Candidate’s run marked by pending fraud charge|[03/10/07]

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 10, 2007

Warren County District 2 supervisor candidate Michael Gates is making his second stab at elected office, but this time it’s under the cloud of a pending felony charge of food stamp fraud.

Gates, 44, former operator of Gates Express Mart on Sky Farm Avenue, and three other small food store owners were arrested by Warren County deputies in December on warrants filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Each is accused of exchanging food stamp benefits for cash at their respective businesses.

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Gates said he is not worried in the least about the charge.

&#8220I don’t think it will affect (the campaign) at all,” Gates said. &#8220Had I thought I did something wrong, I wouldn’t have run at all. It’s full speed ahead.”

Others facing charges are: