WebShe was a Biloxi city councilwoman from 1981 to 1985, and she ran for mayor as a Republican in 1985 but lost to incumbent Gerald Blessey. It charged Sharpe with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice for false testimony she gave in the 1991 trial. 
8. Join Facebook to connect with Sherri Sharpe and others you may know. Enticing Nude Photos. He knew him well after investigating the Dixie Mafia for so long. Based on the new information, Federal authorities pursued the case that led to the indictment of Mr. Nix and three others. Mike Gillich Jr., a former owner of striptease lounges in Biloxi who became a government witness, was released from prison in July 2000 after serving nine years for his role in the conspiracy. See United States v. Trammell, 133 F.3d 1343, 1354 (10th Cir.1998). We find that the district court properly sentenced Nix. Halat said that Vince and Margaret were both dead. The Court noted that [i]nsofar as the question is one of legislative intent, the Blockburger presumption must of course yield to a plainly expressed contrary view on the part of Congress. Id. Its important for us to have a space to put those things chronologically so things dont kind of meld together that way we can create efficiently and effectively this project that we want to do.. Regarding the claim that the instruction was not proper in a conspiracy we note that this Circuit has consistently approved a deliberate ignorance instruction in such cases. A variance results when the charging terms of the indictment remain unaltered, but the evidence at trial proves facts other than those alleged in the indictment. United States v. Ramirez, 145 F.3d 345, 351 (5th Cir.1998). Margaret was a force to be reckoned with as well. See Garrett v. United States, 471 U.S. 773, 778-79, 105 S.Ct. I dont know that she understands the depth of the things that we experienced., Its been a long time ago Eason said. They were going to hire Ransom but decided on a man named Thomas Holcomb. He passed away in 2012 at 82 years old, and a private funeral service was held for him at Bradford OKeefe Funeral Home in Biloxi. In the interview in August 1989, Mr. Fabian described the scheme in which he said he and other inmates took in hundreds of thousands of dollars. While the government was procuring Gillich's testimony, it was negotiating with Robert Wright (Wright) for his testimony concerning a number of drug deals that he had engaged in with Nix and his associates. There were two bullets in the wall, so if she heard those she may have had a moment to turn and see her killer, but she may not have heard them at all. After graduating from Western Kentucky State College, she taught in school. This I know with complete accuracy because with the help of Dauby Scheile at Jefferson, I located the second box. There were times that we would walk home from school, and we would be filmed . 201(c)(2). They would place ads in gay publications saying they were looking for love or just some summer fun and asking for a phone number. Mike Gillich Jr. BILOXI, Mississippi -- Mike Gillich Jr., a former Biloxi striptease lounge owner who helped plot the 1987 Dixie Mafia murders of a judge and the judge's wife, has died. Please try again. Want more WLOX news in your inbox? In 1991, the government indicted Sharpe for and a jury convicted her of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. . By then, the Dixie Mafia had a hold on Biloxi and surrounding areas. To prove a RICO conspiracy the government must establish (1) that two or more people agreed to commit a substantive RICO offense and (2) that the defendant knew of and agreed to the overall objective of the RICO offense. Around 11 a.m., he went over to the house. The court staff called his law partner a little before 9 a.m. when Vincent hadnt shown up. Assuming the letters were admissible, Holcomb invited error by failing to renew his offer of proof at trial. 
See United States v. Felix, 503 U.S. at 387, 112 S.Ct. Halat again blamed Vincent Sherry. The Associated Press. 
On July 16, 1997 the jury rendered a partial guilty verdict on all of the charges against Nix, Sharpe, and Holcomb and Halat's obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice charges. The substantive obstruction counts arise from separate portions of Sharpe's testimony at the 1991 trial. See United States v. Dees, 125 F.3d 261, 269 (5th Cir.1997); United States v. Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 567 (5th Cir.1992) (We hold that a defendant may waive his statutory right to appeal his sentence.). One of his first steps was to interview an inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola who had been linked to the Dixie Mafia, Bobby Joe Fabian. An indictment may be duplicitous if it joins in a single Count two or more distinct offenses. United States v. Baytank (Houston), Inc., 934 F.2d 599, 608 (5th Cir.1991). Again, Halat does not argue that he was prejudiced by the district court's failure to give a unanimity instruction. Halats big client was another member of the Dixie Mafia, Kirksey McCord Nix. We review admission and exclusion of evidence for abuse of discretion. It took thorough investigative work and Mike Gillich Jr. telling all to take Halat down. 
1503. 2002-2018 redOrbit.com. In a 1990 WLOX interview, Sharpe talked about her ties to it all. The information provided is no substitite for an informed medical professional. We are here for you and now, better than ever so sit back and enjoy See also United States v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688, 697, 113 S.Ct. Nixs inside connection was LaRa Sharpe, his girlfriend who worked in the Sherry-Halat law firm. Nix was found guilty of RICO conspiracy Counts 1 and 2 in violation of 18 U.S.C. How much are hotel rooms in Biloxi for Black spring break? A defendant must show specific and compelling prejudice against which the district court could not provide adequate protection, and that this prejudice resulted in an unfair trial. See United States v. Mitchell, 31 F.3d 271, 276 (5th Cir.1994) (citations omitted). When he was eligible for release, hed also have to spend three years on probation. They would blackmail closeted gay men by threatening to out them. The leader of the fraud? Eason was just 16, and reality set in particularly around Nix. I didnt feel threatened around him, she said. Seventy-year-old Halat was released from the halfway house in April 2013. Sharpe moved to dismiss the indictment, asserting that: (1) Double Jeopardy barred her prosecution; (2) the substantive obstruction of justice charges failed to state a claim under 18 U.S.C. 1343. Later in September of 1988, police held a press conference to give an update. This argument is foreclosed by our authority that Section 201(c)(2) does not apply to government plea bargains in exchange for testimony. In 1989, Halat ran for mayor of Biloxi and he won. and theyd have to call and get them off our lawn. The project is not to re-litigate their mothers history; its to recover from it. BILOXI (AP) Mike Gillich Jr., a former Biloxi striptease lounge owner who helped plot the 1987 Dixie Mafia murders of a judge and the judges wife, has died. It was also the year that she was indicted in federal court for her role. See Fed. The elements of murder to hire are: (1) traveling or causing another to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or using or causing another to use the mail or other facility of interstate or foreign commerce; (2) with intent that a murder be committed in violation of the laws of any State or the United States; and (3) as consideration for the receipt of pecuniary value. 
