Gerald Steven Lavender: Federal Bid-Rigging Indictment and Blacklist Warning

Gerald Steven Lavender, also known as Jerry Lavender, has been reported on Hucksters.net as a subject of serious scam-related allegations. Those allegations are now backed by a federal criminal indictment. On February 11, 2026, a grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi indicted Gerald Steven Lavender for his role in a long-running bid-rigging conspiracy that defrauded Mississippi public schools out of millions in taxpayer dollars.

Gerald Steven Lavender co-owned Sports Specialty, Inc., located at 1505 Highway 45 North, Columbus, Mississippi 39705. The business, which he established in 1991 alongside Beth Lavender, sold team sports uniforms, equipment, trophies, and related goods to schools across the state. Federal prosecutors allege that Lavender used this business as the vehicle for over a decade of fraudulent conduct.

The Bid-Rigging Scheme Explained

According to the U.S. Department of Justice press release, Gerald Steven Lavender conspired with Jon Christopher Burt (also known as “Tank”) and Jack Nelson Purvis Jr. (also known as “Jay Purvis”) from approximately July 2010 through July 2023. That is 13 years of alleged fraudulent activity directed at public school systems.

The scheme targeted a Mississippi procurement law that requires at least two competitive bids for any purchase exceeding $5,000. Rather than compete honestly, the conspirators pre-determined which company would win each contract. The losing party then submitted intentionally inflated “second quotes” to create the false appearance of a competitive bidding process. Schools were misled into believing they received fair-market pricing.

The conspiracy affected at least 44 public schools and involved millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. In several instances, school staff members, including coaches, allegedly acted as co-conspirators by facilitating or accepting the rigged bids.

Co-Conspirators and Companies Involved

Gerald Steven Lavender operated through Sports Specialty, Inc. alongside Jon Christopher Burt, who held a co-ownership or senior role at the same company. Jack Nelson Purvis Jr. operated out of George’s Sporting Goods in Laurel, Mississippi. Together, the three men allegedly coordinated their fraud across multiple school districts throughout the state.

Jon Christopher Burt faces an additional, separate conspiracy count covering the period from June 2016 through September 2022, indicating a second distinct scheme within the broader investigation. The DOJ investigation has also ensnared other individuals in related cases. Charles Ferrell Trimm pleaded guilty in May 2024 to Sherman Act violations and wire fraud for a similar bid-rigging scheme. Bradley D. Willcutt pleaded guilty in September 2024. Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. and four other individuals also entered guilty pleas in connection with related schemes affecting hundreds of schools across Mississippi and Louisiana.

Charges and Potential Penalties Facing Gerald Steven Lavender

Gerald Steven Lavender faces one count of violating Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. This charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $1 million. Fines can increase substantially if the court determines that the actual gain or loss resulting from the scheme exceeds that baseline figure. Given that the conspiracy ran for 13 years across dozens of schools, those figures could escalate significantly.

The case is being prosecuted by the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. Federal antitrust prosecutors described the conduct as a “blatant betrayal of public trust.”

Known Identifying Information for Gerald Steven Lavender

  • Full Name: Gerald Steven Lavender
  • Known Alias: Jerry Lavender
  • Location: Columbus, Mississippi
  • Company: Sports Specialty, Inc.
  • Business Address: 1505 Highway 45 North, Columbus, Mississippi 39705
  • Business Phone: (662) 327-9367
  • Toll-Free: 1-800-748-7491
  • Business Website: www.sportsspecialty.net
  • Associated Person: Beth Lavender (co-founder, Sports Specialty, Inc.)
  • Co-Conspirators Named in Indictment: Jon Christopher Burt (aka Tank), Jack Nelson Purvis Jr. (aka Jay Purvis)

Why This Fraud Matters to the Public

Bid-rigging schemes targeting public schools do not just harm government procurement systems. They drain funding that would otherwise go directly toward student programs, athletic resources, and educational materials. When vendors like Gerald Steven Lavender rig the bidding process, schools consistently overpay for goods, and the excess profit flows directly to the conspirators.

The DOJ investigation into Mississippi school sports equipment contracts uncovered a network spanning multiple companies, multiple counties, and over a decade of coordinated fraud. Gerald Steven Lavender sits at the center of that network, having operated the scheme out of Sports Specialty, Inc. from at least 2010.

The National Sporting Goods Association also reported on the indictment, highlighting the damage this type of conduct causes to legitimate businesses in the sporting goods industry that compete honestly for school contracts.

Original Report and Source

The original exposure of Gerald Steven Lavender was published on Hucksters.net, a platform that documents reported scam activity. The federal indictment confirmed the seriousness of those allegations. Any individual or institution that has conducted business with Gerald Steven Lavender, Sports Specialty, Inc., or the named co-conspirators should review their past procurement records and consult legal counsel if they believe they were overcharged under rigged bid conditions.

Businesses, school administrators, and procurement officers throughout Mississippi and surrounding states should treat Gerald Steven Lavender as a blacklisted vendor. Avoid entering any contract or financial arrangement with Gerald Steven Lavender or Sports Specialty, Inc. until the federal case is fully resolved and accountability has been established.

Stay Protected: Report Fraud

If you have information related to Gerald Steven Lavender, the Sports Specialty, Inc. bid-rigging scheme, or related misconduct, you can report it directly to the DOJ Antitrust Division’s tip line. Reports from school staff, purchasing officials, or former employees could be critical to the ongoing federal investigation.

This blacklist entry will be updated as the federal case against Gerald Steven Lavender progresses through the courts.