Five Sentenced in Kidnapping Case
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 22, 2014 |
JACKSON, MS—Five defendants were sentenced in federal court today by U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour, Jr. for their involvement in the kidnapping of Jashayla Hopson from East Kemper Elementary School on April 30, 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen.
Wanda Faye Dancy, of DeKalb, Shamarius S. Ruffin, of Porterville, and Shaquayla S. Johnigan, of Porterville, were each sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to kidnap. They were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,400 each.
Joyce M. Johnigan and James Shurman Johnigan, both of Porterville, Mississippi, were sentenced to 8 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release with home confinement. They had previously pled guilty to a criminal information charging them with misprision of a felony. They were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,400 each.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Criminal Division Chief John M. Dowdy, Jr.