Both the former Mississippi prison system commissioner and a local businessman have plead not guilty to dozens of felony counts that include conspiracy, bribery and money laundering.
The Associated Press reported that former prison system boss Christopher Epps and Rankin County businessman Cecil McCrory each plead not guilty to the counts on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Jackson. Epps, 53, plead not guilty to 35 counts and McCrory, 52, plead not guilty to 15.
The Jackson Free Press noted that the former commissioner is accused of accepting bribes for contracting business with the state’s Department of Corrections to McCrory’s companies.
Prosecutors said that Epps allegedly contracted work to the businessman’s companies or companies he was a consultant for. McCrory is accused of then allegedly paying the commissioner in cash and checks that held his mortgage or loans, or to investment accounts he set up.
Epps, who has headed the MDOC since 2002, resigned on Wednesday. He faces a 388-year prison sentence if convicted while McCrory faces a 210-year sentence.