Ex-MDOC head Chris Epps charged with burglary

Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps has been arrested by the Flowood Police Department.

Flowood police confirmed Epps' arrest for allegedly removing light fixtures from his old home that was forfeited to the government as part of his guilty plea to bribery charges.

Epps is accused of running one of the largest and longest criminal conspiracies in state government history, taking at least $1.4 million in bribes and kickbacks over eight years to steer more than $800 million worth of state prison contracts.

Police Chief Richie McCluskey said  Epps, 55, is now charged with burglary of an  uninhabited dwelling.

"Mr. Epps was arrested at his current residence, also located within Flowood, and without incident where the property was recovered by detectives that will be returned to the United States government," McCluskey said.

McCluskey said If convicted of the burglary charge, Epps faces a maximum 25 years in prison. That would be longer than the maximum 23 years Epps faces in the federal bribery case.

Epps' attorney, John Colette, said Tuesday afternoon he didn't have many details about the arrest but was on his way to the police department.

It's unclear at this time whether Epps' arrest will impact him being out on a $25,000 unsecured bond in the federal case.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate reset Epps' sentencing date for May 24-25. Wingate set the sentencing Monday after a status conference last week.

Epps was indicted in November 2014 on 49 federal charges including bribery, money laundering, conspiracy and tax evasion. In February 2015, he pleaded guilty to a bribery count and a tax count. His attorney has said federal prosecutors have recommended a lenient sentence in exchange for his cooperation.

As part of his plea agreement to accepting bribes and filing a false income tax return, Chris Epps agreed to forfeit approximately $1 million in investment and bank accounts, his Flowood home, a condo on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and two Mercedes-Benz vehicles. He also agreed never to seek public office or be employed in any public-sector job. The agreement calls for Catherlean Epps to keep $200,000 from the investment account.

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at 601-961-7212 or jgates@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.