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(NewsNation) — Two elected sheriffs were among 14 Mississippi law enforcement officers indicted for allegedly assisting cause trafficking crossed the state’s Northwestern Delta region, national authorities announced Thursday.
In cases unveiled by Acting U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner, the indicted officers are accused of taking bribes of up to tens of thousands of dollars to let the proscription of what they thought were amerciable drugs. Joyner said the FBI launched the yearslong investigation, which helium described arsenic a sting, aft suspects complained astir having to wage kickbacks.
“We’re talking astir 14 existent oregon erstwhile instrumentality enforcement officers … who are alleged to person sold retired the public,” FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey said astatine a quality conference. “This corruption permeated each levels. It extended crossed aggregate counties and aggregate jurisdictions successful the authorities of Mississippi, and beyond.”
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner, left, talks with reporters Thursday; astatine close is FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey. Besides the 14 officers from local, region and authorities constabulary agencies, different six radical were indicted for allegedly escorting what conspirators thought to beryllium cause shipments. The 2 elected sheriffs charged are Humphreys County Sheriff Bruce Williams and Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston.
Joyner said helium believed each defendants had been granted bond. No further accusation was instantly available.
Multiple Mississippi instrumentality enforcement agencies and sheriffs person faced national scrutiny successful caller years.
In 2024, erstwhile Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler was convicted of accepting $9,500 successful bribes and knowingly providing ammunition to a convicted felon. The aforesaid year, erstwhile Noxubee County Sheriff Terry Grassaree pleaded blameworthy to making mendacious statements to the FBI portion being questioned astir requesting and receiving nude photos from a pistillate inmate.
William Brewer, a erstwhile Tallahatchie County sheriff, was sentenced to six years successful situation successful 2019 for extorting bribes from a cause dealer.
In 2023, six instrumentality enforcement officers pleaded blameworthy to authorities and national charges for torturing 2 Black men, a lawsuit that sparked a Department of Justice investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. A akin DOJ probe concluded past twelvemonth that officers of the Lexington Police Department discriminated against Black people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
