Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Two men have been indicted on federal charges that they inflated bills for urban redevelopment work in Hattiesburg, pocketing $120,000.

A March 10 indictment against the Rev. Kenneth Fairley of Hattiesburg and Artie Fletcher of New Orleans was unsealed Wednesday.

Fairley is a close political ally of longtime Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree.

Both men appeared in court Wednesday in Hattiesburg.

The indictment alleges the men stole money earmarked to rehabilitate three houses in 2011.

Fairley is indicted on six counts including conspiracy to defraud the federal government, theft of government money, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and depositing checks containing stolen money.

Fletcher is indicted on three counts, including conspiracy to defraud the federal government, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and attempting to deposit a check containing stolen money.