A Mississippi coroner accused of fraud and lying about transporting bodies has pleaded guilty to the crimes.
The Office of the State Auditor announced Thursday that Quitman County coroner Randy Hester pleaded guilty to false representation to defraud the government and conspiracy to fraudulently obtain public funds. Brenda Pittman, Hester’s aunt, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the state as part of the scheme.
Hester and Pittman opened a bank account under a fictitious business they created called “MFC Transit.” Bank records listed Hester’s personal address as the business address for the account. He submitted invoices for transportation of bodies using the fake company and then charged the county for transporting bodies that were transported by other funeral homes, according to the auditor’s office.
Due to his position of coroner, Hester was now allowed to bill the county for the routine transportation of dead bodies. According to the official website for Quitman County, Hester is still employed.
“Our investigators work tirelessly to uncover cases just like this one,” State Auditor Shad White said. “We will continue to work directly with prosecutors to deliver record results for taxpayers.”
Hester was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $12,350 in restitution and $500 in fines. Pittman was sentenced to two years of probation.
