Mississippi City Employee Sentenced for Fraudulent Deer Accident Claim

A former code enforcement officer in Natchez has been sentenced to two years’ probation for insurance fraud.

The Natchez Democrat reported that 58-year-old Willie B. Jones was sentenced this past week by Circuit Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders. Sanders also ordered Jones to pay $2,200 in restitution to Progressive Insurance Co.

Jones’ co-defendant, Demiko Lashea Smith, also pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and received the same sentence.

Prosecutors said Jones and Smith worked together to defraud Progressive after a car accident with a deer.

Court records show Jones was the driver and lone occupant of Smith’s vehicle when he hit a deer. At the time of the accident the vehicle was not covered by insurance.

Prosecutors said Smith instructed Jones to obtain insurance on the vehicle. He did, and Smith filed a police report stating the damage occurred after the insurance was purchased. Jones later filed a claim for the damage.

Jones, who had been on administrative leave without pay since his arrest, was fired Monday, said Mayor Butch Brown.