The ensuing investigation into the Sherry murders eclipsed a decade, and would unveil ties between the murders and the corruption that gripped the Gulf Coast in the 1980s. All rights reserved. On Dec. 15, Federal marshals closed two of Mr. Gillich's strip clubs, saying they were being used for drug dealing. Halat defended him from 1979 to 1988. Holcomb was charged with conspiracy to violate the racketeering statute and conspiracy to obstruct justice, but not for murder. Walking in and out of courthouses with the cameras on you and the sketch artists in the courtroom. See id. Halat moved to dismiss the indictment before trial on the grounds that it was duplicitous, but did not request a unanimity instruction or object when the district court did not give one. These supporting players included: (1) Mike Gillich, Jr., owner and operator of the Golden Nugget, a night club and strip joint in Biloxi, Mississippi; (2) John Ransom, a parolee from a Georgia prison; (3) LaRa Sharpe, Nix's girlfriend and a paralegal; (4) Peter Halat, Thats when Nix and Gillich ordered a hit on Vincent. The district court may not instruct the jury on a charge that is not supported by the evidence. United States v. Ortega, 859 F.2d 327, 330 (5th Cir.1988). Mob members outside the prison, threatening to expose the letter-writers as homosexuals, would demand money, the authorities said. Holcomb contends that the government did not have adequate evidence to convict him as the trigger man, so it used the RICO conspiracy charges and voluminous evidence unrelated to him to hold him guilty by association. See id. Therefore, the indictment failed to state a violation of 18 U.S.C. He stepped into the house briefly and then shouted for the neighbor to call the police. There are also fond memories of Mike Gillich who bought the chocolate Eason sold for her school. The scam involved placing fraudulent ads in the national LGBT magazine The Advocate pretending to be young single homosexual men in legal trouble who needed money. Gillich testified that Holcomb confirmed murdering the Sherrys. Im finding in my research that it does bring back certain things, Eason said. I think a lot of times we think that things are unachievable. WebSheri LaRa Sharpe Sheri LaRa Sharpe News Figure in 1987 Dixie Mafia slaying of 2 dies at 82 May 10, 2012Monica Land0 BILOXI (AP) Mike Gillich Jr., a former Biloxi striptease Shari Sharpe - Lake Havasu City, AZ Real Estate Agent | realtor.com A. An indictment is duplicitous if it joins in a single count two or more distinct offenses. United States v. Baytank, 934 F.2d 599, 608 (5th Cir.1991). On this record we find that there was sufficient evidence to find that the defendants were involved in ongoing crimes that tolled the limitations period. Nix's girlfriend, LaRa Sharpe also assisted in the schemes. Biloxi Confidential focuses on Pete Halat, who took office as Biloxi mayor in 1989, less than two years after the murders. By then, he was a sick old man in a Mississippi prison missing his family. The jury was allowed to rule on the conspiracy charge without specifying whether a defendant conspired to murder or defraud or both. 
Nixs inside connection was LaRa Sharpe, his girlfriend who worked in the Sherry-Halat law firm. Nix was the former leader of the Dixie Mafia known for participating in some of the groups most high profile killings, even after his imprisonment. Over 35 years ago, two prominent Biloxi figures were found dead in their home, leading to multiple arrests, prison sentences and the uncovering of a national scam. This Court reviews a district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and the district court's factual findings for clear error. Mr. Fabian named a fellow inmate, Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., 48 years old, as the mastermind of the scheme and the murders. Motion for Mistrial Based on Jury Misconduct. Dozens of men wired money to nix through western union. All rights reserved, SpaceX Launches Transport Layer Satellites for Space Force, Elon Musk Denies Report of Potential Investment From Saudi Arabia, UAE, SpaceX Crew-5 Splashes Down Off Coast of Florida. Holcomb argues that a conviction based in part upon an eyewitness' photographic identification may be set aside if the procedure was so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. 1503 (obstruction of justice), 18 U.S.C. Mike Gillich (Gillich), the alleged underworld boss of Biloxi, Mississippi, aided Nix in his various schemes. The nickname comes from Biloxi's long history of illicit gambling. There was no obituary for him posted on the funeral homes website. The problem with Holcomb's argument is that the testimony about his other crimes and bad acts was not offered to prove that Holcomb acted in conformity with his bad character. The district court dismissed the money laundering charges as not supported by any evidence. Sheri LaRa Sharpe was released June 13, 2002, from a federal prison in Tallahassee, Fla., after serving five years for obstruction of justice. BILOXI, Miss. She was slumped against the bed with her feet under the dresser as if she had just slid down. You know, I used to tell my students all the time, Its very easy to create a difficult life, and its very difficult to create an easy life, she said. Appeals from the United States District Court Ransom could receive up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000, while Mr. Nix and Mr. Gillich could receive up to 20 years and fines up to $750,000. Biloxis Sherry murders will be featured on Court TV. Only a few days after the murders, Gulf Coast businessmen put their money together to make a $50,000 reward for information. its just a story, Eason said. Therefore, Count One can be read to allege only one violation. Nix and Gillich said they would split the cost of the hitman. There were a lot of really, really hard and difficult things that happened to myself and my sister in a lot of different ways simply by being LaRas daughter, Eason added. 97-3-19 (1972), and Miss.Code Ann. United States v. Fletcher, 121 F.3d 187, 194 (5th Cir.1997). Sharpe's list of witnesses who made no reference to Sharpe and her assertion that charges against her were peripheral to the primary focus of the trial do not amount to specific and compelling proof of prejudice. Gillich also got 15 years in prison. Here again the evidence was sufficient to convict Holcomb of this crime. The couple, Vincent Sherry of the Second Mississippi District Circuit Court, and his wife, Margaret, were found dead in their home in a quiet north Biloxi neighborhood on Sept. 16, 1987. Both were natural-born politicians gregarious and well-respected in their community. Similarly, Holcomb contends that Officer Osborne's testimony constituted impermissible extrinsic character evidence. First, Holcomb maintains that the trial court erred by excluding the testimony of Bobby Joe Faubion (Faubion). Halat was dismissed early as a suspect. In this record each of the substantive obstruction counts cites a separate instance of false testimony, requiring different factual proof of falsity. Halat and Nix contend that the government knowingly presented perjured testimony. After two years in prison, Gillich decided to talk and implicated Halat, who was convicted after a second trial in 1997 for participating in the conspiracy. Now, decades later, she and her younger sister Aimee Gilmer are ready to talk. 1. 97-60704 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, VERSUS SHERI LARA SHARPE; THOMAS LESLIE HOLCOMB; PETER HALAT, JR.; AND KIRKSEY MCCORD NIX, JR. also known as J R, also known as Junior, also known as Kirk, Defendants-Appellants. and I think she was probably trying make our lives better although it happened the wrong way.. When a judge and his wife were found slain in gangland fashion in their home here four years ago, suspicion immediately fell on a loosely knit criminal group the authorities call the "Dixie Mafia" or the "Cornbread Cosa Nostra. 