June 16, 2014

Former Executive Director of Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison

HATTIESBURG, MS—William Walker, 69, of Ocean Springs, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit federal program fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $572,689.14 and a $125,000 fine.

Walker pled guilty on March 10, 2014, to conspiring with his son, Scott Walker, to divert federal grant monies in a scheme that resulted in the federal grant monies being used to unlawfully purchase Scott Walker’s personal property in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Criminal Division Chief John Dowdy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Rushing, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden prosecuted the case.