Another man accused of bribing Epps over prison contracts
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Authorities say another man has been charged with bribing former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.
Federal prosecutors filed a criminal charge late last week against Robert Simmons alleging he kicked back part of his consulting fees on three separate contracts to Epps beginning in 2012.
The charge also alleges Simmons bribed an unnamed Harrison County Supervisor in exchange for help securing a Harrison County jail medical contract for Jackson-based Health Assurance. Former Supervisor William Martin committed suicide last year hours before he was due in federal court on bribery charges.
Federal court records listed no attorney for Simmons.
No court date has been set for Simmons to answer to the charges.
Epps pleaded guilty in February to two felony bribery counts, with prosecutors saying he collected $1.47 million in bribes.
