Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the recent sentencing of Lonnie Coleman of Memphis, Tennessee.
Coleman wasfound guilty of two counts of human trafficking and one count of possessionwith intent to transfer fentanyl. This case was investigated and prosecuted bythe Mississippi Attorney General’s Office."We are committed to continuing our investigative operations to underminehuman trafficking rings, and we are intent on seeing these cases through in thecourtroom," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "When we put thesepredators away, we help these victims take back their power from theirtraffickers, and that is an important foundation as they rebuild their lives.”On April 9, Hinds County Special Circuit Court Judge James Bell sentencedColeman to 20 years for each count of human trafficking and 8 years forpossession with intent to transfer fentanyl for a total of 48 years to serve day-for-day without the possibility of parole, in the custody of the MississippiDepartment of Corrections (MDOC) as a habitual offender.
Lonnie Colemanince taking office in 2020, Attorney General Fitch has made efforts to endhuman trafficking one of her highest priorities. To date, her investigators havecertified 516 law enforcement officers across the State, led 57 multi-jurisdictional operations, made 98 arrests, and recovered 335 victims –including 22 minors. In 2021, General Fitch launched her statewide humantrafficking awareness campaign, Be the Solution. With this multi-prongapproach, General Fitch continues to empower all Mississippians to helpidentify, report, and end human trafficking in Mississippi.
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