Hurricane Government

[PARAGON]

I don't remember if I posted about this yet or not, if so here it is again.

The Sheriff of Forrest County MS found out days after the Hurricane hit that trucks loaded with ice was just sitting at Camp Shelby a few miles away. They said they had not received orders yet on where to deploy the ice. The sheriff took command and ordered two trucks to deliver the much needed ice. This was nearly a week after the hurricane hit and the ice was just sitting there.

The federal government is now charging him. He pleaded guilty because if he didn't, they were going to charge the deputies that where there operating under his command and he bowed so as not to allow that to happen.

[PARAGON]

<FONT class=headline>Sheriff to answer for crossing FEMA</FONT><BR
clear=all><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #222222">
<script language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Feb23,2006,6:45 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT>
Feb 23, 2006, 05:45 PM CST</FONT> <FONT class=body>


News Seven has learned that longtime Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee will
be in federal court Friday to answer charges that he ordered the removal of two
18-wheelers full of ice from Camp Shelby shortly after Hurricane
Katrina.</P>


Sources tell New Seven that the feds have been investigating McGee and
several of his deputies for the last three months in connection with the
post-Katrina incident.</P>


In earlier published reports, McGee admitted taking two FEMA trucks full of
ice from Camp Shelby to areas in the county that needed ice. </P>


According to sources close to the case, the trucks had been sitting at Shelby
with nowhere to go. </P>


Sources tell News Seven that the charge against McGee is a misdemeanor. </P>


We are also being told that at least two powerful lawmakers, Sen. Trent Lott
and Rep. Chip Pickering, have contacted federal prosecutors on McGee's
behalf.</P></FONT>

[PARAGON]

<SPAN class=story>Article published Feb 26, 2006
<SPAN class=headline>McGee may soon pay
for his 'crime'</SPAN>



We can all breathe a little easier now.


The federal government appears to be close to finalizing "The Case of the
Stolen Ice Trucks."


Thank goodness and hallelujah!


The Crime of the Century may soon be resolved.


Ever since the incident in question occurred Sept. 4, Pine Belt residents
have been eagerly awaiting the prosecution of Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee
- the admitted perpetrator of this heinous crime - who, along with three of his
deputies, had the audacity to commandeer two ice trucks from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's staging site at Camp Shelby and send them to
Brooklyn and Petal to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.


What was he thinking?


McGee's actions sparked widespread outrage throughout the Pine Belt.


For despite the fact thousands of rural residents were teetering on the brink
of disaster - without ice, water, food, electricity and basic supplies; and
beset by temperatures that exceeded 90 degrees in the shade - South
Mississippians were appalled that McGee would put their welfare above the
federal government's rules and protocols.


Such brazen concern for the citizens of Forrest County is simply inexcusable
and must not be tolerated in civil society.


For his role in the incident, McGee was scheduled to plead guilty Friday to a
federal misdemeanor charge of interfering with, intimidating and impeding a
federal officer.


However, late Thursday, the plea hearing was unexpectedly delayed.


Consequently, we'll have to wait a little longer before justice is meted out
in this case.


But rest assured, federal prosecutors have got their man. And they won't rest
until McGee is punished.


The prosecution of McGee will no doubt help to restore South Mississippi's
flagging confidence in the federal government - a commodity that has been in
short supply since Katrina roared ashore on Aug. 29.


For - and let's be honest here - FEMA's performance during and after the
storm left a lot to be desired.


The hurricane zone is replete with tales of woe: of tractor-trailers filled
with supplies that sat idle for days; of emergency medical teams that couldn't
get to victims because of bureaucratic mix-ups; of FEMA officials who blocked
National Guard troops from delivering supplies.


The federal government couldn't get it right following the worst natural
disaster in U.S. history.


But, doggone it, federal prosecutors have got it right this time!


They aren't about to let a county sheriff break the law and get away with it.


It makes one proud to be an American. </P></SPAN>

[PARAGON]

Article published Mar 4, 2006
Lampton steps down from McGee case
By Natasha Smith

U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton will not prosecute Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee for commandeering two ice trucks Sept. 4 following Hurricane Katrina.

McGee, 53, said Friday that his attorney, Jim Dukes, received a notice saying Lampton has recused himself from the case. The move is expected to further delay the case.

"I have no idea until the government notifies me of another court date or another hearing of some type," said McGee, who added the U.S. Justice Department may handle the case.

Lampton could not be reached for comment.

McGee was expected to plead guilty Feb. 24 to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with, intimidating and impeding a federal officer.

The sheriff has said a National Guard soldier who attempted to stop the ice trucks from leaving the FEMA site was handcuffed, brought to the sheriff's office and cited for interfering. The trucks and ice went to relief centers in Brooklyn and Sheeplo.

McGee said he agreed to plead to the misdemeanor charge to prevent prosecution of three deputies who were with him and acting at his direction.

[PARAGON]

Article published Mar 7, 2006
McGee case moved to Baton Rouge
From staff, wire reports

Federal prosecutors in Louisiana will handle the case against Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee, who has admitted commandeering two trucks of ice in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The U.S. Department of Justice assigned the case to the Middle District of Louisiana after U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton of Mississippi - a retired National Guard colonel - recused his office from the case.

"We'll handle it just like any other case," said U.S. Attorney David Dugas of Baton Rouge. "We'll gather the evidence, look at the law and make what we believe to be the appropriate decision as to whether to bring charges and, if so, what charges."

McGee had agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor federal charge of interfering with, intimidating and impeding a federal officer in connection with a Sept. 4 incident involving two ice trucks.

