Several law enforcement agencies complained that Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith repeatedly dropped cases against suspects that had ties to him or his staff in several documents that were unsealed today. JPD complained about the treatment of these suspects while the FBI apparently asked the Mississippi Attorney General in February to investigate the District Attorney. Special Circuit Judge Larry Roberts ordered several cases unsealed after the Clarion-Ledger challenged their sealing at a hearing held two weeks ago.
One of the cases was cause no. 16-120 (The case has no actual name.). Cause 16-120 began with a motion to recall the grand jury and to appoint the Mississippi Attorney General as a Pro Tem Prosecutor. Hinds County Senior District Judge Tomie Green sealed the case. The motion charges the District Attorney was not prosecuting cases because of the relationships between Mr. Smith and several defendants. The motion states:
On or about July 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice through its agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation s (F.B.I.) formally requested the assistance of the Office of the Attorney via written request. (See attached)
The request alleged that several cases, both violent and non-violent, had not been prosecuted by the Hinds County District Attorney's Office. The request went on to opine that the cases had not been pursued because all of the defendants have a relationship with Donald (Darnell) Turner. (Mr. Turner is currently a defendant in a case prosecuted by the Attorney General.)
The F.B.I has determined that the District Attorney (DA) and Mr. Turner are good friends and it is because of this friendship that the (DA) has chosen not to prosecute the instant cases.
Additionally, Deandra (Dee) Parker, the mother of two of Mr.Turner's children, is an employee at the District Attorney's office. According to records, Ms. Parker signed for one of the cases that has not been prosecuted by the DA's office. (See attached)...
Due to the forementioned conflict of interest of the DA's office and in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, the State requests that the Court make a finding of fact pursuant to Section 25-31-21 of the Mississippi Code that the District Attorney and any employees of that office are disqualified and prohibited from any involvement with the presentation of the above cases to the Grand Jury including but not limited to the prohibition of the DA and his employees from being present during the presentation of the cases to the Grand Jury.
The motion was filed by Assistant Attorney General Stanley Alexander. Mr. Alexander ran against Mr. Smith for Hinds County District attorney in 2015. Judges Bill Gowan and Winston Kidd recused themselves from the case. The case is assigned to Judge Jeff Weill. Judge Weill issued an order on April 7 that is still sealed.
However, JPD also weighed in against the District Attorney. FBI Special Agent Robert Culpepper submitted a rather letter to the Special Assistant Attorney General Marvin Sanders that was rather damning in its allegations:
In response to the inquiry regarding certain criminal cases originating in Hinds County that are being considered for prosecution by your office, the following information is contained in the relevant investigative files:
Donald (aka "Darnell") Turner is a close, personal associate of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith. Turner and Smith have a relationship that goes back many years. Extensive reporting indicates that Turner has been involved in a wide range of criminal activity but has never been charged by Smith's office. As recently as November of 2014, Turner was arrested by the Jackson Police Department for an aggravated domestic violence incident, but was not indicted by the District Attorney's Office.
Turner owns a trucking company, Southern Miss Transport LLC, that is under investigation for being a front for drug trafficking. James Mangum, the son of one of Turner's truck drivers, was involved in a homicide as part of a drug deal in Jackson in2014. Mangum was arrested for the murder by the Jackson Police Department, but was never indicted by the District Attorney's Office.
Tommy White was arrested by the Jackson Police Department in2013 for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. White is reported to be an associate of Turner and a strong supporter of Robert Shuler Smith. White's case has never been indicted by the District Attorney. The Police Department recently inquired about the status of the case and was told by a representative of the District Attorney that they never received the case. The Jackson Police Department retained a receipt :from the District Attorney's Office, however, proving that the case had been dropped off inMay of 2014. The District Attorney's Office employee who signed for the case was Deondra (aka "Dee") Parker. Parker is the mother of two of Donald Turner's children and has been suspected of deliberately pulling cases related to Turner and his associates.
It has been extensively reported that Robert Shuler Smith maintains an improper relationship with local business owners of Indian descent. The reporting suggests that Smith shields the store owners from criminal prosecution for illicit activity that is conducted at their business locations. Chirag Kharbanda, the owner of the former Express Fuel Store on Northside Drive in Jackson, has been arrested multiple times by the Jackson Police Department for a variety of crimes and is under active investigation for drug trafficking. Reporting suggests that Smith's office has deliberately avoided prosecuting Kharbanda due to Smith's ties to the store owning community.
Kingfish note: Hmm.... Chirag Kharbanda..... where have we heard that name before? Check out this earlier post.
47 comments:
This is going to get fun!!!
Take a look at the selective prosecution of criminal cases where well heeled plaintiff attorneys have civil suits pending.
Sort of like watching any sports games on tv. Slow, not very entertaining, and not much likely to happen.
Maybe not "fun", but interesting and (faster) moving. Remember that Ivon Johnson, Asst. DA, was indicted and plead guilty to the FEDERAL indictment. RSS will be there soon, IMHO.
Hey now!
Who tipped the feds?
So why wasn't Dee Parker indicted? She seems more involved than McBride, whose indictment doesn't even say what he was supposed to have done. I guess indicting an assistant DA along side the DA sounds better than indicting a receptionist involved in a love triangle.
So much for the bullshit of Dale Danks!
we're missing an incredibly important point-----our chief of police blew the whistle on this crook!!! Takes a LOT of guts to call in da FEDS tour OWN DA!!