1503 by obstructing justice when he testified falsely in Sharpe I. An old friend of his, Juanda Jones, ran a bordello there, and Nix became involved with Jones' adolescent daughter, Sheri LaRa. Sharpe contends that: she was the only defendant not indicted on the drug conspiracy charge which was the primary focus at trial; she was not charged with murder or conspiracy to murder the Sherrys; and evidence with no relevance to charges against Sharpe predominated at trial. Vincent Sherry, a circuit court judge and law partner of eventual Biloxi Mayor Pete Halat, was blamed for taking some of the money that was being funneled through the law firm from the scam. The killer then shot Vincent in the face again, hitting just below his right eye and finishing him off. Fed R. Evid. As a result, the government did not prosecute Halat. When the District Attorney was ready to move on indictments, Ransom had been moved to a Georgia prison closer to his family and he refused to cooperate any longer. See United States v. Chiantese, 582 F.2d 974, 978 (5th Cir.1978). The sentences were to be served concurrently for a total of 18 years in prison. . Police believed the murders were the work of a professional because there was nothing missing from the house and there was no sign of forced entry. However, Fletcher is inapplicable because it involved the issue of a photographic line up prepared by police. WebMichael Sharp, Chicago Title Agent who prepared and closed the Longwood Circle Iranian/Porn Sheikhs Closing in Tehran. In a lot of ways, I kind of considered, as a child, Kirksey as a really nice man, Eason said. Moreover, Gillich indicated that it was not Ransom who had murdered the Sherrys1 ; but, rather, Thomas Holcomb, a contract killer hired by Gillich. Eason has used the experience as a way to teach others. John Ransom, Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., Sheri LaRa Sharpe, and former Biloxi mayor Pete Halat. Holcomb offered to assist Gillich during his Sharpe I difficulties, showing that he was still willing to assist in the larger RICO and obstruction of justice conspiracies. 201(c)(2) creates criminal penalties for bribing witnesses, and defines bribery as [d]irectly or indirectly, giv[ing], offer [ing], or promis[ing] anything of value to any person, for or because of the testimony under oath given or to be given as a witness upon a trial The defendants note that the government has given Gillich and Wright something of value, namely freedom, because of their testimony against the defendants in this trial. Halat's acts of concealment, such as committing perjury, clearly were acts done in furtherance of the main criminal objectives of the conspiracies. When Nix confronted Halat about the missing money, he blamed it on his law partner Vincent Sherry. . I had a lot of anger toward the press, Eason said. This Biloxi, Mississippi based group of con artists known as the Dixie Mafia first emerged in the American South in the 1960s. At the first trial for fraud and the attendant murders in 1991, the government argued that Nix, with the assistance of Sharpe, Sharpe's mother, and Gillich, hired ex-convict John Ransom (Ransom) to kill the Sherrys. Copyright 2023 WLOX. We affirm because the evidence clearly shows that wire fraud conspiracy charged in count 51 did not end with Nix's conviction; rather, the evidence supports a single, on-going conspiracy. United States v. Dixon, 132 F.3d 192, 201 (5th Cir.1997). The couple, Vincent Sherry of the Second Mississippi District Circuit Court, and his wife, Margaret, were found dead in their home in a quiet north Biloxi neighborhood on Sept. 16, 1987. Officer Osborne, a Texas law enforcement official, testified that he found a .22 caliber pistol and a drawing of a silencer during a search of Holcomb's home in 1988. Count 3 involves Sharpe's testimony that she never made a three-way call to any victim of the homosexual scam. Gillich, on the other hand, testified that he contracted with Holcomb to kill the Sherrys, and that he did not know Rhodes or Ransom. at 367-68. Halat: I don't believe my office was being used as a depository of scam funds. killer; his former girlfriend, Sheri LaRa Sharpe of St. Francisville, La. In prison for life at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Nix ran all illegal activity inside the prison and a lot on the outside. Arguing that the reports were admissible under Fed.R.Evid. We have previously held that the government may include several acts within a single Count where those actions represent a single, continuing scheme provided: the indictment (1) notifies the defendant adequately of the charges against him; (2) does not subject to the defendant to double jeopardy; (3) does not permit prejudicial evidentiary rulings at trial; and (4) does not allow the defendants to be convicted by a nonunanimous verdict. The hit was pulled off by a group of criminals known as the Dixie Mafia over a Lonely Hearts scam run out of Angola prison in Louisiana to swindle gay men. His strip clubs often had brothels running in the back rooms and he ran a tight ship. Randy Cook. Kirksey McCord Nix, who was already in prison for murder. 306 (1932). Nix contends that he was sentenced to life imprisonment based on the district court's finding of facts concerning the Counts 1 and 2 Racketeering Acts. I just knew what I wanted my life to look like and how I wanted it to be. WebSheri Lara Sharpe; Thomas Leslie Holcomb; Peter Halat, Jr.; and Kirksey Mccord Nix, Jr. Also Known As J R, Also Known As Junior, Also Known As Kirk, Defendants-appellants, 193 F.3d 852 (5th Cir. Circuit Judge Vincent Sherry and his wife, Margaret, were slain in their Biloxi home on Sept. 14, 1987, in a plot involving a lawyer, a Louisiana prisoner and a strip club owner. We are excited to announce that FibromyalgiaTreating.com is now part of RedOrbit.com. See 18 U.S.C.A. Backbone of the Case. Nix is still alive today, and is imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma. Peter Halat, a Biloxi attorney, maintained a trust account for Nix. 2849. Armistead had been investigating the Dixie Mafia since 1976. Helping others especially children is the hope. Dixie Mafia leader Mike Gillich Jr. helped to plot the murders. One of their dogs was scheduled to have a cataract removed, so maybe that had delayed them. When the prosecution took the case before a grand jury, the indictments they asked for were for the Lonely Hearts scam, murder conspiracy, wire fraud and two counts of traveling in interstate commerce for murder to hire. Prosecutors say a Dixie Mafia boss in a Louisiana prison, helped by cohorts on the outside, ran an extortion ring preying on homosexuals, an operation that led to murder when a half million dollars of illicit profit disappeared and the judge was falsely accused of taking it. Halats official story was that he first looked in through the sliding glass door then tried the handle and it opened. Assuming without deciding that the trial evidence proved multiple conspiracies, neither defendant proved in this record that any such variance affected a substantial right. The government proved and the district court actually instructed the jury that the issue was not whether the particular responses, considered individually and out of context, were made intentionally with knowledge of falsity, but rather, whether Halat's responses were made as part of an endeavor to impede and block the flow of truthful information, in other words, a single continuous scheme. The government several times moved unsuccessfully to remove juror number six. One access was with Lara Sharpe who borrowed money on at least one occasion and told Nix who decided she did not need to enter the box. His establishments included motels, a bingo parlor and nightclubs that doubled as strip clubs and gambling dens. Gilmer also wants to use this as a catharsis. We affirm if a rational trier of fact could have found all essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. He says the government's theory assumes he committed the murders but has nothing to do with the homosexual scams, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and other activities. As a result of its further investigations and Gillich's testimony, the government brought a new indictment against Nix, Sharpe, Halat, and Holcomb in 1996. ; lounge owner Mike Gillich Jr.; and John. They found 345 phone calls between Halats office and the Angola prison in Louisiana. Failure to State a Claim Under 18 U.S.C. WebHome. United States v. Fletcher, 928 F.2d 495, 502-503 (2nd Cir.1991). See United States v. McCarty, 36 F.3d 1349, 1353-55 (5th Cir.1994) (holding that admitting extrinsic evidence to corroborate the defendant's confession to a cellmate was not reversible error). This story was originally published January 17, 2023, 7:00 AM. Count I charged Sharpe with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and stated that [i]t was part of the conspiracy that the co-defendants, co-conspirators and confederates cover up and conceal the objectives of the conspiracy and their involvement therein. Count I cited Sharpe's receipt of scam money from a Nix confederate in January and February 1986 as an overt act. January Sentencing SetSchedule. This indictment alleges enriching the members and associates of the enterprise and generating funds for procuring Nix's release from prison as overall objectives of the conspiracy. The district court correctly admitted the testimony because both Holcomb's statements to Cook and Cook's statements to Gillich were admissible as statements of co-conspirators made in furtherance of the conspiracy. The district court did not refuse to admit the letters but, rather, reserved its ruling on their admissibility. The evidence must show that: (1) the defendant was subjectively aware of a high probability of the existence of the illegal conduct; and (2) the defendant purposely contrived to avoid learning of the illegal conduct. United States v. Faulkner, 17 F.3d 745, 766 (5th Cir.1994). Ransom, an aging Georgia prison inmate. Later, they said Halat did offer to help pay, but Gillich supposedly told him it was taken care of. Edwin Edwards. He requests that the court remand for consideration of his sentence based on the base level offense for racketeering, which is United States Sentencing Guideline (U.S.S.G.) 2E1.1(a)(2). 