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Press Release

Former JPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Bribery

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Mississippi

Jackson, Miss. - Former Jackson Police Officer Melvin Williams, 48, pleaded guilty on February 17, 2017 to bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

The investigation in this case revealed that, in February 2016, Officer Williams contacted a local businessman and threatened to execute an arrest warrant if the businessman did not pay Officer Williams a sum of money. During the investigation, the FBI determined that the arrest warrant was not valid. The businessman agreed to cooperate with the FBI and Officer Williams was paid a total of $6,000 over three separate days.

Williams will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee on May 25, 2017, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and $250,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Patrick Lemon and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Updated February 21, 2017

Topic
Public Corruption