Cocaine Trafficker Earns Lengthy Prison Sentence in Rankin County

Rankin County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that on May 23, 2023, 29-year-old Kevorkian Dehon Grace of Meridian pled guilty to trafficking cocaine. Judge Dewey K. Arthur sentenced Grace to forty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with ten of those years to be served day-for-day without the possibility of parole or early release. 

On November 18, 2020, an officer with the Pearl Police Department stopped a silver Toyota Camry driven by Grace on Interstate 20 for not having a license plate displayed and speeding. Upon approaching the car, the officer observed a strong odor of burnt marijuana inside the vehicle. Grace told the officer he was returning to Meridian from visiting his girlfriend in New Mexico. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, the officer found a backpack containing 107 dosage units of suspected ecstasy, over 84 grams of cocaine, marijuana, THC wax, and other drug paraphernalia. 

The officer arrested Grace for trafficking cocaine and turned all the illegal narcotics over to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for analysis. The lab confirmed that the powder was indeed cocaine. After analyzing the 107 dosage units of suspected ecstasy, the lab found them counterfeit, containing no controlled substances. As a result, a Rankin County Grand Jury indicted Grace for trafficking cocaine on January 18, 2022. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Kevorkian Grace, despite being only 29 years old, has proven to be a career criminal. He has numerous prior felony convictions out of Lauderdale County, yet he again chose to ignore the law and traffic cocaine through Rankin County. We hope this conviction and lengthy sentence will teach Mr. Grace and others contemplating bringing drugs into Rankin County that breaking the law here will not be tolerated.” 

Mr. Bramlett added, “We would like to thank the Pearl Police Department and analysts with the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for making this conviction possible. Law enforcement officers across Rankin and Madison Counties risk their lives daily on our local interstates looking for drug and human traffickers.” 

DEFENDANT: 

Name: Kevorkian Dehon Grace 

DOB: 08/02/1993 

Fentanyl Traffickers Caught, Convicted, and Sentenced in Rankin County

Rankin County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that on May 23, 2023, 42-year-old Fredy Gutierrez of Victorville, CA, and 51-year-old Gabriel Becerra Manuel of Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, Mexico, pled guilty to trafficking fentanyl. Judge Dewey K. Arthur sentenced both Gutierrez and Manuel to forty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with ten of those years to be served day-for-day, without the possibility of parole or early release. 

On February 4, 2022, a Rankin County Sheriff’s Department deputy stopped an MCI passenger bus driven by Gabriel Manuel on Interstate 20 for a traffic violation. Upon approaching the bus, the deputy found Gutierrez and Manuel to be the only two passengers. While speaking to the two individuals, the deputy noted numerous inconsistencies in their travel plans and itinerary, including where they were coming from and going and the reason for the trip. During a consensual bus search, Rankin County deputies located 81 bundles of fentanyl powder concealed in the bathroom wall in the bus’s rear, weighing 91.9 kilograms, or just over 200 pounds. 

The deputy arrested Gutierrez and Manuel for trafficking fentanyl and turned the bundles over to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for analysis. The lab confirmed that the powder was indeed fentanyl. As a result, a Rankin County Grand Jury indicted Gutierrez and Manuel for Aggravated Trafficking on November 17, 2022. 

“Fredy Gutierrez and Gabriel Manuel chose to traffic the very drug about which I have repeatedly warned our community,” stated District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr. “This was one of the largest busts in the United States, not counting those on the border between Mexico and the U.S. Recently released data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the Department of Justice shows that between 2019 and 2021, fatal overdoses increased by approximately 94%, with an estimated 196 Americans dying every day from fentanyl. In 2022, the DEA seized over 57 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills and over 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder – the equivalent of about 410 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl. That is enough fentanyl to kill the entire U.S. population.” 

Bramlett added, “We hope this is the end of Gutierrez’s and Manuel’s criminal behavior and that this sentence will discourage others from choosing to make easy money by trafficking illegal drugs in and through our county, state, and country. We would like to thank the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, the Homeland Security task force, and other officers who assisted in removing this deadly drug from our streets, thus sparing an untold number of lives. My office will continue to diligently prosecute these poison peddlers, ensuring if they are caught in Rankin or Madison Counties, long prison sentences will be sought as allowed by law.” 

DEFENDANTS:

Name: Fredy Gutierrez 

DOB: 7/11/1980 

Name: Gabriel Becerra Manuel 

DOB: 9/10/1971 

Six Canton Men Plead Guilty to Gang Related Shooting

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Joseph Warren Jr., 27, Cortez Robinson, 17, Cordarious Johnson, 16, LeChristopher Smith, 19, Teravium Davis, 32, and Ahkeem Lewis, 18, all residents of Canton, pled guilty to various charges stemming from an ambush style shooting that occurred last year. 

