Forest Woman Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Money Laundering

Jackson, Miss - Bridget Michelle Bland, 44, of Forest, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III, for conspiring to launder the drug proceeds of Jessie Hall, of Forest, Mississippi, and for causing a business to file a false IRS return, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation.

Bland’s co-defendants, Shannon Denise Hall, 41, of Forest, Sylvania Laranda Young, 41, currently of Jackson, Jessie Hall, 39, of Forest, and Willie Charles Rhodes, 54, of Brandon, have all pled guilty in this case. All five defendants participated in an extensive scheme to launder Jessie Hall’s drug proceeds. Hall created Hall’s Trucking to facilitate his drug trade and to launder his drug proceeds. Agents discovered that, with the help of his co-defendants, Hall was able to launder over $900,000 in cash over a two year period.

Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigation stated: “Money laundering conspiracies such as the one executed by Bridget Bland and her co-conspirators represent extremely damaging criminal enterprises. These schemes erode and manipulate our financial systems by promoting an underground, untaxed economy which harms the entire nation’s economic strength. IRS – CI is committed to serving the law enforcement partnerships that are in place to bring these criminals to justice.”

The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the criminal investigation of the financial affairs leading to the current indictment. The Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with officers from the Ridgeland Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics initially investigated the drug trafficking organization of Jessie Hall.

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