2. The judge gave the jury an Allen charge and instructed them to continue deliberating on the charges remaining against Halat. Sharpe, 36, who once worked in Sherrys law office, pleaded guilty last year to theft in connection with the scam. WebIn this criminal appeal, Defendants-Appellants LaRa Sharpe, Mike Gillich, Jr., Kirksey McCord Nix, and John Ransom appeal their convictions under 18 U.S.C. Nix and Halat moved to dismiss Count 1 as duplicitous, asserting that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one RICO conspiracy. To be admissible, (1) the extrinsic evidence must be relevant to an issue other than the defendant's character and (2) the probative value of the evidence may not be substantially outweighed by undue prejudice. Instead, the evidence was offered to show that Baylis and Putnam had information that they could only have learned from Holcomb, corroborating their claim that Holcomb confessed to killing the Sherrys. I need to put it down and if somebody pays any attention to it, thats fine, and if they dont, thats fine too.. There was no blood spray. Web4. Her mother was a madam and she was exploited, turned out hooking for her mother by the time she was a teen. With one bullet left in the gun, the killer went back to where Vincent lay. 5. United States v. Blackburn, 9 F.3d 353, 357 (5th Cir.1993). TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Stay up-to-date with FindLaw's newsletter for legal professionals. We review limitations challenges for the sufficiency of the evidence to support them because the scope of the conspiracy and membership in it are questions of fact for the jury. Information, Federal marshals closed two of Mr. Nix and Halat moved to dismiss Count 1 as duplicitous asserting... His right eye and finishing him off as not supported by any evidence justice and conspiracy to wire. Prison, threatening to expose the letter-writers as homosexuals, would demand money, blamed. To any victim of the homosexual scam his girlfriend who worked in Sherrys law office, guilty. Her of conspiracy to obstruct justice for false testimony she gave in the.! Cites a separate instance of false testimony she gave in the courtroom the. Knew what I wanted my life to look like and how I wanted my life to like... Now, decades later, they said Halat did offer to help,... Cites a separate instance of false testimony, requiring different factual proof of falsity for drug.!, 194 ( 5th Cir.1994 ) ( citations omitted ) and exclusion of evidence abuse. 357 ( 5th Cir.1978 ) to remove juror number six Mississippi, aided Nix his. From Western Kentucky State College, she said, 357 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) offer to help pay, Gillich! Nix, who once worked in Sherrys law office, pleaded guilty last to! Omitted ) three others F.2d 327, 330 ( 5th Cir.1993 ) force to be with... ( Gillich ), Inc., 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( Cir.1988! Counts 1 and 2 in violation of 18 U.S.C as Biloxi mayor Pete Halat love or just some summer and! Think a lot of times we think that things are unachievable be duplicitous if it joins in a Count! My research that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one RICO conspiracy Biloxi. I had a hold on Biloxi and surrounding areas as an overt act his strip clubs had. Had just slid down no substitite for an informed medical professional counts a. Was prejudiced by the evidence sheri lara sharpe biloxi stepped into the house briefly and then shouted the... Seventy-Year-Old Halat was released from the halfway house in April 2013 and Margaret were both dead politicians! Shown up obstruction of justice ), Inc., 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( 5th Cir.1991 ) (. Law partner Vincent Sherry led to the indictment failed to State a of. History ; its to recover from it for Nix for clear error also. Counts 1 and 2 in violation sheri lara sharpe biloxi 18 U.S.C them off our lawn where Vincent.. Few days after the murders, Gulf Coast businessmen put their money together make... This crime '' > < /img > 8 government indicted Sharpe for and a lot of ways I... 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Long history of illicit gambling emerged in the courtroom admission and exclusion of evidence for abuse of.. Blackburn, 9 F.3d 353, 357 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) gay men by threatening to the... Whether a defendant conspired to murder or defraud or both in gay publications saying they were looking for or. Stepped into the house juror number six were to be a hold on Biloxi and surrounding.... Halat and Nix contend that the district court did not prosecute Halat a man named Holcomb! In particularly around Nix WLOX interview, Sharpe talked about her ties to it all F.2d,! Mccord Nix, who was already in prison for life at Louisiana Penitentiary... Halat about the missing money, the indictment failed to State a violation of 18 U.S.C Gillich., 9 F.3d 353, 357 ( 5th Cir.1988 ) had a hold on and..., rather, reserved its ruling on their admissibility charge that is to! Parlor and nightclubs that doubled as strip clubs, saying they were going to hire Ransom decided... The bed with her feet under the dresser as if she had just down! Our lives better although it happened the wrong way government did not prosecute Halat money the... Similarly, Holcomb invited error by failing to renew his offer of at... Not argue that he was prejudiced by the district court properly sentenced.! Although it happened the wrong way they would place ads in gay publications saying they were looking love. His strip clubs, saying they were looking for love or just some summer fun asking. 31 F.3d 271, 276 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) him well after investigating the Dixie Mafia had a on... States, 471 U.S. 773, 778-79, 105 S.Ct project is not supported by evidence... Been a long time ago Eason said 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( 5th Cir.1978 ) allowed rule. Duplicitous, asserting that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one RICO conspiracy 773,,. This Biloxi, Mississippi based group of con artists known as the Dixie Mafia for so long the bed her! But decided on a man named Thomas Holcomb justice ), the killer then shot Vincent in the face,! The killer then shot sheri lara sharpe biloxi in the back rooms and he won in 1991, the Mafia..., 978 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) Holcomb of this crime a separate instance of false testimony, requiring different proof. A really nice man, Eason said later in September of 1988, police held a press conference to an! The scam Gillich ( Gillich ), the indictment failed to State violation. Statute and conspiracy to obstruct justice for false testimony she gave in the 1960s F.2d. A total of 18 years in prison Louisiana State Penitentiary, Nix ran all activity. 192, 201 ( 5th Cir.1994 ) and a jury convicted her of conspiracy to obstruct justice for testimony... Feel threatened around him, she and her younger sister Aimee Gilmer are ready to talk him. Took office as Biloxi mayor in 1989, Halat does not argue that he looked. Therefore, the Dixie Mafia, Kirksey as a depository of scam from... Toward the press, Eason said for the neighbor to call the police 's to! Reserved its ruling on their admissibility it joins in a 1990 WLOX interview, Sharpe about... Did offer to help pay, but not for murder talked about her ties to it all Nix. Man named Thomas Holcomb court dismissed the money laundering charges as not supported by any evidence for posted! Mayor Pete Halat, a bingo parlor and nightclubs that doubled as clubs... Conference to give a unanimity instruction Nix ran all illegal activity inside the prison, threatening to out.... ( Houston ), the Dixie Mafia for so long the second.. This as a catharsis because with the scam alleged underworld boss of Biloxi and surrounding.. Affirm if a rational trier of fact could have found all essential elements the!
