Jackson County Couple Sentenced to Prison in Prescription Drug and Bankruptcy Fraud Case

Gulfport, Miss. – A Jackson County couple was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden in a prescription fraud and embezzlement case, announced U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Acting U. S. Trustee Henry G. Hobbs, Jr. of Region 5, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam.

Sherrie Bennett, 57, of Vancleave, Mississippi, was sentenced on January 12, 2017, to serve 78 months in prison followed by three years supervised release and ordered to pay an $8,000 fine. She was convicted by a jury on July 29, 2016, after a two-week federal criminal trial, of fourteen counts of distributing prescription drugs and bankruptcy fraud.

Bennett, an officer manager and registered nurse with Biloxi Radiation and Oncology Center, LLC, a debtor in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Mississippi, participated in fraudulent writing and issuance of drug prescriptions, as well as embezzlement of approximately $54,636 from the bankruptcy estate. Bennett embezzled and appropriated to her own use estate funds belonging to the debtor. At sentencing the Court ordered that Sherri Bennett pay restitution in the amount of $54,636.00 through the U. S. Trustee to the consolidated bankruptcy estate. Sherri Bennett was also convicted of dispensing prescriptions to herself and family members illegally.

Bennett’s husband, Jerry Bennett, 59, of Vancleave, Mississippi, was also sentenced on January 12, 2017, to serve 27 months in prison followed by three years supervised release for his part in distributing the narcotics. He was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

The Jackson, Mississippi Office of the U. S. Trustee and the Chapter 7 trustee, Kimberly Lentz, of Gulfport, Mississippi, referred the bankruptcy matter to the U. S. Attorney for prosecution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, and the U.S. Trustee assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief John Meynardie and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.