Source: US FBI
Gulfport, MS – An Ocean Springs, Mississippi man pleaded guilty today to extortion by official right and witness tampering.
According to court documents, Steven Wood, 64, used his position as a Mississippi Probation and Parole officer to extort drugs, sexual photos, and sexual services from multiples state probationers. The investigation was initiated when a probationer reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) that Wood was having her bring him methamphetamine. Subsequent investigation including additional witness interviews, and the forensic examination of Wood’s phone revealed that he solicited methamphetamine, sexual photos, and videos from multiple probationers. Wood took official action on those probationer’s behalf by not reporting their use, possession, or transfer of illegal drugs, not requiring them to report for their probation visits, not requiring some of them to pay their probation fees and writing at least one letter to be submitted by a probationer in a child custody dispute.
During the course of the investigation, Wood contacted multiple probationers, and he told one probationer to lie about her relationship with Wood and to hide evidence.
Wood pleaded guilty to one count of extortion by official right in violation of the Hobbs Act and one count of witness tampering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2025. He faces not more than 20 years of imprisonment for both the Hobbs Act and Witness Tampering offenses. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI Special Agent in Charge, Rob Eikhoff, made the announcement.
The FBI, with assistance of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.