On February 12, 2022, officers from the Canton Police Department were dispatched to reports of multiple shots fired on North West Steet in Canton. Upon arrival, officers found a man who had been shot and a vehicle that had received extensive damage due to multiple gun shots into the car. 

Video from a local gas station showed four cars pull into the gas station minutes before the shooting. The victim arrived shortly thereafter, and the men ran towards his car holding what appeared to be guns. The victim sped out of the gas station and the individuals raced back to their cars and followed him seconds later. 

Video obtained from locals houses then showed the same four vehicles surrounding the victim’s car and at least two shooters firing rounds into the car in a close range assault minutes after they all left the gas station. 

Investigators suspected this to be a gang related, retaliatory shooting. Police began canvassing the social media accounts of several individuals. They discovered a music video that was shot hours before the shooting with the above individuals all participating and wearing the same clothing that can be seen in the surveillance tapes form the gas station. Officers also uncovered a photograph of the above individuals standing around the grave of Jaihlen Sims, a young man that had been murdered four months prior during a drive by shooting. That shooting was also suspected to be gang related. 

All six individuals pled guilty to their involvement in the shooting. Joseph Warren, Jr. pled guilty to aggravated assault, shooting into a vehicle, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to serve a total of twenty nine years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He had previously been convicted of accessory after the fact to armed robbery in Hinds County. 

Cortez Robinson, Cordarious Johnson, and LeChristopher Smith each pled guilty to aggravated assault, shooting into a vehicle, and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. They were each sentenced to serve twenty-five years in prison. 

Terevium Davis pled to a single count of aggravated assault and was sentenced to ten years in prison. Ahkeem Lewis was sentenced to five years for a count of conspiracy. 

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Dewey Arthur noted that the video in this case showed a “military type assault on the victim’s vehicle.” He further noted that during all his years as a prosecutor and judge, he had not seen such a chilling video and that all of the men were lucky they were not looking at murder charges. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “These six convictions, and the substantial sentences, are the culmination of countless hours of dedicated service by our members of law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office. We want to thank the law-abiding citizens of Canton, who have had enough of this mess, for their increasing support, cooperation, and jury service. Further, we appreciate the businesses of Canton, who have also had enough of this mess, and are now taking a more active role in curbing crime through their cooperation, installation of surveillance cameras and other pro-law enforcement measures. 

DEFENDANTS: 

Name: JOSEPH WARREN, JR. 

DOB: 12/16/1995 

Name: CORTEZ ROBINSON 

DOB: 12/15/2005 

Name: CORDARIOUS JOHNSON 

DOB: 07/05/2006 

Name: LECHISTOPHER SMITH 

DOB: 04/11/2004 

Name: TERAVIUM DAVIS 

DOB: 03/09/1991 

Name: AHKEEM LEWIS 

DOB: 01/07/2005 

Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Two Counts of Aggravated Domestic Violence in Madison County

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Tyler Culberson, 31, was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Domestic Violence after a two day jury trial in Madison County Circuit Court. Culberson is a violent habitual offender, which mandates a life sentence without parole for each offense. Circuit Judge Bradley Mills ordered that Culberson serve those two life sentences consecutive to one another. 

On October 30, 2022, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a car accident on N. Old Canton Road. When officers arrived, they found a car with severe damage to both sides, and a completely splintered power pole. The female driver of the car and an eyewitness to the wreck indicated that her car had been forced off the road by another car. Her car had gone airborne, striking a tree and then a light pole. 

Upon further investigation, the female victim stated she had been trying to escape her boyfriend, Tyler Culberson. Culberson had assaulted her the night before at a home in the city of Madison. The victim had bite marks on her face and arms, bruises on the back of her neck, a black eye, and a broken arm. She indicated that she had received all the injuries overnight from Culberson. 

The Madison Police Department put a BOLO out for Culberson’s vehicle to surrounding agencies. The next night, the Richland Police Department located the vehicle within their city. Culberson gave officers a fake name and ran from them when they tried to take him into custody. He was eventually located hiding behind a daycare in Richland. 

During the trial, the victim detailed the months of abuse from Culberson. She stated she was too afraid to leave him or tell anyone. The victim stated that on the night in question, Culberson had become enraged with jealousy and strangled her, bit her, and punched her multiple times. When he went into the bathroom the next morning, she fled the house and jumped in her car. As she was racing towards help, Culberson came from behind her in his vehicle and forced her car off the road. 

