Kate Royals

The Clarion-Ledger

After the federal government moved to seize two Mercedes-Benz vehicles owned by former corrections commissioner Chris Epps, Epps walked out of a dealership on Friday with a third.

Epps and his wife visited the Jackson dealership to get a car for Catherlean Epps to drive to work the day after pleading not guilty to corruption charges in federal court, said Epps' attorney.

"Mr. and Mrs. Epps have obtained another vehicle so that Mrs. Epps could go to work every day. I don't know what make or model or year nor do I know whether the vehicle was leased or purchased," Epps' attorney John Colette said. "I'm assuming it was leased, but again, I just don't have any particulars."

Managers at the Mercedes-Benz dealership declined to comment when reached Thursday.

Federal authorities have already moved to seize two Mercedes, along with a $360,000 house and beachfront condo, that Epps owned, saying he got the assets through more than $1 million in bribes he received during his time with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

His assets included a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 V12 AMG, a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550, a $360,000 residence in Flowood's gated Lineage Lake subdivision, a $250,000 luxury beachfront condo in Pass Christian and nearly $1 million in two investment accounts.

Epps and Brandon businessman Cecil McCrory were arraigned Nov. 6 on corruption charges in connection with an alleged decade-long kickback scheme.

Both McCrory and Epps, who sported a gold Rolex watch in the courtroom, pleaded not guilty and were each released on a $25,000 bond.

Epps is accused of taking more than $1 million in bribes and kickbacks over the last eight years in exchange for nearly a billion dollars worth of prison contracts awarded to companies McCrory either owned or was linked to. McCrory is accused of bribing Epps and raking in cash from sweetheart contracts and consulting fees.

Contact Kate Royals at (601) 360-4619 or kroyals@jackson .gannett.com. Follow @KRRoyals on Twitter.