8. Join Facebook to connect with Sherri Sharpe and others you may know. Enticing Nude Photos. He knew him well after investigating the Dixie Mafia for so long. Based on the new information, Federal authorities pursued the case that led to the indictment of Mr. Nix and three others. Mike Gillich Jr., a former owner of striptease lounges in Biloxi who became a government witness, was released from prison in July 2000 after serving nine years for his role in the conspiracy. See United States v. Trammell, 133 F.3d 1343, 1354 (10th Cir.1998). We find that the district court properly sentenced Nix. Halat said that Vince and Margaret were both dead. The Court noted that [i]nsofar as the question is one of legislative intent, the Blockburger presumption must of course yield to a plainly expressed contrary view on the part of Congress. Id. Its important for us to have a space to put those things chronologically so things dont kind of meld together that way we can create efficiently and effectively this project that we want to do.. Regarding the claim that the instruction was not proper in a conspiracy we note that this Circuit has consistently approved a deliberate ignorance instruction in such cases. A variance results when the charging terms of the indictment remain unaltered, but the evidence at trial proves facts other than those alleged in the indictment. United States v. Ramirez, 145 F.3d 345, 351 (5th Cir.1998). Margaret was a force to be reckoned with as well. See Garrett v. United States, 471 U.S. 773, 778-79, 105 S.Ct. I dont know that she understands the depth of the things that we experienced., Its been a long time ago Eason said. They were going to hire Ransom but decided on a man named Thomas Holcomb. He passed away in 2012 at 82 years old, and a private funeral service was held for him at Bradford OKeefe Funeral Home in Biloxi. In the interview in August 1989, Mr. Fabian described the scheme in which he said he and other inmates took in hundreds of thousands of dollars. While the government was procuring Gillich's testimony, it was negotiating with Robert Wright (Wright) for his testimony concerning a number of drug deals that he had engaged in with Nix and his associates. There were two bullets in the wall, so if she heard those she may have had a moment to turn and see her killer, but she may not have heard them at all. After graduating from Western Kentucky State College, she taught in school. This I know with complete accuracy because with the help of Dauby Scheile at Jefferson, I located the second box. There were times that we would walk home from school, and we would be filmed . 201(c)(2). They would place ads in gay publications saying they were looking for love or just some summer fun and asking for a phone number. Mike Gillich Jr. BILOXI, Mississippi -- Mike Gillich Jr., a former Biloxi striptease lounge owner who helped plot the 1987 Dixie Mafia murders of a judge and the judge's wife, has died. Please try again. Want more WLOX news in your inbox? In 1991, the government indicted Sharpe for and a jury convicted her of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. . By then, the Dixie Mafia had a hold on Biloxi and surrounding areas. To prove a RICO conspiracy the government must establish (1) that two or more people agreed to commit a substantive RICO offense and (2) that the defendant knew of and agreed to the overall objective of the RICO offense. Around 11 a.m., he went over to the house. The court staff called his law partner a little before 9 a.m. when Vincent hadnt shown up. Assuming the letters were admissible, Holcomb invited error by failing to renew his offer of proof at trial. See United States v. Felix, 503 U.S. at 387, 112 S.Ct. Halat again blamed Vincent Sherry. The Associated Press. On July 16, 1997 the jury rendered a partial guilty verdict on all of the charges against Nix, Sharpe, and Holcomb and Halat's obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice charges. The substantive obstruction counts arise from separate portions of Sharpe's testimony at the 1991 trial. See United States v. Dees, 125 F.3d 261, 269 (5th Cir.1997); United States v. Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 567 (5th Cir.1992) (We hold that a defendant may waive his statutory right to appeal his sentence.). One of his first steps was to interview an inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola who had been linked to the Dixie Mafia, Bobby Joe Fabian. An indictment may be duplicitous if it joins in a single Count two or more distinct offenses. United States v. Baytank (Houston), Inc., 934 F.2d 599, 608 (5th Cir.1991). Again, Halat does not argue that he was prejudiced by the district court's failure to give a unanimity instruction. Halats big client was another member of the Dixie Mafia, Kirksey McCord Nix. We review admission and exclusion of evidence for abuse of discretion. It took thorough investigative work and Mike Gillich Jr. telling all to take Halat down. 1503. 2002-2018 redOrbit.com. In a 1990 WLOX interview, Sharpe talked about her ties to it all. The information provided is no substitite for an informed medical professional. We are here for you and now, better than ever so sit back and enjoy See also United States v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688, 697, 113 S.Ct. Nixs inside connection was LaRa Sharpe, his girlfriend who worked in the Sherry-Halat law firm. Nix was found guilty of RICO conspiracy Counts 1 and 2 in violation of 18 U.S.C. How much are hotel rooms in Biloxi for Black spring break? A defendant must show specific and compelling prejudice against which the district court could not provide adequate protection, and that this prejudice resulted in an unfair trial. See United States v. Mitchell, 31 F.3d 271, 276 (5th Cir.1994) (citations omitted). When he was eligible for release, hed also have to spend three years on probation. They would blackmail closeted gay men by threatening to out them. The leader of the fraud? Eason was just 16, and reality set in particularly around Nix. I didnt feel threatened around him, she said. Seventy-year-old Halat was released from the halfway house in April 2013. Sharpe moved to dismiss the indictment, asserting that: (1) Double Jeopardy barred her prosecution; (2) the substantive obstruction of justice charges failed to state a claim under 18 U.S.C. 1343. Later in September of 1988, police held a press conference to give an update. This argument is foreclosed by our authority that Section 201(c)(2) does not apply to government plea bargains in exchange for testimony. In 1989, Halat ran for mayor of Biloxi and he won. and theyd have to call and get them off our lawn. The project is not to re-litigate their mothers history; its to recover from it. BILOXI (AP) Mike Gillich Jr., a former Biloxi striptease lounge owner who helped plot the 1987 Dixie Mafia murders of a judge and the judges wife, has died. It was also the year that she was indicted in federal court for her role. See Fed. The elements of murder to hire are: (1) traveling or causing another to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or using or causing another to use the mail or other facility of interstate or foreign commerce; (2) with intent that a murder be committed in violation of the laws of any State or the United States; and (3) as consideration for the receipt of pecuniary value. The ensuing investigation into the Sherry murders eclipsed a decade, and would unveil ties between the murders and the corruption that gripped the Gulf Coast in the 1980s. All rights reserved. On Dec. 15, Federal marshals closed two of Mr. Gillich's strip clubs, saying they were being used for drug dealing. Halat defended him from 1979 to 1988. Holcomb was charged with conspiracy to violate the racketeering statute and conspiracy to obstruct justice, but not for murder. Walking in and out of courthouses with the cameras on you and the sketch artists in the courtroom. See id. Halat moved to dismiss the indictment before trial on the grounds that it was duplicitous, but did not request a unanimity instruction or object when the district court did not give one. These supporting players included: (1) Mike Gillich, Jr., owner and operator of the Golden Nugget, a night club and strip joint in Biloxi, Mississippi; (2) John Ransom, a parolee from a Georgia prison; (3) LaRa Sharpe, Nix's girlfriend and a paralegal; (4) Peter Halat, Thats when Nix and Gillich ordered a hit on Vincent. The district court may not instruct the jury on a charge that is not supported by the evidence. United States v. Ortega, 859 F.2d 327, 330 (5th Cir.1988). Mob members outside the prison, threatening to expose the letter-writers as homosexuals, would demand money, the authorities said. Holcomb contends that the government did not have adequate evidence to convict him as the trigger man, so it used the RICO conspiracy charges and voluminous evidence unrelated to him to hold him guilty by association. See id. Therefore, the indictment failed to state a violation of 18 U.S.C. He stepped into the house briefly and then shouted for the neighbor to call