Ex-DMR Chief of Staff Gets Probation, House Arrest

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge says the Department of Marine Resources’ former chief of staff must repay Mississippi $184,000 and spend three years on probation, including 90 days of house arrest.

The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1ugdTdw) of Biloxi reports that District Judge Keith Starrett sentenced Joe Ziegler on Monday in Hattiesburg. He’s the last of seven department workers to be sentenced as a result of federal and state investigations.

Ziegler pleaded guilty in August to concealing a felony. Prosecutors dropped two counts of mail fraud and one of conspiracy.

Prosecutors said he plotted with former director Bill Walker and Walker’s son to move $315,000 meant for the department to a private foundation controlled by Walker.

Ziegler and attorney Sam Owen said Ziegler mistakenly trusted someone. Outside court, Owen said that person was Walker.