Ocean Springs businessman hit with federal indictment for conspiracy, fraud involving PPE
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
GULFPORT, Mississippi Ocean Springs businessman Ken Ritchey has been indicted by a federal grand jury with multiple counts related to the hoarding of personal protective equipment and price gouging health care providers.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ritchey was at the center of a $1.8 million scheme which included price gouging numerous U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.
The justice department said Ritchey, 57, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit hoarding of designated scarce materials and hoarding of designated scarce materials.