McGee diverted the trucks from a Federal Emergency Management Agency staging area at Camp Shelby and has acknowledged a National Guard soldier was physically removed from the running board of a truck, handcuffed and cited for interfering. McGee sent the trucks to relief centers in Brooklyn and the Sheeplo community near Petal.

The charge against McGee was to have been filed when he went to U.S. District Court on Feb. 24. His plea agreement would have allowed him to remain in office, seek office in the future and prohibit prosecution of three deputies who were with him at Camp Shelby, he said.

But Lampton notified McGee on Feb. 23 that the hearing had been postponed. Lampton last week notified McGee's attorney, Jim Dukes of Hattiesburg, that he had recused himself from the case, McGee said.

"About 4:30 yesterday afternoon, a prosecutor from the Middle District of Louisiana called Dukes and said he'd been assigned to the case," McGee said today.

The notificiation came a few hours after retired banker Paul McMullan of Hattiesburg announced the creation of a fund to help McGee with legal fees. Accounts are open at BancorpSouth and Trustmark banks, he said.

"It's an honor to ask the good people of Forrest County to support Billy in his time of need," McMullan said.

The case against McGee has angered many Forrest County residents who believe the sheriff was only trying to help hurricane victims who needed ice and other supplies.

Hattiesburg resident Jackie McLaurin, who stood in the small crowd at the Forrest County Courthouse on Monday when McMullan announced the fund, couldn't understand why McGee was accused of wrongdoing.

"If it hadn't have been for him, we wouldn't have had ice and water," McLaurin said. "Why are they going to do this to somebody who was just trying to help everybody? I'm really upset about all this."

The threat of prosecution comes as Congress is continuing hearings into the federal response to the Aug. 29 storm that left much of South Mississippi in shambles. Reviews reveal many things that could have been done better at every level of government, McGee said Monday.

"I realized when I took the actions that I did there would be some hurt feelings," McGee said. "I realized I was acting outside the protocol of the national government, and I realized there would be some repercussions from it. I only hoped that at the end of the day that common sense would prevail ... it's been slow coming."

The plea deal McGee had made called for him to be fined up to $5,000. He doesn't know how much defending himself, and possibly his deputies, will cost.

"We anticipate that we may have trips to Washington, negotiations with them," McGee said. "Certainly if we're indicted, we'll have legal fees."

Lampton said the deputies and McGee would be indicted on felony charges if McGee didn't agree to plead to the lesser charge, McGee told the Hattiesburg American last month.

McGee said he asked McMullan to coordinate fund-raising after supporters called to offer financial help.

"The support of the people has only strengthened my resolve to serve the people of Forrest County," McGee said.

[PARAGON]

Article published Mar 8, 2006
'Ballad of Billy McGee' hits airwaves
By Janet Braswell

A parody of Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee's actions in getting ice to outlying areas after Hurricane Katrina is burning up the Pine Belt airwaves.

WBBN, better known as B95, first played "Hauling Ice - The Ballad of Billy McGee" during the 6 a.m. show Tuesday.

"I've had call after call after call," said Sandy Kitchens, the station's public services director. "We are trying to play it as much as we can."

Doug Vinson, a journalism and public relations instructor at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, and Phil Coley, a musician friend, wrote the song after reading of the possible federal prosecution faced by McGee.

"I've always loved real country music," Vinson said. "You just can't beat it for telling a story and telling how you really feel about something."

McGee was to plead guilty last month to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with, intimidating and impeding a federal officer. The charge stems from McGee commandeering two ice trucks from a staging area at Camp Shelby on Sept. 4 for distribution in the Brooklyn and the Sheeplo communities.

A National Guard soldier who tried to stop the trucks was handcuffed and cited for interfering.

The case was transferred to federal court in Baton Rouge after Dunn Lampton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, recused himself last week.

Becoming the subject of a song surprised McGee.

"I never envisioned that," he said.

Mary Morgan of the Eatonville community heard part of "Hauling Ice" while waiting for Paul Harvey's newscast Tuesday.

"It is precious, I love it," she said. "I'm for our sheriff 100 percent plus. I just think it's the most wonderful, cute song."

Vinson heard of McGee's case from his department chairman, David Goff, former director of the School of Mass Communications and Journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi. Goff maintains a home in the Hattiesburg area and knew of McGee's situation.

"Knowing (Vinson's) hobby of writing country-type songs, I told him about it," Goff said. "I think it's great timing. I'm surprised that no one else has jumped in and done it. It's such a natural."

Vinson was intrigued by the case.

"I've been a teacher and worked for the state for 30 years and understand following rules, but something just didn't seem right," he said. "There's got to be some place in America for common sense."

He is trying to find a way to make copies of the song available on CD or through Internet downloads but at the same time protect his copyright, he said.

"I'm tickled for Doug, but I'm pleased it's also giving the community something to rally around in support of Sheriff McGee," Goff said.

Funds to help with legal expenses have been set up at BancorpSouth and Trustmark banks. Donations can be made at any branch.

<bgsound src="http://www.rock104fm.com/assets/multimedia/Sheriff_Magee.mp3">

[ratesguy]

WOW! In the face of total incompetency from FEMA, a local official see's supplies that are not being utilized, puts the supplies to immediate use as they were intended, and gets charged for a crime? (hangs head in shame) Someone step in and stop this insanity! Do Now!

[fourfourto]

thats just crazy

How did you get the music to play when post pops up ?

[Boss Hoss]

Thats unbelievable, yet unfortunately believable.

[alldunn]

Originally posted by fourfourto:
How did you get the music to play when post pops up ?

x2 I was like WTF????