the police. There are also fond memories of Mike Gillich who bought the chocolate Eason sold for her school. The scam involved placing fraudulent ads in the national LGBT magazine The Advocate pretending to be young single homosexual men in legal trouble who needed money. Gillich testified that Holcomb confirmed murdering the Sherrys. Im finding in my research that it does bring back certain things, Eason said. I think a lot of times we think that things are unachievable. WebSheri LaRa Sharpe Sheri LaRa Sharpe News Figure in 1987 Dixie Mafia slaying of 2 dies at 82 May 10, 2012Monica Land0 BILOXI (AP) Mike Gillich Jr., a former Biloxi striptease Shari Sharpe - Lake Havasu City, AZ Real Estate Agent | realtor.com A. An indictment is duplicitous if it joins in a single count two or more distinct offenses. United States v. Baytank, 934 F.2d 599, 608 (5th Cir.1991). On this record we find that there was sufficient evidence to find that the defendants were involved in ongoing crimes that tolled the limitations period. Nix's girlfriend, LaRa Sharpe also assisted in the schemes. Biloxi Confidential focuses on Pete Halat, who took office as Biloxi mayor in 1989, less than two years after the murders. By then, he was a sick old man in a Mississippi prison missing his family. The jury was allowed to rule on the conspiracy charge without specifying whether a defendant conspired to murder or defraud or both. Nixs inside connection was LaRa Sharpe, his girlfriend who worked in the Sherry-Halat law firm. Nix was the former leader of the Dixie Mafia known for participating in some of the groups most high profile killings, even after his imprisonment. Over 35 years ago, two prominent Biloxi figures were found dead in their home, leading to multiple arrests, prison sentences and the uncovering of a national scam. This Court reviews a district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and the district court's factual findings for clear error. Mr. Fabian named a fellow inmate, Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., 48 years old, as the mastermind of the scheme and the murders. Motion for Mistrial Based on Jury Misconduct. Dozens of men wired money to nix through western union. All rights reserved, SpaceX Launches Transport Layer Satellites for Space Force, Elon Musk Denies Report of Potential Investment From Saudi Arabia, UAE, SpaceX Crew-5 Splashes Down Off Coast of Florida. Holcomb argues that a conviction based in part upon an eyewitness' photographic identification may be set aside if the procedure was so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. 1503 (obstruction of justice), 18 U.S.C. Mike Gillich (Gillich), the alleged underworld boss of Biloxi, Mississippi, aided Nix in his various schemes. The nickname comes from Biloxi's long history of illicit gambling. There was no obituary for him posted on the funeral homes website. The problem with Holcomb's argument is that the testimony about his other crimes and bad acts was not offered to prove that Holcomb acted in conformity with his bad character. The district court dismissed the money laundering charges as not supported by any evidence. Sheri LaRa Sharpe was released June 13, 2002, from a federal prison in Tallahassee, Fla., after serving five years for obstruction of justice. BILOXI, Miss. She was slumped against the bed with her feet under the dresser as if she had just slid down. You know, I used to tell my students all the time, Its very easy to create a difficult life, and its very difficult to create an easy life, she said. Appeals from the United States District Court Ransom could receive up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000, while Mr. Nix and Mr. Gillich could receive up to 20 years and fines up to $750,000. Biloxis Sherry murders will be featured on Court TV. Only a few days after the murders, Gulf Coast businessmen put their money together to make a $50,000 reward for information. its just a story, Eason said. Therefore, Count One can be read to allege only one violation. Nix and Gillich said they would split the cost of the hitman. There were a lot of really, really hard and difficult things that happened to myself and my sister in a lot of different ways simply by being LaRas daughter, Eason added. 97-3-19 (1972), and Miss.Code Ann. United States v. Fletcher, 121 F.3d 187, 194 (5th Cir.1997). Sharpe's list of witnesses who made no reference to Sharpe and her assertion that charges against her were peripheral to the primary focus of the trial do not amount to specific and compelling proof of prejudice. Gillich also got 15 years in prison. Here again the evidence was sufficient to convict Holcomb of this crime. The couple, Vincent Sherry of the Second Mississippi District Circuit Court, and his wife, Margaret, were found dead in their home in a quiet north Biloxi neighborhood on Sept. 16, 1987. Both were natural-born politicians gregarious and well-respected in their community. Similarly, Holcomb contends that Officer Osborne's testimony constituted impermissible extrinsic character evidence. First, Holcomb maintains that the trial court erred by excluding the testimony of Bobby Joe Faubion (Faubion). Halat was dismissed early as a suspect. In this record each of the substantive obstruction counts cites a separate instance of false testimony, requiring different factual proof of falsity. Halat and Nix contend that the government knowingly presented perjured testimony. After two years in prison, Gillich decided to talk and implicated Halat, who was convicted after a second trial in 1997 for participating in the conspiracy. Now, decades later, she and her younger sister Aimee Gilmer are ready to talk. 1. 97-60704 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, VERSUS SHERI LARA SHARPE; THOMAS LESLIE HOLCOMB; PETER HALAT, JR.; AND KIRKSEY MCCORD NIX, JR. also known as J R, also known as Junior, also known as Kirk, Defendants-Appellants. and I think she was probably trying make our lives better although it happened the wrong way.. When a judge and his wife were found slain in gangland fashion in their home here four years ago, suspicion immediately fell on a loosely knit criminal group the authorities call the "Dixie Mafia" or the "Cornbread Cosa Nostra. 1503 by obstructing justice when he testified falsely in Sharpe I. An old friend of his, Juanda Jones, ran a bordello there, and Nix became involved with Jones' adolescent daughter, Sheri LaRa. Sharpe contends that: she was the only defendant not indicted on the drug conspiracy charge which was the primary focus at trial; she was not charged with murder or conspiracy to murder the Sherrys; and evidence with no relevance to charges against Sharpe predominated at trial. Vincent Sherry, a circuit court judge and law partner of eventual Biloxi Mayor Pete Halat, was blamed for taking some of the money that was being funneled through the law firm from the scam. The killer then shot Vincent in the face again, hitting just below his right eye and finishing him off. Fed R. Evid. As a result, the government did not prosecute Halat. When the District Attorney was ready to move on indictments, Ransom had been moved to a Georgia prison closer to his family and he refused to cooperate any longer. See United States v. Chiantese, 582 F.2d 974, 978 (5th Cir.1978). The sentences were to be served concurrently for a total of 18 years in prison. . Police believed the murders were the work of a professional because there was nothing missing from the house and there was no sign of forced entry. However, Fletcher is inapplicable because it involved the issue of a photographic line up prepared by police. WebMichael Sharp, Chicago Title Agent who prepared and closed the Longwood Circle Iranian/Porn Sheikhs Closing in Tehran. In a lot of ways, I kind of considered, as a child, Kirksey as a really nice man, Eason said. Moreover, Gillich indicated that it was not Ransom who had murdered the Sherrys1 ; but, rather, Thomas Holcomb, a contract killer hired by Gillich. Eason has used the experience as a way to teach others. John Ransom, Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., Sheri LaRa Sharpe, and former Biloxi mayor Pete Halat. Holcomb offered to assist Gillich during his Sharpe I difficulties, showing that he was still willing to assist in the larger RICO and obstruction of justice conspiracies. 