Auditor announces guilty plea in Operation Payback

JACKSON, Miss. — State Auditor Shad White announced that Benjamin Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulent statements and representations after submitting fraudulent weekly certification sheets to obtain unemployment funds from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

“My office will continue to drop the hammer on criminals who can be identified and recover as much misspent taxpayer dollars as possible,” White said.

The Forrest County Circuit Court sentenced Coleman to three years in a pre-trial diversion program and ordered him to pay $2,824 in restitution and $175 in fines.

The plea is part of Operation Payback, the auditor’s effort to identify and pursue alleged fraud involving public benefits, officials said. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office at any time by clicking the red button on the Auditor’s website or by calling 1-800-321-1275 during normal business hours.

This case adds to the office’s ongoing work to recover misspent funds. We will provide more information as it becomes available.