By Jeff Amy
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. — A physician associated with a company that provides health care for Mississippi prisoners has been indicted on charges of bribing former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.
Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Dr. Carl Reddix, 57, is facing six counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
The indictment states that Reddix began paying Epps $6,000 in cash monthly in 2012, an amount that rose to $8,000 per month in 2013 after Health Assurance gained an additional contract to provide care at a correctional complex in Wilkinson County. The amounts rose to $9,000 in August and September 2014, concluding with $9,500 in October 2014, according to court documents.
The company eventually was providing health care at four privately-run state prisons, and prosecutors said the contracts at the four prisons were worth $29 million overall.
The physician was scheduled to face a Wednesday afternoon appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball.
Contacted on Tuesday by The Associated Press, Reddix didn’t identify his lawyer before hanging up. No lawyer is listed in court papers.
Corporate records show Reddix was one of the leaders of Health Assurance, a company that provides medical care to state prisons and county jails, until 2015. The indictment describes him as an owner.
Records maintained by the Mississippi Center for Public Policy show Health Assurance show has collected more than $40 million from the state since 2003 and more than $22 million from six Mississippi counties since 2004.
Epps and a businessman, Cecil McCrory of Brandon, pleaded guilty in February 2015 to charges connected to the bribery scheme, which cast a harsh light on Mississippi politics and its prison system.
Epps faces up to 23 years on charges of money laundering and filing false tax returns related to $1.47 million in bribes that prosecutors said he took. He’s forfeiting $1.7 million in assets. McCrory, a former state House member, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and faces a 20-year sentence. He’s forfeiting $1.7 million in assets. Their sentencing has been delayed.
Separately, a former prison phone communications consultant has pleaded guilty to bribing Epps and faces delayed sentencing.
Federal prosecutors have said as many as 11 others could face criminal charges in the prison contract bribery scheme. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca said this week that prosecutors will announce some of those charged on Monday.
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