FBI Makes Arrest in Witness Intimidation Case

Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi, announces the arrest of Ann Jefferson, executive director of South Delta Regional Housing Authority (SDRHA), in Leland, Mississippi. Jefferson was arrested by special agents of the FBI at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 2011, pursuant to an indictment rendered on January 26, 2011, by a grand jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, and an arrest warrant issued by the court on January 28, 2011. According to the indictment, Jefferson is charged with “knowingly, and with the intent to retaliate, take action harmful to a federal witness, thereby interfering with the lawful employment and livelihood of that witness, on account of the witness having provided to a law enforcement officer truthful information relating to the commission of federal offenses...”

Jefferson, age 56, of Leland, Mississippi, is accused of making threatening comments to and about federal witnesses after learning they had provided information to FBI agents conducting an investigation into suspected criminal activities of Jefferson and others. According to the indictment, Jefferson allegedly harmed two employees and a tenant of SDRHA through various actions, including interference with employment responsibilities and termination of their employment and all benefits associated therewith, all in retaliation for the witnesses’ cooperation with the FBI.

Jefferson made her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge David Sanders in the Federal Courthouse, Greenville, Mississippi, at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 2011. Jefferson is scheduled to be arraigned on February 10, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. She was released on $25,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with the victims.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Jackson Field Office - Greenville Resident Agency. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.

The charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.