DIRECTOR OF SOUTH DELTA ARRESTED 02-07-2011

THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ARRESTS A HOUSING LEADER FOR INTIMIDATING WITNESSES AND ORDERS HER TO STAY AWAY FROM WITNESSES. SOUTH DELTA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR ANN JEFFERSON IS OUT ON A $25,000 BOND TONIGHT AFTER MAKING HER INITIAL APPEARANCE IN GREENVILLE FEDERAL COURT BEFORE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE DAVID SANDERS. JEFFERSON IS ACCUSED OF MAKING THREATENING COMMENTS TO, AND ABOUT, FEDERAL WITNESSES AFTER LEARNING THEY HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO F.B.I. AGENTS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF JEFFERSON AND OTHERS INVOLVED WITH THE AGENCY. ACCORDING TO THE THREE-COUNT INDICTMENT, JEFFERSON RETALIATED AGAINST TWO EMPLOYEES, SOUTH DELTA REGIONAL HOUSE AUTHORITY BROKER AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ANALYST KELLY NICOLE WUESTENHOEFER, AND SOUTH DELTA PROPERTY MANAGER ANGELA BRADY. ALSO TENANT, MELANIE GENTRY, WHO WAS ALSO COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS WAS ALLEGEDLY THREATENED BY JEFFERSON.  THE INDICTMENT SAID JEFFERSON PROFESSIONALLY OSTRACIZED THE WOMEN, TOOK AWAY VARIOUS JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, CURSED AT THEM, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FULFILL THEIR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES.  AS FOR THE TENANT MELANIE GENTRY, JEFFERSON ALLEGEDLY REFUSED TO ACCEPT PROOF OF INSURANCE, A MORTGAGE PAYMENT, AND THREATENED TO FORECLOSE ON HER HOME AFTER LEARNING OF HER COOPERATION. SOUTH DELTA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY OPERATES IN BOLIVAR, HUMPHREYS, SUNFLOWER, ISSAQUENA, SHARKEY AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.