Christy Gomez, a 45-year-old resident of Jones County, has been sentenced to eight years in the full-time custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for her role as the ringleader in an extensive fraudulent-check operation that defrauded state programs. She was also ordered to pay over $81,000 in restitution to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Home Corporation.
Gomez pleaded guilty in Jones County Circuit Court to four counts of organized theft and fraud enterprise. According to District Attorney Brad Thompson, she exploited the Rental Assistance for Mississippians Program (RAMP) and received unemployment benefits through fraudulent means. “She was the mastermind behind all of it,” Thompson stated, describing her actions as an elaborate scheme that involved stealing personal information from others and impersonating a landlord during the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain RAMP benefits.
The investigation began with a complaint about bad checks passed in Collins, prompting Investigator Pam Smith of the Collins Police Department to contact then-Investigator J.D. Carter of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department in January 2023. Gomez indicated that the checks were printed at the home of James “Scooter” Riser, leading to a search warrant for the residence. The search uncovered significant evidence of wrongdoing, including 32 debit/credit cards, 18 cellphones, nine ID cards, seven Social Security cards, and notebooks filled with personal information.
As the investigation progressed, it became evident that Gomez’s operation extended beyond bad checks, prompting the involvement of the State Auditor’s Office. During follow-up interviews, law enforcement intercepted a vehicle driven by one of Gomez’s accomplices, Desirae Milsap, who attempted to flee before being stopped. Gomez and another suspect, James Clark, were found in the vehicle and subsequently arrested.
Auditor Shad White announced the arrests of Gomez, 62-year-old Larry Hodge of Laurel, and 45-year-old Michael Norman of Hattiesburg in March for their involvement in defrauding state programs between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. “Our team of investigators worked tirelessly to uncover this scheme,” White stated after Gomez’s guilty plea.
Gomez is also required to serve five years of post-release supervision and participate in the court’s community service program. Initially, the plea agreement included four years of supervision, but Judge Dal Williamson extended it to five years to ensure a more manageable restitution payment schedule.
Gomez must pay $44,335.63 to the Department of Employment Security and $36,700 to the Mississippi Home Corporation, along with court fees and investigative costs, totaling $83,390.63. She faced a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
“It’s always a balancing act between incarceration and getting the money back,” Thompson remarked, emphasizing the goal of enabling Gomez to work and repay her debts. Further investigations related to this case are ongoing, although Riser, who was a significant figure in the scheme, has since passed away from natural causes after recovering from a brutal assault.