The eyewitness to the wreck also testified that she saw the car driven by Culberson speed up behind the victim, cross into the other lane of traffic, and push her off the road with his vehicle. The witness further stated that when she approached the victim’s car, Culberson was screaming obscenities at the female. Culberson fled the accident scene when the witness stated she had called the police for help. 

The treating Emergency Room doctor detailed the victim’s multiple injuries. He testified the victim’s arm was broken which is commonly viewed as a defensive wound which occurs when someone is shielding themselves from injury. Multiple officers testified, and the body cam footage from the Richland police chase was played for the jury. Finally, the State put on testimony from a former victim of Culberson’s abuse. He previously abused her in a nearly identical manner in 2016, including choking, biting, and beating her. Culberson was convicted of aggravated domestic violence for these events in Rankin County and released from prison only months before the events for which he was on trial. 

At the conclusion of the trial, the Madison County jury was instructed to consider two counts of aggravated domestic violence against the victim. The first was due to him strangling her during the night. The second was due to him attempting to cause bodily injury to her with his vehicle. 

After a short deliberation, the jury found Culberson guilty on both counts. Immediately following the verdict, the trial proceeded to a sentencing hearing. The State put on evidence that Culberson had previously been convicted of motor vehicle theft and the aggravated domestic violence from the 2016 incident. Based on his prior criminal history, Judge Mills declared that Culberson was a violent habitual offender, and the only sentence allowed by law was life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Tyler Culberson has proven to be a danger to women, and society as a whole. He spent almost four years in prison for assaulting a woman in Rankin County. Less than a year after his release, he did it again. The victim in this case is lucky to have survived both the beating and the car wreck. Culberson has never displayed any level of accountability for his actions.” 

Bramlett continued, “I want to stress how important jury duty is to the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Without jurors, dangerous people like Tyler Culberson will never be stopped. The jurors in this case were attentive throughout the trial, and applied the law to the evidence that was presented to them by the State. They unanimously determined that Culberson was guilty and, because of that, he will never hurt a woman again. I want to thank those jurors for giving their time to perform this critical civic duty. I also want to thank the multiple law enforcement agencies who worked seamlessly together to not only investigate but capture this man. Oftentimes crimes do not stop at a county line, and the fact that we have agencies that help one another makes my office’s job of prosecuting those individuals possible.” 

DEFENDANT: 

NAME: TYLER CULBERSON 

DOB: 12/10/1991 

Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery of a Child and Will Serve Twenty Years

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Daniel Artis Jenkins was sentenced to 25 years for Sexual Battery by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff. 

Jenkins, 59, will serve 20 years of his sentence in prison and then be placed on supervised probation for five years. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victim. 

On April 27, 2022, the Richland Police Department received a complaint from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department regarding the defendant sexually abusing a victim when she was a child. Jones County Sheriff’s Department arrested the defendant for child exploitation in an unrelated case. After his arrest, the victim came forward to disclose the abuse that occurred when the victim was 12. The abuse occurred between 2003 and 2004 at the defendant’s home in Richland. 

The defendant was interviewed by the Richland Police Department and confessed to some of the abuse. He was charged with statutory rape, sexual battery, and gratification of lust based on the victim’s disclosures. 

Rather than proceed to trial on his charges, Jenkins pled guilty to sexual battery on April 25, 2023. He was sentenced to 25 years for sexual battery involving a minor. He will be required to serve 20 years day for day in prison. He is additionally facing charges in Jones County for the other incident, which was investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This is a case where the victim lived with the unreported abuse by Jenkins for almost 20 years. We are thankful for the work of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and the Richland Police Department in helping get this victim justice and getting this pedophile off the streets. Our office will continue to zealously fight for and protect our children from abuse.” 

DEFENDANT: 

NAME: DANIEL ARTIS JENKINS

DOB: 06/01/1964 

Convicted Felon Sentenced to Serve Thirty-Five Years for Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement Officers

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Jonathan Santino Gray, 30, of Jackson pled guilty to three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony evasion, motor vehicle theft, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to serve thirty-five years in the custody of MDOC. 

On September 28, 2022, Jonathan Gray stole a work vehicle from a contractor working on a home in Silverleaf Subdivision. Officers quickly located the vehicle in the city of Madison and attempted to stop the Defendant. He refused to stop - going over 90 MPH as he drove south on Highland Colony Parkway until he entered the city of Ridgeland. He rammed several officers vehicles in attempts to further elude police. As Gray changed directions and headed towards Ridgeland High School, officers made the decision to disable the vehicle before he could reach the school. Officers with the US Marshall Service were able to both disable the vehicle and take Gray into custody. Officers found a 9 mm handgun located in Gray’s possession after he was taken into custody. 

