Andrew Grant and Eric Gilkey, both former members of the Canton Board of Aldermen in Mississippi, have been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for their involvement in a bribery scheme with former Madison County engineer Rudolph M. Warnock Jr.
In July, a federal jury found Warnock and another co-defendant, Cleveland Anderson, guilty of multiple felony charges after an eight-day trial. According to court records, Warnock and Anderson were charged with conspiring to commit bribery. Additionally, Warnock faced charges related to conspiracy and honest services wire fraud. Both men were convicted on all counts; Warnock was later sentenced to 12 years in prison while Anderson received a seven-year sentence.
Grant and Gilkey admitted in November 2022 that they conspired with Anderson and Warnock as part of the scheme. The Canton Board of Aldermen had the authority to select members for the Board of Commissioners overseeing the Canton Municipal Utilities agency (CMU). At Warnock’s request, Grant and Gilkey appointed Anderson to this board. Anderson then played a role in securing Warnock's position as CMU engineer in 2016.
Trial evidence showed that Warnock provided payments and rewards—including cash, concert tickets, and football tickets in New Orleans—to Anderson, Gilkey, and Grant. These bribes resulted in preferential treatment for Warnock’s engineering contracts with the city. In exchange for these benefits, the officials allowed Warnock control over the CMU’s finances.
"United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and David H. Fulcher.
