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Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Tribal Rental Program Funds

Benjamin E. Stephens admitted to embezzling about $200,000 from the Choctaw Rental Housing Program, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 2, 2026, 4:52 p.m. ET
A Pearl River, Mississippi, man guilty on September 2, 2026, to embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi announced. Benjamin E. Stephens, 43, embezzled approximately $200,000 from the Choctaw Rental Housing Program while employed by the tribal program, according to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025. Stephens faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 2027. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and the Choctaw Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalleigh McCoy are prosecuting.

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  1. Version 12 Sept 2026, 20:52current

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