Gray had been previously convicted out of Hinds County for the charge of Armed Robbery in 2014. 

A Madison County grand jury indicted Gray on several charges including three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer by use of a deadly weapon. District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “When someone uses a vehicle to intentionally hit officers – whether they are in the cruisers or not – that is an aggravated assault by use of a deadly weapon. It is a miracle that no one was injured in this matter and that officers were able to stop the evasion before it got any closer to the high school.” 

Bramlett continued, “Officers from the Sheriff’s Department, Madison PD, Ridgeland PD, and the US Marshalls Task Force were all involved in the capture of this dangerous man. Jonathan Gray had absolutely zero regard for anyone else as he sped down Highland Colony during the middle of the work day. He drove into oncoming traffic and caused property damage to both local business owners and the police departments’ vehicle. Let this case be a warning to anyone thinking of running through Madison or Rankin Counties and using your vehicle as a weapon against our officers. We will not take that lightly and you will face serious prison time for your actions.” 

DEFENDANT: 

NAME: JONATHAN SANTINO GRAY

DOB: 05/08/1992 

Pearl Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery of a Child and Will Serve Twenty Years

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced that Billy Joe Coker was sentenced to 25 years for Sexual Battery by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff. 

Coker, 67, will serve 20 years of his sentence in prison and then be placed on supervised probation for five years. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victim. 

On May 5, 2022, the Richland Police Department received a complaint from the victim’s family regarding the defendant sexually abusing the child. It was reported that the abuse occurred at the defendant’s home in Pearl and also in Richland. Both the Richland and the Pearl Police Departments worked to investigate the matter. 

The child was interviewed and disclosed that the Coker started abusing her when she was 14. Coker made the victim perform multiple sexual acts over four years. He would make the victim perform the sex acts, and then he would buy vapes and other things for the victim. 

The victim’s family recorded the defendant confessing to some of the sexual abuse. However, Coker denied the allegations and requested an attorney when law enforcement picked him up. Rather than proceed to trial on all his charges, Coker pled guilty to sexual battery on April 11, 2023. He was sentenced to 25 years for sexual battery involving a minor. He will be required to serve 20 years day for day in prison. 

“I commend the Richland and Pearl Police Departments and the assistant district attorneys in our office for their outstanding work on this case, which resulted in this guilty plea,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “The courage and strength of this child and the parents must also be commended.” 

DEFENDANT: 

NAME: BILLY JOE COKER 

DOB: 11/14/1955 

UPDATED: Man Sentenced to Serve Forty Years After Robbing Ridgeland Hotel Clerk

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Noah Bradford, 24, of Jackson was sentenced to serve forty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Bradford was found guilty of one count of armed robbery on March 28, 2022. Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff held a sentencing hearing before handing down his sentence. 

On May 28, 2021, Bradford walked to the front desk of the Staybridge Suites wearing a hoody and mask, jumped behind the counter, and pulled a gun on the female working. He demanded money and upon receiving the $250 from the register, he ran from the premises. Officers from the Ridgeland Police Department were able to obtain surveillance footage from both the Staybridge as well as surrounding businesses and develop a suspect vehicle. Working with other law enforcement agencies, these officers were eventually able to track that car back to Bradford. Upon execution of a search warrant on Bradford’s apartment, they found the clothing he had used in the robbery as well as the gun, which had been hidden in the tank of his toilet. 

Bradford elected to go to trial on the charge. At the conclusion of the trial, jurors found him guilty after a short deliberation. Bradford has also been accused of murder and several armed robberies in Hinds County. He was given non-adjudicated probation on a charge of accessory after the fact to armed robbery and was still on probation at the time of the Ridgeland robbery. He is also currently facing a kidnapping charge in Hinds County that is still pending. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “Noah Bradford did the crime, law enforcement did their jobs, we did our job, and the jury did theirs. Today, the judge did his job, and I couldn’t agree more. Forty years fits the crime really well. Since Bradford committed it, he gets to wear it.” 

Name: NOAH BRADFORD

DOB: 08/27/1998 

Therapy Dog Joins Madison-Rankin DA’s Office

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties' District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced the addition of a new therapy dog, Marshmallow, to his staff. Marshmallow is an 11-month-old English Cream Golden Retriever who will work alongside office staff to comfort and serve children and other victims who visit the District Attorney's Office. 

Specially trained therapy dogs provide comfort and support to people in various tense environments. They can help people feel at ease, improve their mood, relieve anxiety, and remove social barriers. Therapy dogs are highly trained and certified to show their ability to work in stressful environments, ignore distractions, and provide therapy to people with diverse backgrounds and circumstances. 

