FINAL DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN “OPERATION NEW MOON RISING”

Jackson, Miss - Marzett Jordan, 45, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, was sentenced on April 2, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to six months in federal prison for making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. The government and Jordan also agreed to a substitute of assets settlement of $130,000 which was paid by Jordan to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Jordan pled guilty to the charge on October 31, 2005. He was the final defendant to be sentenced under the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") Operation "New Moon Rising", an extensive investigation into illegal narcotics distribution and money laundering in the Philadelphia, MS area. The Operation resulted in the indictment of Jordan and others on various counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, laundering drug proceeds and making false statements on mortgage applications.

Other defendants in this case included Spencer Jordan, who pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He was sentenced in December, 2009 to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Annie Mae Jordan pled guilty to a Criminal Information charging her with misprision of a felony. She was sentenced on January 25, 2006 to 8 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

Jerome R. McDuffie, Acting Special Agent in Charge for IRS – Criminal Investigation, stated, "Spencer Jordan conspired with multiple family members including his brother, Marzett Jordan, to launder drug proceeds through real estate purchases. The money laundering and forfeiture aspects of this case were particularly intricate, and included the dissection of financial transactions related to properties purchased with the drug proceeds of Spencer Jordan. The properties were purchased in the name of Marzett Jordan, who is a former bank employee. As a result of his participation in the money laundering conspiracy, Marzett Jordan agreed to forfeit $130,000.00 in currency. Taking apart drug and money laundering enterprises such as these are

often the culmination of many investigative efforts and resources. The special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation are especially excited to utilize our investigative skills to assist in these types of cases. The length of time it often takes to settle the money laundering aspects of the case in court is well worth it compared to the benefits received by the community. Jordan and his cartel represented a large threat to the Philadelphia, MS area. Former Philadelphia Police Chief, David Edwards, estimated that, during the period related to the investigation, Spencer Jordan and his cartel were responsible for trafficking as much as 60 to 70 percent of the drugs entering the local community. It is a great victory for law enforcement that they have all been held accountable for their actions."

This OCDETF operation was led by the DEA and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.