Former hotel owner in custody here following grand jury indictments

NATCHEZ — A former Natchez businessman facing prison for federal fraud convictions is in custody after being indicted in Adams County for tax evasion and embezzlement.

Ryan Patrick Mullen, who was sentenced in March to serve more than 13 years in federal prison in relation to fraudulent acts while purchasing The Briars antebellum home and Hotel Vue and Super 8 hotels in Natchez, is now in the custody of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

An Adams County Sheriff’s deputy and U.S. Marshals arrested Mullen at his residence on 12 Roberts Road in Jayess on Monday morning, following an indictment by an Adams County Grand Jury .

Mullen, 43, was found guilty in the Eastern District Court in New Orleans on March 20 of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison. He had yet to begin serving his federal prison sentence.

On May 13, an Adams County Grand Jury indicted Mullen on charges including three counts of tax evasion and one count of embezzlement.

On count 1 of tax evasion, the Adams County Grand Jury found that Mullen attempted to evade or defeat a tax imposed by the State Tax Commission or Department of Revenue of $113,471.57, which he failed to pay the State of Mississippi.

On court 2 of tax evasion, the Grand Jury found Mullen attempted to evade or defeat an occupancy tax liability of $33,554, which he failed to pay the State of Mississippi.

On count 3 of tax evasion, the Grand Jury found Mullen evaded the payment of $6,080 in withholding tax liability, which he failed to pay the State of Mississippi.

Mullen was found guilty in federal court in New Orleans of defrauding Keesler Federal Credit Union to purchase The Briars antebellum home. He was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining loans from Red Oak Capital to purchase Hotel Vue and Super 8 Motel in Natchez.

Further, Mullen was found guilty of receiving loans for properties greater than what was paid for their purchase and used approximately $1.3 million to buy a number of luxury cars.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said Mullen will remain in Adams County custody until he begins his federal prison term.

After that federal prison term ends, he will be returned to Adams County to face charges here.

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