"I want to thank Katrinna Miller and her organization, Mississippi Therapy Animals, for their amazing generosity in providing and trusting our office with Marshmallow’s care and continued training," said District Attorney Bramlett. "In a time where mental health awareness is on the rise, Marshmallow will serve a huge role in comforting victims and family members who, often due to no fault of their own, find themselves in our office in an unfamiliar situation. Marshmallow has already had a noticeable effect in the short time he's been coming to work,” stated Bramlett. 

For more information on Mississippi Therapy Animals, including how you can volunteer, please visit their Facebook page or website, www.ustherapyanimals.com. 

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UPDATED PRESS RELEASE: Madison Man Sentenced for Aggravated Assault on Father in Law

Madison County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that John Garran Saxton was sentenced by Judge Bradley Mills for hitting his father-in-law in the head with a baseball bat. Saxton was convicted after a jury trial on October 26, 2022 of one count of aggravated assault. Judge Mills ordered Saxton to serve twenty years with the last two years being suspended leaving 18 years to serve. 

On August 24, 2021 the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was called to a home in the Ashbrooke subdivision regarding a domestic incident. Upon arrival they found a 62 year old man lying on the ground with a severe head would. Saxton, the victim’s son in law, had first slapped his mother in law and then pulled a gun on the victim and attacked him with a bat. Pafford transported the man to the hospital where he had skull fractures and suffered permanent hearing loss in both ears. 

During a sentencing hearing held this morning, the victim of the assault and his daughter, who was married to Saxton at the time, spoke and pleaded for the substantial prison time for the assault. They described Saxton’s prior domestic violence and anger issues as well as highlighting the permanent injuries suffered by the victim. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “This is a great example of the importance of jurors showing up for trial. This is a dangerous man who had a history of domestic violence which ultimately ended up with him seriously assaulting his father-in-law. Both the guilty verdict and 18 year sentence ensure that this family will not have to endure his violent outbursts anymore as well as punishing him for his actions.” 

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DEFENDANT:

JOHN GARRAN SAXTON

DOB: May 09, 1989 

Canton Teen Sentenced for Murder on I-55 Outside Renaissance Shopping Center

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Marcus Luckett, Jr. was sentenced for the 2021 murder of Lakender Francis. 

On April 24, 2021, Marcus Luckett, Jr. who was 15 at the time, followed a vehicle from Canton into Ridgeland on I-55. While passing the Renaissance Mall, Luckett fired shots at the vehicle striking and killing Lakender Francis, 16, and wounding Kaiden Thomas, 19. Information obtained during the investigation indicated that there was an ongoing dispute between Luckett and the victim including an incident a month prior in which Luckett himself was shot. Police believed that was the motive for this killing. 

Luckett pled guilty to one count of second degree murder. A sentencing hearing was conducted this morning in the Madison County Circuit Court. Representatives from both the victim and Defendant’s families spoke at the hearing. Ultimately, Judge Mills ordered Luckett to serve forty years to be released after serving the first twenty eight years without the possibility of parole or early release. Luckett will be on five years of supervised probation upon his release. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated after the sentencing, “This is yet another example of teens committing violent crimes against other teens. In this situation, there are no winners. Both families lost a son on that fateful day because one was murdered and the other will be in prison for the next 28 years. We are thankful for the Ridgeland Police Department for the thorough investigation into this matter so that the Francis family could get closure. I hope that this case and sentence will send a message to stop the violence that is currently plaguing the teenagers in our communities.” 

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DEFENDANT:

MARCUS LUCKETT, JR.

DOB: 08/19/2005 

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE: Madison County Foster Parent Sentenced to Twenty Five Years for Sexual Battery of Child

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Michael Anthony Lee was sentenced for the sexual battery of his foster daughter. Circuit Court Judge Bradley Mills sentenced Lee to serve twenty five years without the possibility of parole or early release. Lee will have to register as a sex offender upon his release. 

Lee pleaded guilty to Sexual Battery of his foster daughter on January 17, 2023. Lee, 41, was living in Canton with his wife. They were licensed foster parents through Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services when the 15 year old child was placed in their home. Shortly after her placement, Michael Anthony Lee began engaging in sexual contact with the victim. The abuse continued throughout the victim's six month placement in Lee's home. 

Chloe Turner, a CPS social worker, discovered the communications between the victim and Lee after the child was moved to another foster family in north Mississippi. Law enforcement was immediately notified, and a joint investigation was initiated involving both CPS and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators executed a search warrant on Lee’s phone and found pornographic images of the victim on his phone. 