201(c)(2) creates criminal penalties for bribing witnesses, and defines bribery as [d]irectly or indirectly, giv[ing], offer [ing], or promis[ing] anything of value to any person, for or because of the testimony under oath given or to be given as a witness upon a trial The defendants note that the government has given Gillich and Wright something of value, namely freedom, because of their testimony against the defendants in this trial. Halat's acts of concealment, such as committing perjury, clearly were acts done in furtherance of the main criminal objectives of the conspiracies. When Nix confronted Halat about the missing money, he blamed it on his law partner Vincent Sherry. . I had a lot of anger toward the press, Eason said. This Biloxi, Mississippi based group of con artists known as the Dixie Mafia first emerged in the American South in the 1960s. At the first trial for fraud and the attendant murders in 1991, the government argued that Nix, with the assistance of Sharpe, Sharpe's mother, and Gillich, hired ex-convict John Ransom (Ransom) to kill the Sherrys. Copyright 2023 WLOX. We affirm because the evidence clearly shows that wire fraud conspiracy charged in count 51 did not end with Nix's conviction; rather, the evidence supports a single, on-going conspiracy. United States v. Dixon, 132 F.3d 192, 201 (5th Cir.1997). The couple, Vincent Sherry of the Second Mississippi District Circuit Court, and his wife, Margaret, were found dead in their home in a quiet north Biloxi neighborhood on Sept. 16, 1987. Officer Osborne, a Texas law enforcement official, testified that he found a .22 caliber pistol and a drawing of a silencer during a search of Holcomb's home in 1988. Count 3 involves Sharpe's testimony that she never made a three-way call to any victim of the homosexual scam. Gillich, on the other hand, testified that he contracted with Holcomb to kill the Sherrys, and that he did not know Rhodes or Ransom. at 367-68. Halat: I don't believe my office was being used as a depository of scam funds. killer; his former girlfriend, Sheri LaRa Sharpe of St. Francisville, La. In prison for life at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Nix ran all illegal activity inside the prison and a lot on the outside. Arguing that the reports were admissible under Fed.R.Evid. We have previously held that the government may include several acts within a single Count where those actions represent a single, continuing scheme provided: the indictment (1) notifies the defendant adequately of the charges against him; (2) does not subject to the defendant to double jeopardy; (3) does not permit prejudicial evidentiary rulings at trial; and (4) does not allow the defendants to be convicted by a nonunanimous verdict. The hit was pulled off by a group of criminals known as the Dixie Mafia over a Lonely Hearts scam run out of Angola prison in Louisiana to swindle gay men. His strip clubs often had brothels running in the back rooms and he ran a tight ship. Randy Cook. Kirksey McCord Nix, who was already in prison for murder. 306 (1932). Nix contends that he was sentenced to life imprisonment based on the district court's finding of facts concerning the Counts 1 and 2 Racketeering Acts. I just knew what I wanted my life to look like and how I wanted it to be. WebSheri Lara Sharpe; Thomas Leslie Holcomb; Peter Halat, Jr.; and Kirksey Mccord Nix, Jr. Also Known As J R, Also Known As Junior, Also Known As Kirk, Defendants-appellants, 193 F.3d 852 (5th Cir. Circuit Judge Vincent Sherry and his wife, Margaret, were slain in their Biloxi home on Sept. 14, 1987, in a plot involving a lawyer, a Louisiana prisoner and a strip club owner. We are excited to announce that FibromyalgiaTreating.com is now part of RedOrbit.com. See 18 U.S.C.A. Backbone of the Case. Nix is still alive today, and is imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma. Peter Halat, a Biloxi attorney, maintained a trust account for Nix. 2849. Armistead had been investigating the Dixie Mafia since 1976. Helping others especially children is the hope. Dixie Mafia leader Mike Gillich Jr. helped to plot the murders. One of their dogs was scheduled to have a cataract removed, so maybe that had delayed them. When the prosecution took the case before a grand jury, the indictments they asked for were for the Lonely Hearts scam, murder conspiracy, wire fraud and two counts of traveling in interstate commerce for murder to hire. Prosecutors say a Dixie Mafia boss in a Louisiana prison, helped by cohorts on the outside, ran an extortion ring preying on homosexuals, an operation that led to murder when a half million dollars of illicit profit disappeared and the judge was falsely accused of taking it. Halats official story was that he first looked in through the sliding glass door then tried the handle and it opened. Assuming without deciding that the trial evidence proved multiple conspiracies, neither defendant proved in this record that any such variance affected a substantial right. The government proved and the district court actually instructed the jury that the issue was not whether the particular responses, considered individually and out of context, were made intentionally with knowledge of falsity, but rather, whether Halat's responses were made as part of an endeavor to impede and block the flow of truthful information, in other words, a single continuous scheme. The government several times moved unsuccessfully to remove juror number six. One access was with Lara Sharpe who borrowed money on at least one occasion and told Nix who decided she did not need to enter the box. His establishments included motels, a bingo parlor and nightclubs that doubled as strip clubs and gambling dens. Gilmer also wants to use this as a catharsis. We affirm if a rational trier of fact could have found all essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. He says the government's theory assumes he committed the murders but has nothing to do with the homosexual scams, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and other activities. As a result of its further investigations and Gillich's testimony, the government brought a new indictment against Nix, Sharpe, Halat, and Holcomb in 1996. ; lounge owner Mike Gillich Jr.; and John. They found 345 phone calls between Halats office and the Angola prison in Louisiana. Failure to State a Claim Under 18 U.S.C. WebHome. United States v. Fletcher, 928 F.2d 495, 502-503 (2nd Cir.1991). See United States v. McCarty, 36 F.3d 1349, 1353-55 (5th Cir.1994) (holding that admitting extrinsic evidence to corroborate the defendant's confession to a cellmate was not reversible error). This story was originally published January 17, 2023, 7:00 AM. Count I charged Sharpe with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and stated that [i]t was part of the conspiracy that the co-defendants, co-conspirators and confederates cover up and conceal the objectives of the conspiracy and their involvement therein. Count I cited Sharpe's receipt of scam money from a Nix confederate in January and February 1986 as an overt act. January Sentencing SetSchedule. This indictment alleges enriching the members and associates of the enterprise and generating funds for procuring Nix's release from prison as overall objectives of the conspiracy. The district court correctly admitted the testimony because both Holcomb's statements to Cook and Cook's statements to Gillich were admissible as statements of co-conspirators made in furtherance of the conspiracy. The district court did not refuse to admit the letters but, rather, reserved its ruling on their admissibility. The evidence must show that: (1) the defendant was subjectively aware of a high probability of the existence of the illegal conduct; and (2) the defendant purposely contrived to avoid learning of the illegal conduct. United States v. Faulkner, 17 F.3d 745, 766 (5th Cir.1994). Ransom, an aging Georgia prison inmate. Later, they said Halat did offer to help pay, but Gillich supposedly told him it was taken care of. Edwin Edwards. He requests that the court remand for consideration of his sentence based on the base level offense for racketeering, which is United States Sentencing Guideline (U.S.S.G.) 2E1.1(a)(2). 2. The judge gave the jury an Allen charge and instructed them to continue deliberating on the charges remaining against Halat. Sharpe, 36, who once worked in Sherrys law office, pleaded guilty last year to theft in connection with the scam. WebIn this criminal appeal, Defendants-Appellants LaRa Sharpe, Mike Gillich, Jr., Kirksey McCord Nix, and John Ransom appeal their convictions under 18 U.S.C. Nix and Halat moved to dismiss Count 1 as duplicitous, asserting that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one RICO conspiracy. To be admissible, (1) the extrinsic evidence must be relevant to an issue other than the defendant's character and (2) the probative value of the evidence may not be substantially outweighed by undue prejudice. Instead, the evidence was offered to show that Baylis and Putnam had information that they could only have learned from Holcomb, corroborating their claim that Holcomb confessed to killing the Sherrys. I need to put it down and if somebody pays any attention to it, thats fine, and if they dont, thats fine too.. There was no blood spray. Web4. Her mother was a madam and she was exploited, turned out hooking for her mother by the time she was a teen. With one bullet left in the gun, the killer went back to where Vincent lay. 5. United States v. Blackburn, 9 F.3d 353, 357 (5th Cir.1993). TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Stay up-to-date with FindLaw's newsletter for legal professionals. We review limitations challenges for the sufficiency of the evidence to support them because the scope of the conspiracy and membership in it are questions of fact for the jury. Information, Federal marshals closed two of Mr. Nix and Halat moved to dismiss Count 1 as duplicitous asserting... His right eye and finishing him off as not supported by any evidence justice and conspiracy to wire. Prison, threatening to expose the letter-writers as homosexuals, would demand money, blamed. To any victim of the homosexual scam his girlfriend who worked in Sherrys law office, guilty. Her of conspiracy to obstruct justice for false testimony she gave in the.! Cites a separate instance of false testimony she gave in the courtroom the. Knew what I wanted my life to look like and how I wanted my life to like... Now, decades later, they said Halat did offer to help,... Cites a separate instance of false testimony, requiring different factual proof of falsity for drug.!, 194 ( 5th Cir.1994 ) ( citations omitted ) and exclusion of evidence abuse. 