U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Southern District of Mississippi
188 East Capitol Street
Suite 500
Jackson, Mississippi 39201-0101
Telephone 601-965-4480
Facsimile 601-965-4409

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 25, 2003

Dunn Lampton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Noel Hillman, Chief of the Public Integrity Section, U.S. Department of Justice, and Edwin L. Worthington, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, announced today that a federal grand jury in Jackson returned a detailed sixteen-count indictment charging Oliver Diaz, age 43 of Biloxi; Jennifer Diaz, age 38 of Biloxi; Paul Minor, age 57, of Ocean Springs; Walter "Wes" Teel, age 52 of Gulfport; and John Whitfield, age 41, of Gulfport, with fraud and bribery, including a scheme to deprive the state of Mississippi and its citizens of their right to honest services. Additionally, Minor is charged separately with racketeering activity.

Among the various schemes charged, the indictment alleges that Oliver Diaz, Wes Teel and John Whitfield all used their positions as judges to provide an unfair advantage to Paul Minor, who appeared at various times as a lawyer before them. The advantages secured by Minor and Minor's law firm were the result of Minor paying off loans, guaranteeing loans, making direct payments of cash, and paying for legal expenses incurred by some of the accused.

"One of the FBI's top priorities is to combat public corruption at all levels, to include the judiciary. All citizens are entitled to fair and impartial legal proceedings without undue influence. The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue investigations of this nature in Mississippi," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Edwin L. Worthington.

In addition to the excellent work of the DOJ Public Integrity Section and the FBI, Dunn Lampton acknowledged the contributions made in the initial stages of the investigation by officials of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, the Mississippi State Auditor's Office, and the Mississippi Banking Commission. He also acknowledged the hard work of the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Section "without whom the investigation could not have proceeded as quickly and efficiently as it did."

Mr. Lampton continued by observing that "an unbiased, untainted court system is essential in securing our democracy and preserving our fundamental rights."

This case will be prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth Morgan and Dave Fulcher, and Nancy Newcomb, Senior Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice Public Integrity Section.

If convicted, defendant Paul Minor faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on Count 1. Minor and the remaining defendants face a maximum penalty of five years and a fine of $250,000 on each of Counts 2 through 10, and a maximum penalty of ten years and a $250,000 fine on each of Counts 11 through 16.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only allegations. It will be the government's burden to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.