Warren County Sheriff’s Office credited for putting Georgia man behind bars for 30 Years

Jalen Sean Benton, 19, of Georgia, will spend nearly 30 years behind bars for a crime spree ended by Warren County Sheriff’s deputies in March.

Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III sentenced Benton to 358 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for carjacking, two business robberies, and using a firearm to commit each offense. Benton was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. The sentencing was announced today by U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, FBI Jackson Division Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin, and Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace.

On March 25, 2019, Benton robbed the Jimmy Johns Restaurant in Meridian, the McDonalds in Brandon, and carjacked a vehicle in Vicksburg. Benton used pistols in committing each offense. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office arrested Benton in Vicksburg after shooting at law enforcement and subsequently committing the carjacking.

On April 16, 2019, Benton was charged in a federal criminal indictment. He pleaded guilty before Judge Jordan on June 12, 2019.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace

“The excellent cooperation between the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office has made our community a safer place and made certain this violent offender will serve a very long time in federal prison,” Sheriff Pace said in a statement.

“Because of the courage and bravery of our law enforcement, this criminal’s rampage of terror is over. He will now spend the next three decades of his life repaying a debt to society for the harm he has caused others. I want to sincerely thank our law enforcement for literally putting themselves in harm’s way in order to stop this violent criminal from harming anyone else,” added U.S. Attorney Hurst.

“The crime spree that this individual went on put the innocent lives of citizens across Central Mississippi in danger,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sutphin. “Without the assistance and quick actions of Sheriff Pace and his deputies, this individual could have committed more violent crime. Cooperation with all levels of law enforcement is essential in cases like these to bring justice to the affected victims and communities.”