Former Jones County road foreman, contractor plead guilty

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — State Auditor Shad White announced that Richard Creel has pleaded guilty to one count of Embezzlement and Tommie Landrum has pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit and one count of Accessory before Fact.

Creel and Landrum engaged in a scheme to embezzle county-owned culverts and transport the property to a predetermined location provided by Landrum.

“The dedicated team at the State Auditor’s office has a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and we will continue to work with prosecutors to get record results for taxpayers,” said State Auditor Shad White.

Creel and Landrum were both prosecuted in the Jones County Circuit Court. Creel was sentenced to 5 years post-release supervision and has been ordered to pay $4,925.24 in restitution and $2,927.50 in fines. Landrum was sentenced to 5 years to serve with two years suspended after completion of 3 years of non-adjudicated probation and has been ordered to pay $2,462.62 in restitution and $2,927.50 in fines.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office at any time by clicking the red button on the Auditor’s website or calling 1-(800) 321-1275 during normal business hours.