A former Chancery Court Judge in Mississippi is on his way to Prison.

Joe Dale Walker, former Chancellor over Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties, plead Guilty in October for his on-the-bench conduct.

Federal charges included that he instructed a federal grand jury witness to destroy documents and then lied to FBI agents about it.

According to the FBI, Walker directed an attorney (the witness) he had appointed for a Conservatorship to solicit bids for the construction of a home for the ward. Of the bids obtained, one was from the Judge’s nephew.  The Judge reviewed the bids in his office and instructed his nephew to increase his bid. Walker then transferred the case to the other Judge in the district for the limited purpose of accepting and approving the bid because of his nephew’s involvement. After the contract was awarded to Walker’s nephew, the case was transferred back to Walker by the second Judge.

Walker, knowing that a Grand Jury subpoena was outstanding for information concerning the bidding process, spoke with the witness about instructing his nephew to increase his bid and the original bid and any existing copies.

When interviewed by the FBI, Walker denied  talking with the witness about his nephew’s  bids and denied telling the witness that the original low bid needed to be “somewhere else.”

Walker was sentenced to 5 months in prison.  His nephew was likewise sentenced to 5 months in prison and 5 months home confinement.

“Don’t do the Crime, if you can’t do the Time” – Detective Anthony Vincenzo “Tony” Baretta

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