Prominent Hattiesburg Lawyer Sentenced in Federal Court

HATTIESBURG, MISS. - A prominent Hattiesburg lawyer has been sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of filing a fraudulent business tax return. John Lee was wheeled into the federal courthouse in Hattiesburg, Tuesday afternoon by family members. Federal prosecutors say, Lee evaded income taxes for at least three years but was allowed to plea to a single count for 2012. Federal Judge, Keith Starrett heard from a couple of local doctors who testified that Lee was in poor health and would probably die in prison. The judge ordered Lee to serve six months in a hospital institution and pay restitution of over $400,000 at the rate of $12,000 a month.