Racist Hampton Landlord Sentenced to 17 Years; Prayers Up for Pastor Blount; Jimmy Carter Funeral Details

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Racist Hampton Landlord Sentenced to 17 Years

Department of Justice: On Dec. 18, DOJ announce that “a Hampton man was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-based interference with housing and employment.

According to court documents, David L. Merryman, 59, owned 39 rental properties in Newport News and 23 more in Hampton. Many of Merryman’s rental properties were in poor condition and located in low-income neighborhoods. He primarily rented the properties to underprivileged African American tenants with limited credit and housing options.

From 2019 through at least January 2024, Merryman engaged in a multifaceted scheme that included obtaining rent relief benefits to which he was not entitled, as well as fraudulently obtaining large initial payments in the form of security deposits, prepaid rent, and other fees for rental homes that were in poor repair. Merryman represented to prospective tenants that he would lease the rentals for longer tenancy terms but intended to evict them as quickly as possible to restart the cycle of fraud and collect more high initial payments from new tenants.

“David Merryman deliberately targeted families of color with limited means and housing options.” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Easter District of Virginia. “Landlords have a responsibility under the law to uphold the housing rights and protect the human dignity of the people to whom they rent. Mr. Merryman failed to uphold that responsibility and is paying a heavy price for his for racial discrimination and fraud.”

“For years, David Merryman used his position of power as a landlord and his tenant’s economic vulnerability to make a profit,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “He not only sought out tenants with few housing options to rent, but then continued to racially harass and subject them to unsuitable living conditions. His victims were oftentimes mothers or fathers who just wanted to keep a roof over their family’s head. We’re thankful for today’s sentence which showcases the serious nature of these types of offenses, as well as the FBI’s commitment to investigating the perpetrators of these crimes.”

“Merryman specifically sought to rent his derelict properties to vulnerable minority tenants, and then subjected them to abhorrent racial discrimination and other abusive conduct,” said Rae Oliver Davis, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “His criminal actions were in repulsive disregard for both the law and well-being of his low-income tenants. Today’s sentencing stops his cycle of fraud and abuse and brings Mr. Merryman to justice.”

On several occasions, Merryman harassed his minority tenants with slurs, comments about slavery, mocking comments, death threats, and assaultive conduct related to their race, all in violation of their right to occupy and lease a dwelling free from racially motivated harassment, threats, and force. He also interfered with at least one victim’s right to enjoy employment free from racial threats and assaultive conduct.

Merryman fabricated lease documents, often with incorrect information related to the tenants, and backdated documents before forging tenants’ signatures and falsely representing that he was authorized to act on their behalf.” READ ENTIRE

Prayers Up for Pastor Blount

Prayers up to New Mount Olivet Baptist Church (in Portsmouth) Pastor Milton Blount, who is in the hospital. A message on Facebook yesterday:

Pastors Meet and Talk Issues with Rep. Scott and State Senators Locke, Bagby and Lucas

On Dec. 30, a group of local pastors met with Congressman Bobby Scott and State Senators L. Louise Lucas, Mamie Locke and Lamont Bagby. They met in Norfolk to discuss issues of concern in their communities with a focus on policy. The first day of the 119th U.S. Congress will be this Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. The Virginia General Assembly begins their 2025 session on January 8, 2025 at noon.

Funeral Details for Jimmy Carter

Jan. 4 to Jan 9: Jimmy Carter’s funeral will include stops at his boyhood home, a motorcade to Atlanta; a pause at the Georgia State Capitol; a service at the Carter Presidential Center; public viewings in both Atlanta and Washington; a funeral procession in Washington; a service at the U.S. Capitol; a National Funeral Service at Washington National Cathedral; and a private service and interment in Plains, Georgia.

Carter Center: The Carter Family invites the public to honor and celebrate the life of former President Carter by paying their respects during either of the public viewings; the funeral procession in Washington; in the downtown area of Plains, Georgia; or along the motorcade routes in Georgia and Washington.

