AAG Clarke: Five former Rankin County
Mississippi Sheriff's Office deputies and a former Richland Mississippi officer -
all of them white - received prison terms for their dehumanizing abuse of two innocent black
men, including physical and sexual assaults, racist taunting, and firing a gun into one
victim's mouth. Working together, these defendants broke into the victim's home, arrested
them without probable cause, handcuffed them, tased them, held them down and poured liquids
into their mouths, and sexually abused them. In addition to shooting one victim in the mouth,
the defendants then tried to cover up the crimes and in a separate incident, one defendant beat and
threatened another person to coerce a confession, while two other defendants stood by. Seeking
to drive their black victims out of town, defendants treated them like no human being should
ever be treated. But they didn't anticipate the victim's courage to come forward and tell the
truth. They thought they'd get away with it. They sought to send a message. But we sent one instead
- the Justice Department will not tolerate police misconduct. Officers are not above the law in
our country. We will seek accountability. Law enforcement officers will suffer consequences and
receive severe sentences when they abuse their authority. By holding these officers accountable,
we're making clear that law enforcement abuse of black people or any American will not be tolerated
in our country. The lawlessness and impunity that fueled the defendant's misconduct not only
harmed these victims but also stripped away the community's sense of security and eroded public
trust in the police. I want to thank the dedicated prosecutors from the Civil Rights Division, the
US attorney's office for the southern district of Mississippi, the Mississippi Attorney General's
office, the FBI and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation for working together on this
case to the people of Mississippi. We hear you and we see you and we will continue to
fight for justice across your communities.
