harrison County jail by early in the afternoon.

Shumate faces the most charges, including five counts of embezzlement and one count of tampering with a witness. She was released on $5,000 bond for each charge.

Kerwin Cuevas, who headed DMR’s artificial reefs program that is very popular among coastal fishermen, faces three charges of embezzlement. His bond was set at $5,000 per charge.

Leslie Gollott, a former projects officer, faces two counts of embezzlement. Bond was set at $5,000 per charge.

Susan Perkins, a former public relations specialist, faces two charges of embezzlement, and her bond was set at $2,500 per charge.

Former DMR employee Grant Larsen faces one charge of embezzlement and bond was set at $2,500.

According to the Sun-Herald, the Auditor’s Office has issued civil demands for repayment of funds against 10 former DMR employees, including Bill Walker for $362,689, Ziegler for $258,269; Shumate for $127,609 and Gollott for $117,593.

Current DMR executive director Jamie Miller said he is happy, or at least hopeful, that the investigation is nearing a conclusion and the agency’s focus can return to accomplishing its assigned tasks.

“Throughout this investigation, we have cooperated with state and federal authorities, and will continue to do so,” Miller said in a statement released today. “We are pleased that state and federal officials are moving toward a resolution of their investigation, and we want to move forward and continue to do the work of this agency.