Full details are are below (all times are in EST). Source: The Carter Center

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🕯️SATURDAY, JAN. 4, 2025
10:15 a.m. – The Carter Family arrives at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia.
10:20 a.m. – Carter’s remains are carried to the hearse by current and former Special Agents in Charge from the United States Secret Service – Carter Protective Division.
10:30 a.m. – The motorcade departs Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and travels through Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia.
10:50 a.m. – Carter and his family arrive at his boyhood home for a brief pause in front of the family’s farm. During the pause, the National Park Service will honor the late president with a salute and ringing of the historic farm bell 39 times.
10:55 a.m. – The late president officially begins his final journey to Atlanta.
3 p.m. – The motorcade arrives in Atlanta and pauses at Georgia’s State Capitol for a moment of silence by Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens, members of the Georgia Legislature, and Georgia State Patrol Troopers.
3:05 p.m. – The motorcade departs for the Carter Presidential Center.
3:45 p.m. – Carter’s remains are carried into the Carter Presidential Center during an arrival ceremony.
4 p.m. – A private service at the Carter Presidential Center.
7 p.m. – Lying in Repose begins. Mourners are invited to come and pay their respects.

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🕯️SUNDAY, JAN. 5, 2025 - The late president continues to lie in repose until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The public is invited to pay their respects throughout this time.

🕯️MONDAY, JAN. 6, 2025
The late president continues to lie in repose until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The public is invited to pay their respects throughout this time.

🕯️TUESDAY, JAN. 7, 2025
6 a.m. – Lying in Repose concludes.
9:30 a.m. – A departure ceremony from the Carter Presidential Center.
10 a.m. – The motorcade departs for Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.
10:40 a.m. – The late president and his family arrive at Dobbins Air Reserve Base and board Special Air Mission 39 after an arrival ceremony.
11:15 a.m. – Special Air Mission 39 departs for Washington.
12:45 p.m. – Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and Carter’s remains are transferred with ceremony to the hearse.
1:15 p.m. – The motorcade departs for the U.S. Navy Memorial.
2 p.m. – The motorcade arrives at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Carter’s remains are transferred from a hearse to a horse drawn caisson with ceremony.
2:15 p.m. – The funeral procession begins marching up to the U.S. Capitol via Pennsylvania Avenue, turning left onto Constitution Avenue.
2:40 p.m. – Upon arrival at the U.S. Capitol, the late president is carried up the stairs by military body bearers and into the Rotunda.
3 p.m. – Congress pays their respects during a service in the Rotunda.
3:45 p.m. – Carter begins lying in state while the military maintains a guard of honor.
7 p.m. to midnight – Lying in state opens to the public.

🕯️WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 2025
The late president continues to lie in state while the military maintains a guard of honor. The public is invited to pay their respects from 7 a.m. on Jan. 8., 2025 until 7 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2025.

🕯️THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 2025
7 a.m. – Lying in State concludes.
8:45 a.m. – The Carter Family departs from Blair House by motorcade.
9 a.m. – A departure ceremony from the U.S. Capitol.
9:15 a.m. – The motorcade departs for Washington National Cathedral.
9:30 a.m. – Carter and his family arrive at the Washington National Cathedral.
9:55 a.m. – Carter’s remains are carried into the cathedral during a brief arrival ceremony.
10 a.m. – National Funeral Service
11 a.m. – A departure ceremony from Washington National Cathedral.
11:15 a.m. – The motorcade departs for Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
11:45 a.m. – The late president and his family arrive at Joint Base Andrews and board Special Air Mission 39 after a brief departure ceremony
12:15 p.m. – Special Air Mission 39 departs for Lawson Army Airfield, Ft. Moore, Ga.
2 p.m. – Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield and Carter’s remains are transferred with ceremony to the hearse.
2:30 p.m. – The motorcade departs for Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia.
3:30 p.m. – An arrival ceremony at Maranatha Baptist Church.
3:45 p.m. – Private funeral service.
4:30 p.m. – A departure ceremony from Maranatha Baptist Church.
4:45 p.m. – The late president and his family travel by motorcade through downtown Plains. The public is invited to line the motorcade route as Carter makes his final journey through his beloved hometown.
5:20 p.m. – The motorcade arrives at the Carter residence for a private interment. Prior to interment, the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of former President Carter’s naval service and time as commander-in-chief shortly after the motorcade’s arrival at the residence.

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