The CPS investigative specialist spoke along with Assistant District Attorney Katie Moulds at the sentencing hearing. Both called for the Court to give Lee the maximum sentence and reminded the Court that the Defendant had proactively put himself in his position as a foster parent so that he could have access to minor children. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “We would like to extend a special appreciation to Chloe Turner with Child Protective Services. Her dedication to the children in CPS’s care showed in this case as she immediately took steps to save this child’s life. We are pleased this Defendant will spend the next twenty-five years in prison.” 

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DEFENDANT:   

MICHAEL ANTHONY LEE

DOB: 01/01/1982

RANKIN COUNTY TAKES GIANT STEP TOWARDS EXPEDITING THE PROSECUTION OF FELONY DRUG CASES

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that the Rankin County Board of Supervisors has committed to fully fund a forensic scientist to the Mississippi Forensic Laboratory to provide forensic analysis of drugs collected within Rankin County.

“This partnership is the direct result of some ‘outside-the-box’ thinking by our outstanding leadership within Rankin County along with the full cooperation of Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindall and his team. Rankin County‘s adjudication process for drug-related felonies will become more efficient than ever before. The state’s backlog of cases will decrease as a result of the Rankin County cases being handled by a separate forensic scientist. It’s a win-win situation for Rankin County and the State of Mississippi.“

Bramlett continued, “Our courts’ dockets will move faster, and arrested individuals will not sit in our jail for extended periods of time awaiting drug identification, quality and quantity. Their cases will be resolved quickly. If they need to go to prison, we will send them on their way. If rehabilitation and recovery assistance is warranted, we will get them on the road to rehabilitation and recovery quicker. Our jail will be less crowded and, over time, our county will save millions of dollars.”

Commissioner Sean Tindall stated, “I anticipate more opportunities like this will rise in other counties across our state in the future.“

This program will begin immediately. “We are not talking the talk here; we are walking the walk. Actually, we are hitting the ground running ,” said Bramlett. “I thank everyone involved with making this partnership a reality, including our Sheriff Bryan Bailey and the Board of Supervisors for always making the safety of our citizens priority number one.”

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Local and State officials announce partnership between Rankin County and Mississippi Forensics Lab.

Louisiana Man Receives 25 Years for Theft and Destruction of Recreational Vehicle

Rankin, MS- Madison and Rankin Counties' District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that 42-year-old Christopher William Oldenburg of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was convicted of Motor Vehicle Theft and Felony Malicious Mischief in Pearl. Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff sentenced Oldenburg to 25 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

A Pearl resident stored her 40-foot recreational vehicle at a storage facility in Pearl for safekeeping while not in use. Around 6 p.m. on June 6, 2022, the RV owner received a phone call from the storage facility informing her that whoever had removed her RV from the facility had damaged the fence and gate. The owner was surprised and told the storage facility employee that she had not authorized anyone to use the RV or remove it from the storage facility. As a result, the RV owner contacted the Pearl Police Department to report the RV as stolen. An employee of the storage facility called the Pearl Police Department to report the theft and damage. Description of the RV and suspect were also relayed to the Pearl Police Department.

Witnesses said that they had last seen the RV traveling on Highway 80 not long after leaving the storage facility. Officers scoured the area, checking multiple streets, locations, and businesses, looking for the RV and the suspect. While some officers were looking for the suspect, other officers returned to the storage facility and were able to get photos of the thief from surveillance video.

Within 15 minutes of the reported theft and malicious mischief, the heavily damaged RV was spotted abandoned at the Pearl Walmart. Pearl officers converged at Walmart to search for the thief. Officers reviewed the Walmart security footage and determined that the suspect had not entered the store, so officers continued to search the area. Finally, at 7:15 p.m., a Pearl officer approached a white male that matched the description given by witnesses. Christopher William Oldenburg was identified and taken into custody. A background search of Oldenburg revealed he had multiple felony convictions in Louisiana.

Detectives with Pearl Police continued to investigate and gather evidence. They returned to the storage facility, where they photographed the fence and gate that were heavily damaged when Oldenburg was leaving the facility. Officers also retrieved and reviewed security video that showed the damage and identified Oldenburg as the person who stole the RV. Officers processed the RV and obtained more evidence that implicated Oldenburg. The RV was subsequently determined to be a total loss. The RV and storage facility's damage was well over $25,000.00.

District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr. stated, "Oldenburg made a mistake when he decided to continue his life of crime in Rankin County. As I've said before, we want the message to be clear; Do not come to Rankin County to steal. I sincerely hope this is the end of Oldenburg's life of crime and that the sentence will encourage others not to steal things in Rankin County."