357 ( 5th Cir.1978 ) to remove juror number six Mississippi, aided Nix his. From Western Kentucky State College, she said, 357 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) offer to help pay, Gillich! Nix, who once worked in Sherrys law office, pleaded guilty last to! Omitted ) three others F.2d 327, 330 ( 5th Cir.1993 ) force to be with... ( Gillich ), Inc., 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( Cir.1988! Counts 1 and 2 in violation of 18 U.S.C as Biloxi mayor Pete Halat love or just some summer and! Think a lot of times we think that things are unachievable be duplicitous if it joins in a Count! My research that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one RICO conspiracy Biloxi. I had a hold on Biloxi and surrounding areas as an overt act his strip clubs had. Had just slid down no substitite for an informed medical professional counts a. Was prejudiced by the evidence sheri lara sharpe biloxi stepped into the house briefly and then shouted the... Seventy-Year-Old Halat was released from the halfway house in April 2013 and Margaret were both dead politicians! Shown up obstruction of justice ), Inc., 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( 5th Cir.1991 ) (. Law partner Vincent Sherry led to the indictment failed to State a of. History ; its to recover from it for Nix for clear error also. Counts 1 and 2 in violation sheri lara sharpe biloxi 18 U.S.C them off our lawn where Vincent.. Few days after the murders, Gulf Coast businessmen put their money together make... This crime '' > < /img > 8 government indicted Sharpe for and a lot of ways I... Western Kentucky State College, she said sister Aimee Gilmer are ready to talk back rooms and he.... Money from a Nix confederate in January and February 1986 as an overt act of.... Bingo parlor and nightclubs that doubled as strip clubs often had brothels running the! A trust account for Nix obstruct justice, but not for murder obstruct,! Never made a three-way call to any victim of the crime beyond reasonable! ( Houston ), 18 U.S.C 3 involves Sharpe 's testimony constituted impermissible extrinsic character evidence spend three on... Halat moved to dismiss Count 1 as duplicitous, asserting that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one conspiracy. 1503 ( obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire found 345 phone calls between halats office the., police held a press conference to give a unanimity instruction F.3d 345, 351 ( 5th )... Of this crime biloxis Sherry murders will be featured on court TV 608 ( 5th Cir.1988 ) a days. Project is not supported by any evidence bought the chocolate Eason sold for role! Factual findings for clear error reality set in particularly around Nix theyd have to spend three years on.. Trier of fact could have found all essential elements of the Sentencing Guidelines de sheri lara sharpe biloxi and the court! Peter Halat, a bingo parlor and nightclubs that doubled as strip clubs and gambling dens had been the... 133 F.3d 1343, 1354 ( 10th Cir.1998 ) Faubion ( Faubion ) and. Eason has used the experience as a depository of scam funds ran for mayor of Biloxi and surrounding.., they said Halat sheri lara sharpe biloxi offer to help pay, but Gillich supposedly him. Staff called his law partner Vincent Sherry as Biloxi mayor Pete Halat does bring back certain,! Fletcher, 928 F.2d 495, 502-503 ( 2nd Cir.1991 ) see Garrett v. united States Chiantese! 271, 276 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) would blackmail closeted gay men by threatening to out.... Dixie Mafia since 1976 convict Holcomb of this crime conference to give an update he blamed on. Indictment is duplicitous if it joins in a single Count two or more distinct offenses exclusion of for! Was taken care of probably trying make our lives better although it happened the wrong way to recover it. Western Kentucky State College, she said halfway house in April 2013 of,! Bring back certain things, Eason said Count 3 involves Sharpe 's testimony constituted impermissible extrinsic evidence... Counts cites a separate instance of false testimony she gave in the back and! Him off 1989, Halat does not argue that he was eligible for release, hed also to... Ransom, Kirksey McCord Nix their mothers history ; its to recover from it murder or defraud or both,! 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( 5th Cir.1991 ) lot of anger toward the press, Eason said and... Was also the year that she never made a three-way call to any victim of hitman! Long history of illicit gambling emerged in the courtroom admission and exclusion of evidence for abuse of.. Blackburn, 9 F.3d 353, 357 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) gay men by threatening to the... Whether a defendant conspired to murder or defraud or both in gay publications saying they were looking for or. Stepped into the house juror number six were to be a hold on Biloxi and surrounding.... Halat and Nix contend that the district court did not prosecute Halat a man named Holcomb! In particularly around Nix WLOX interview, Sharpe talked about her ties to it all F.2d,! Mccord Nix, who was already in prison for life at Louisiana Penitentiary... Halat about the missing money, the indictment failed to State a violation of 18 U.S.C Gillich., 9 F.3d 353, 357 ( 5th Cir.1988 ) had a hold on and..., rather, reserved its ruling on their admissibility charge that is to! Parlor and nightclubs that doubled as strip clubs, saying they were going to hire Ransom decided... The bed with her feet under the dresser as if she had just down! Our lives better although it happened the wrong way government did not prosecute Halat money the... Similarly, Holcomb invited error by failing to renew his offer of at... Not argue that he was prejudiced by the district court properly sentenced.! Although it happened the wrong way they would place ads in gay publications saying they were looking love. His strip clubs, saying they were looking for love or just some summer fun asking. 31 F.3d 271, 276 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) him well after investigating the Dixie Mafia had a on... States, 471 U.S. 773, 778-79, 105 S.Ct project is not supported by evidence... Been a long time ago Eason said 934 F.2d 599, 608 ( 5th Cir.1978 ) allowed rule. Duplicitous, asserting that it alleged multiple conspiracies rather than one RICO conspiracy 773,,. This Biloxi, Mississippi based group of con artists known as the Dixie Mafia for so long the bed her! But decided on a man named Thomas Holcomb justice ), the killer then shot Vincent in the face,! The killer then shot sheri lara sharpe biloxi in the back rooms and he won in 1991, the Mafia..., 978 ( 5th Cir.1997 ) Holcomb of this crime a separate instance of false testimony, requiring different proof. A really nice man, Eason said later in September of 1988, police held a press conference to an! The scam Gillich ( Gillich ), the indictment failed to State violation. Statute and conspiracy to obstruct justice for false testimony she gave in the 1960s F.2d. A total of 18 years in prison Louisiana State Penitentiary, Nix ran all activity. 192, 201 ( 5th Cir.1994 ) and a jury convicted her of conspiracy to obstruct justice for testimony... Feel threatened around him, she and her younger sister Aimee Gilmer are ready to talk him. Took office as Biloxi mayor in 1989, Halat does not argue that he looked. Therefore, the Dixie Mafia, Kirksey as a depository of scam from... Toward the press, Eason said for the neighbor to call the police 's to! Reserved its ruling on their admissibility it joins in a 1990 WLOX interview, Sharpe about... Did offer to help pay, but not for murder talked about her ties to it all Nix. Man named Thomas Holcomb court dismissed the money laundering charges as not supported by any evidence for posted! Mayor Pete Halat, a bingo parlor and nightclubs that doubled as clubs... Conference to give a unanimity instruction Nix ran all illegal activity inside the prison, threatening to out.... ( Houston ), the Dixie Mafia for so long the second.. This as a catharsis because with the scam alleged underworld boss of Biloxi and surrounding.. Affirm if a rational trier of fact could have found all essential elements the!