Vicksburg’s Burt Carraway helps take down corrupt Sheriff

JACKSON, Miss. – On Friday, November 8, 2024, A federal jury convicted Marshand Crisler, a former Hinds County, Mississippi Sheriff, on both counts of an indictment charging him with soliciting and accepting $9,500 in bribes and for knowingly providing ammunition to a convicted felon. The trial lasted three days and the jury deliberated for approximately two hours.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Crisler, 55, was appointed as Sheriff of Hinds County in August 2021. In September, October, and November 2021, Crisler solicited and accepted $9,500 in cash bribes in exchange for agreeing to provide information concerning criminal investigations to the convicted felon who paid the bribes, protect a jailed family member of that felon by moving that family member to a safer place within the Hinds County Jail, and award employment with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office to the felon. Crisler also gave ammunition to that same convicted felon, knowing that the person was a convicted felon. It is against federal law for a public official to solicit or accept bribes.  It is also against federal law to provide firearm ammunition to a known convicted felon.

Crisler is scheduled for sentencing on February 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each offense. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“This conviction should serve as notice to public officials in Mississippi who sell their office in exchange for bribes that the Department of Justice will work to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee.

“The steadfast commitment of the FBI and the USAO in protecting the community has been exemplified with the conviction of Mr. Crisler,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff. “Public officials accepting bribes and violating the public’s trust will continue to be aggressively investigated by the FBI.”

The case was investigated by the FBI. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Herbert S. Carraway and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.