Miss. auditor: former Columbus councilman, contractor arrested in bid-rigging case

JACKSON, Miss. — State Auditor Shad White said special agents from his office arrested former Columbus City Councilman Joseph Mickens Jr. and private contractor Marcus Dawson on allegations they rigged the bidding process to secure flooring contracts for Mickens in exchange for future city-awarded HVAC contracts for Dawson, the auditor’s office said.

The office said Mickens and Dawson allegedly manipulated a bid for a flooring job approved by the Columbus City Council to ensure Mickens’ flooring company would win and be paid. The statement said the pair then led city officials to believe Dawson’s company was completing the work and that Dawson laundered city payments through his business bank accounts before transferring the money to Mickens.

“Any elected official fleecing taxpayers for their own benefit should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” White said. “The hardworking men and women at the State Auditor’s Office will continue serving as a watchdog for taxpayers,” he added, according to the office.

The auditor’s office said Mickens faces up to 30 years in prison and $505,000 in fines if convicted. Dawson faces up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted. The office said all persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and that suspected fraud can be reported at any time via the red button on the auditor’s website or by calling 800-321-1275 during normal business hours.

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