Former Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for soliciting and accepting bribes, as well as providing ammunition to a convicted felon. Alongside the prison term, Crisler has been fined $15,000.
Crisler, aged 55, was appointed Sheriff of Hinds County in August 2021. Evidence presented at trial revealed that soon after his appointment, he accepted $9,500 in cash bribes from a convicted felon over a period spanning September to November 2021. In return for the money, Crisler offered various favors through his role as Sheriff. These included sharing information about upcoming criminal investigations involving the bribe payer, relocating a jailed family member to more favorable conditions within the Hinds County Jail, and hiring the bribe payer at the Sheriff's Office. Additionally, Crisler provided ammunition to the bribe payer despite knowing their status as a convicted felon.
On November 8, 2024, following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Jackson, a federal jury found Crisler guilty on all counts.
"It is against federal law for a public official to solicit or accept bribes," noted Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi. He further emphasized that it is illegal "for anyone to provide firearm ammunition to a known convicted felon."
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI conducted the investigation into this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Charles W. Kirkham were responsible for prosecuting the case.