(GC Wire runs on donations by residents like you. Please click to help us keep reporting.)
JACKSON, MS (GC WIRE) — A group of elected officials and residents from Ocean Springs submitted a formal complaint this week to the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor requesting an investigation into two multi-city traffic enforcement programs that, according to the report, operated outside normal court and financial systems.
The 36 page complaint was presented in person to State Auditor Shad White’s office by Ocean Springs Aldermen Karen Stennis and Shannon Pfeiffer, former Mayor and attorney Tom Stennis, and GC Wire publisher E. Brian Rose.
The submission includes a detailed report and supporting documentation alleging that a program first launched in Ocean Springs — commonly referred to as “Securix” — used official-looking citations, law enforcement authority, municipal court lobbies, and payment demands in ways that were not consistently tied to actual court proceedings or state law.
The group emphasized that key elements from the program were replicated in cities throughout the state, including Biloxi, Moss Point, Hattiesburg, and others – mostly by the same group of behind-the-scenes players.
Built on Two Years of Records
The complaint is rooted in nearly two years of investigation by GC Wire, built from public records requests, subpoena responses, internal communications, official admissions, and state agency findings.
Securix LLC Chairman Jonathan Miller also assisted during that time, providing evidence to both journalists and government investigators.
Miller has said the team operating his company’s system in Mississippi was acting in contradiction with multiple state and federal laws.
At a basic level, the report focuses on two related systems.
Securix, first implemented in Ocean Springs and later expanded to other Mississippi cities, relied on mailed notices styled as Mississippi Uniform Traffic Tickets to pursue uninsured motorist violations. Intellisafe followed, using similar methods in other cities with many of the same individuals involved.
According to the complaint, both programs relied on the appearance of official enforcement, including police branding, legal language, and unenforceable threats license suspension and other court actions.
Recipients were told they had been charged with a misdemeanor crime, but in nearly every case, that was not true.
“This report is not speculation,” Rose said. “It’s built on documents, sworn statements, and written admissions by officials. What we found points to a system that used the appearance of law enforcement to collect money from thousands of Mississippians without giving them access to a court or due process.”
In addition to the group that traveled to Jackson, several members of the Mississippi House and Senate have indicated they are preparing to join the push for state-level action as the matter moves forward.
What the Complaint Alleges
The report outlines a pattern that raises questions about how enforcement authority and public funds were used.
In Ocean Springs alone, more than 10,000 documents labeled as Mississippi Uniform Traffic Tickets were issued. Only 23 of those were ever filed in municipal court, despite the citations warning of penalties that could only be imposed by a judge.
The complaint further alleges that:
- Residents were threatened with damage to their credit if they did not pay a diversion fee, despite never being convicted of a crime
- Civilian contractors issued citations signed as “sworn law enforcement officers” when they were not
- Officers involved in the program were paid directly by a private contractor rather than through municipal payroll
- Fees were collected using official-looking documents despite the absence of judicial proceedings required by law
All of those claims are tied directly to documentation made available to investigators.
Inside the Meeting with the Auditor
The group delivered the 36-page complaint in person and spent nearly two hours presenting their findings. According to those in attendance, staff from the Auditor’s office were already familiar with the programs and several of the key individuals involved.
The discussion focused on connecting the evidence — walking through how the program operated, how funds moved, and how similar systems appeared in other Mississippi cities, each one seeming to mimic official legal actions more than the last.
Auditor staff asked detailed, targeted questions throughout the presentation, focusing on specific documents, timelines, and decision-making roles.
By the end of the meeting, the group was told the matter would be turned over to the Auditor’s investigative team.
What Happens Next
The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor has authority to examine municipal finances, compensation practices, and the handling of funds collected under government authority.
But the scope of the complaint may extend beyond that.
Auditor staff indicated that any findings outside their jurisdiction would be shared with appropriate law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.
In other words, the review does not necessarily end with the Auditor’s office.
Officials Call for Accountability
For the elected officials involved, the decision to sign onto the complaint came down to what they described as unanswered questions about how the program operated.
“As an elected official, I took an oath to uphold the law, not look the other way when something doesn’t add up,” said Alderman Karen Stennis. “The information presented here raises serious questions about how authority was used and whether the public was misled.”
Alderman Shannon Pfeiffer pointed to transparency concerns.
“My biggest concerns are transparency and accountability,” Pfeiffer said. If government authority was used in a way that bypassed the courts and normal safeguards, that’s something the public deserves answers on.”
Former Mayor Tom Stennis framed the issue more broadly.
“This is not a partisan issue. It’s a rule-of-law issue,” he stated. “When programs operate outside established legal processes, it undermines public trust and requires independent review.”
From Reporting to Review
The complaint submitted this week compiles evidence gathered over months of investigation into a single, formal request for state review.
It now sits with the State Auditor’s office, backed by public records, sworn statements, and internal communications.
For the first time, the full scope of what was uncovered is no longer just the subject of reporting.
It is now in the hands of state investigators.
All I can say is it’s about time…thank you GC wire and those folks who want to hold their feet to the fire and get this resolved…there are some folks out there who are now just a tad uncertain..as they well should be…..
Great work Brian and this is a great credit to all involved who want to take their city and State back from elitists using the law to enrich themselves. Securix files remain open to all and a detailed report is also being provided to his office by us with irrefutable proof of their massive crimes. How over 20,000 State and Federal privacy violations, the theft of over $359,000. of State money, hundreds of thousands more diverted illegally to pay Dunston and others could be reported by us to State and Federal Authorities and only result in a cover-up is absurd. The price for protecting the public should not be threats of jail and verdicts based on demonstrably fake claims. A list of 30 interrogatories was sent, 18 subpoenas filed and the judge dismissed everything thus making a joke of the judicial system. Instead and in support of those whose own records prove they are criminals this judge demanded in writing the circumvention of the Department of Public Safety, the bypassing of due process and State and Federal Whistleblower laws. He has literally demanded criminal conduct so the criminals can be protected even though their own records prove their guilt. This coverup must end now. The law must be honored and justice restored.
Well, Ocean Springs faithful, get your popcorn ready! Finally, the mighty will be falling. Bad judges, bad city attorneys, bad businesses bilking our people. Let’s make this a clean sweep!