JACKSON — Luther Russell, the former director of the Laurel Public Works Department, has pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, State Auditor Shad White announced.
According to the auditor’s office, Russell instructed city employees to load the city’s track hoe onto the city’s low-boy trailer and transport the equipment to his property. Russell then used the city-owned equipment to perform work on his personal property.
Russell was sentenced in Jones County Circuit Court to five years of house arrest followed by three years of probation.
He was also ordered to pay $21,057 in restitution, $1,000 to the Public Defender Fund, a $500 fine and $427.50 in court costs.