Bramlett added, "We would like to thank the Pearl Police Department for their quick response to this crime. The excellent and efficient work of the detectives and patrol officers led to the quick arrest of Oldenburg. However, the officer's work didn't stop at the arrest. They continued to gather all available evidence to help bring this thief to justice. The thorough and tireless law enforcement work enabled our office to secure this conviction."

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DEFENDANT:

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM OLDENBURG

DOB: 1/30/1987

Texas Man Convicted of Trafficking Fentanyl

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that on January 18, 2023, 28-year-old Carlos Martinez of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty to trafficking fentanyl. Judge Steve Ratcliff ordered Martinez to serve ten years, day for day, in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

On April 25, 2022, a Rankin County Sheriff’s Department deputy stopped a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Carlos Martinez for a traffic violation on Interstate 20. Upon approaching the car, the deputy smelled marijuana. While looking in the SUV and checking on the female and infant occupants, the deputy saw that the back panel of the front passenger seat was lying on the floor. Additionally, the deputy observed two large packages wrapped in electrical tape protruding from the altered seat and a few blue M30 pills on the floor. Further investigation revealed that the packages contained over 10,000 counterfeit blue M30 pills.

The deputy arrested Martinez for trafficking and turned the pills over for analysis to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory. They determined that the pills were indeed counterfeit oxycodone that contained Fentanyl. As a result, a Rankin County Grand Jury indicted Martinez on July 18, 2022, for Aggravated Trafficking.

District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr. stated, “Carlos Martinez chose to traffic the very drug I have repeatedly warned our community about—the deadly blue M30 pill. This pill is passed off as oxycodone but is actually lethal Fentanyl. Martinez’s actions are precisely how this poison gets into the hands of the citizens of this county, whether they are unsuspecting drug addicts or curious novices. We hope this is the end of Martinez’s criminal behavior and that this sentence will discourage others from choosing to make easy money by trafficking poison in and through our country, state, and county.”

Bramlett added, “We would like to thank the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, the Homeland Security task force, and other officers that were able to get this sizable amount of poison off our streets, thus sparing several lives. The diligent work of law enforcement shed light on the players in this dangerous enterprise but also enabled our office to secure a conviction against Martinez.”

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DEFENDANT:

CARLOS MARTINEZ

DOB: 12/13/1994

Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery and Will Serve Twenty Years

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties' District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that James Allen Enochs was sentenced to 25 years for Sexual Battery by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff.

Enochs, 32, will serve 20 years of his sentence in prison, day for day, before being placed on post-release supervision for five years. In addition, he must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victim.

On February 21, 2021, the Rankin County Sheriff's Department received a complaint from the victim's daughter stating the defendant sexually abused her mother. It was reported that the abuse took place at the victim's home in Florence. The victim knew her assailant through her adult son.

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department interviewed the victim and had an examination conducted at St. Dominic's Hospital. She disclosed that the defendant entered her home and sexually assaulted her against her will. The defendant was interviewed and denied all allegations. However, the exam results processed at the Mississippi State Crime Lab revealed the defendant's DNA was found on the victim.

Mr. Enochs was indicted as a violent habitual offender, meaning he would face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted at trial. However, rather than proceed to trial, Enochs pled guilty on January 17, 2023. He was sentenced to 25 years for sexual battery. He will be required to serve 20 years in prison, day for day.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, "It takes great courage to come forward and report this type of crime. We commend the victim's daughter for taking action. The Rankin County Sheriff's Department did an excellent job with their investigation to quickly apprehend this defendant. We hope this plea and sentence give closure to the victim and her family."

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DEFENDANT:

JAMES ALLEN ENOCHS

DOB: 01/20/1990

Madison County Foster Parent Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery of Child

Madison County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Michael Anthony Lee pleaded guilty to Sexual Battery of his foster daughter. Lee, 41, was living in Canton with his wife. They were licensed foster parents through Mississippi Department of Human Services when the 15 year old child was placed in their home. Shortly after her placement, Michael Anthony Lee began engaging in sexual contact with the victim. The abuse continued throughout the victim's six month placement in Lee's home. It was discovered after the child was moved to another foster family in north Mississippi. The new foster parent discovered that Lee had sent sexually explicit text messages to the victim.

Child Protective Services was immediately notified, and a joint investigation was initiated involving both CPS and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators executed a search warrant on Lee’s phone on found pornographic images of the victim on his phone.

