GULFPORT, MS – A Jackson County couple is headed to federal prison after being convicted of a brazen scheme involving the illegal distribution of prescription drugs and the theft of funds from a bankruptcy estate. Sherrie Bennett, 57, of Vancleave, Mississippi, and her husband, Jerry Bennett, 59, received their sentences on January 12, 2017, following a federal trial that laid bare their criminal activity.
Sherrie Bennett, a registered nurse and office manager at Biloxi Radiation and Oncology Center, LLC – which was undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings – was the central figure in the fraud. A jury found her guilty on July 29, 2016, on a staggering fourteen counts of distributing prescription drugs and bankruptcy fraud. The evidence showed Bennett not only fraudulently wrote and issued prescriptions, but also systematically embezzled approximately $54,636 from the debtor’s bankruptcy estate, diverting the funds for her own personal use. Judge Sul Ozerden ordered Bennett to pay restitution in the amount of $54,636.00 to the consolidated bankruptcy estate through the U.S. Trustee.
The court handed down a hefty 78-month prison sentence to Sherrie Bennett, to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also slapped with an $8,000 fine. Investigators revealed Bennett further abused her position by illegally dispensing prescriptions to herself and family members, adding another layer of criminality to the case. The scheme unfolded while the Biloxi Radiation and Oncology Center was already struggling under the weight of bankruptcy, making Bennett’s actions particularly egregious.
Jerry Bennett, complicit in his wife’s crimes, also faced justice. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the distribution of the narcotics. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. While his direct involvement in the bankruptcy fraud wasn’t detailed, his participation in the drug distribution scheme proved enough to land him behind bars.
The case originated with a referral from the Jackson, Mississippi Office of the U.S. Trustee and Chapter 7 trustee Kimberly Lentz of Gulfport, Mississippi, who flagged irregularities in the bankruptcy proceedings. A joint investigation quickly followed, involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, and the U.S. Trustee. The cooperative effort exposed the depth of the Bennetts’ scheme and brought them to account.
The prosecution was handled by Deputy Criminal Chief John Meynardie and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones, who presented a compelling case that secured the convictions. U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Acting U.S. Trustee Henry G. Hobbs, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam all announced the sentences, signaling a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated. The Bennetts’ actions represent a betrayal of trust, exploiting both their positions and the bankruptcy system for personal gain, and their sentences reflect the severity of their offenses.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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