Michael Anthony Lee faces up to 30 years on the charge of Sexual Battery, all of which will be served day-for-day. He will not be eligible for early release or parole on this charge. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. Lee will be sentenced on January 31, 2023 by Circuit Judge Bradley Mills.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “Children in our foster system have already had to deal with so much. For a foster parent to then sexually abuse a child in their care is beyond horrible. I commend CPS, the Madison Sheriff’s Office, and the assistant district attorneys in our office for their outstanding work on this case which resulted in this guilty plea. I applaud the courage and strength of this child. The District Attorney’s Office will be seeking the maximum sentence of thirty years for this criminal.”

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DEFENDANT:   

MICHAEL ANTHONY LEE

DOB: 01/01/1982

Canton Man Convicted for Sexually Assaulting Woman at Gunpoint

Madison County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Dottie Maurice Griffin pleaded guilty to Sexual Battery and Felon in Possession of a Firearm in Madison County Circuit Court Monday, November 14, 2022. Griffin was sentenced to serve 30 years without the possibility of parole in the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the charges.

On December 16, 2021, Griffin was a guest at the America’s Best Value Inn in Canton, MS. He attacked a member of the housekeeping staff at the Econo Lodge, which is located next door, while she was cleaning a hotel room. Griffin demanded money from her at gunpoint and raped her before fleeing the hotel. The staff member contacted law enforcement who developed Griffin as a suspect after reviewing surveillance footage from Econo Lodge and America’s Best Value Inn.

The next day law enforcement officers discovered Griffin hiding out in a room at the Budget Inn in Canton. He was booked under a false name. They were able to find the clothing Griffin had been wearing, the gun used in the attack, and Griffin’s other personal effects by searching his rooms at each hotel.  Griffin had hidden the gun in the ceiling of the Budget Inn room. DNA evidence found on the victim confirmed Griffin was her attacker.

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated: “Random acts of violence are some of the scariest crimes we see. Canton Police Department did an excellent job with their investigation to quickly apprehend this defendant. We hope this plea and sentence give some closure to the victim, having endured such terror.”

Griffin’s 30 year sentence will be served day-for-day because it is a sex offense. Upon release, Griffin will be required to Register as a Sex Offender.

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DEFENDANT:

DOTTIE MAURICE GRIFFIN             

DOB: 08/31/1988

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Madison Man Convicted of Murder and Drug Trafficking

Madison County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Johnnie Harris, Jr. pled guilty to second degree murder and trafficking in controlled substances and was sentenced to serve thirty years without the possibility of early release or parole for each count.

On May 7, 2021 officers were called to a Canton hotel for a report of a deceased woman in a room.  Takoria “LuLu” Brown, 38, had been shot multiple times and was discovered by hotel cleaning staff.  When officers arrived at the hotel room, they discovered that the room had been rented by Johnnie Harris, Jr.  Surveillance tapes also showed Harris at the hotel room with Brown that night and leaving alone in the morning.  Brown was never again seen on any surveillance tapes after initially entering the room.  After obtaining a search warrant for the hotel room, officers located over 500 pills containing methamphetamine amongst Harris’s belongings that were still in the room.  

District Attorney Bramlett stated “We appreciate the work done by the Mississippi Department of Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Canton Police Department that allowed our office to obtain a guilty plea in this matter.  Ms. Brown’s family is thankful to avoid a trial in this matter and also to see justice for LuLu.”

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DEFENDANT:

JOHNNIE HARRIS, JR.              

DOB: 11/14/1985

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Madison Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault on Father-In-Law

Madison County, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that John Garran Saxton was convicted after a jury trial of aggravated assault for hitting his father in law in the head with a baseball bat. 

On August 24, 2021 the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was called to a home in the Ashbrooke subdivision regarding a domestic incident. Upon arrival they found a 62 year old man lying on the ground with a severe head would. Saxton, the victim’s son in law, had first slapped his mother in law and then pulled a gun on the victim and attacked him with a bat. Pafford transported the man to the hospital where he had skull fractures and suffered permanent hearing loss in both ears. 

The assault on the female victim was a misdemeanor handled through Madison County Justice Court. However, the male victim’s injuries and the use of the bat elevated those charges to a felony offense. He will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum sentence of twenty years to serve. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated “This situation quickly spun out of control for the victim and his wife due to the aggressive and violent nature of the Defendant. Violence within the family is an unfortunate issue we see too often in our office. I am so thankful for both the Sheriff’s Department for investigating the case and the jurors of Madison County who showed up for jury duty. Our judicial system cannot continue to keep our residents safe without dedicated law enforcement and citizens who are willing to serve on juries.” 

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DEFENDANT:

JOHN GARAN SAXTON                 

DOB: 05/09/1989

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