Free McBride
Hey KF: Is the Donald aka "Darnell" Turner mentioned in this post also the Darnell Turner mentioned in this from 2013?
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/10/jackson_man_sentenced_to_feder.html
"In 2006 in then-Judge Bobby DeLaughter's courtroom, Womack was acquitted, alongside Corey Redd, Aundre Mason, Elisha Moten and Darnell Turner, of the 2004 kidnapping and aggravated assault of Michael Sanders. Local media often referred to the men as the "Grayhead Gang," as did Melton during his mayoral campaign"
Details on the murder in question:
https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1104983/posts
Dank's bullshit? Nowhere in those documents is a written statement from the govenor asking AG to intervene. And they can prove RSS guilty all day long, still doesn't implicate McBride, Danks' client.
This happened too.
http://www.wapt.com/article/stokes-questions-whether-brown-owns-embattled-gas-station/2093726
"Earlier in the day, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith filed papers in Chancery Court against Desmond Brown in an effort to close the Express Fuel Mart on Northside Drive. Smith said the gas station, which earlier in the week was the site of a shooting that injured a police officer, is a public nuisance."
Might want to look at this filing to see what was the basis for the claim that Desmond Brown was the owner rather than Chirag Kharbanda.
" “OK, let me ask this again, because you gave me two different answers. Do you own the store? Yes or no,” Stokes said.
“I’m a partner with Chirag Kharbanda,” Brown said.
“So, you don’t own the store?” Stokes said.
“What do you mean by own?” Brown said.
“Do you have legal papers showing that you own the store?” Stokes said.
“The proprietary owner is Chirag Kharbanda,” Brown said.
“So, we can assume that no, you don’t own the store?” Stokes said.
“Yes, sir,” Brown said."
"As the not-guilty verdicts on all ten counts for the five Grayhead defendants were read inside Judge Bobby Delaughter's courtroom -- Andre Mason, Terrance Womack, Elisha Moton, Corey Redd and Darnell Turner all breathed sighs of relief. "
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/4514857/all-5-grayhead-suspects-walk-free
"There was absolutely no evidence presented that this crime occurred," said Robert Smith, the attorney for Turner. "You had two con artists who made a deal with the state, and they were not credible."
Danks' Bullshit = His claim that the state AG has no authority to indict.
Danks is the king of the suntan booth, but is in over his head if he thinks he can contest the actions involving the FBI.
He doesn't have the protection of Queen Mary when it comes to federal jurisdiction.
@9:31:
I guess I missed the section in the statute that said the ag must be invited in, asked in writing by the govenor, or asked by the FBI. Didn't know the FBI trumped Mississippi law.
Apparently, the FBI office in Mississippi has suddenly been deified by the local blogosphere. And usually a letter like that from the FBI means "we don't have time for this pile of shit case, but thought you should know."
Right now there are a open cases and unsealed filings. Eventually all of this will wind up in a courtroom and we will see what is going on and if anyone has a case that can support a conviction.
Just get Jamie McBride out of the middle of this. He just did his job as the Assistant to his boss. That is all I care about here.
I agree with @ 10:29, McBride was just a reckless stab in the dark to try to flip someone. Problem is, he doesn't know anything. Word around the courthouse is they have already approached him about dropping the charges if he can provide any information.
11:07. If that's what this is all about for McBride then that's just sick by the AG's office to do this to him. Get him out of there! No innocent person should be made to suffer this.
So, to recap: The indictment on McBride does not mention what law he is supposed to have broken. Now the posters here are clamoring to have the charges dropped since he didn't do what he's said to have done although nobody has said what it was he did or has done but he's a good man and this is terrible to accuse him of something but not say what. Got that?
It is just a shame that McBride is the one that is going to suffer at the end of all of this. We all know that RSS is guilty but when he is convicted and run out of office what will happen to McBride. Whoever the new DA is will clean house and a great assistant DA who has taken many child molesters off the street will be without a job. The word around town is that it will be difficult for him to get another Asst. DA job because of his association with RSS. Damned shame!!!
When you lay down with dogs.....
If McBride did not know what is going on he should be charged with ignorance. Even people not living in Jackson or Hinds county knew what was going on. If McBride didn't know what was going on he would have gotten lost coming to work.
7:55 actually mere association with members of a crime is not enough to prove participation in it.
-Mississippi law.
McBride seems to be a nice guy - that according to folks that have worked with him at the DA's office and all his family posting here. BUT, he worked for what appears to be either a crook, or a totally incompetent DA. Maybe both!
If McBride's crime was doing what his boss told him to do and that was illegal, then he is guilty. Just because RSS 'told him to' doesn't give him immunity. Sorry - he could have quit or turned him in. And yes, I know what it means to quit - have done it myself in similar circumstances. Not a good option, but certainly better than serving time in the slammer.
I'm sure McBride will get a chance to 'make it all right' - just like Trent Lott got off the hook for his criminal activity for BIL Scruggs. Don't think either is right, but too often the ones in charge will cut deals to let folks like this off the hook.
9:41 -ask Zach Scruggs (and others) about misprisonment of a crime and then come back and give us your opinion again.
9:41, there is no "misprisonment" in State law though.
The 'Dog-Fleas' addressed the whiners who said Poor McBride - Because of this mess he will forever be unable to find work. Thus the post....When he associated with a thug he knew to be slippery, he had the option to move on. If he's as superb and above board as an ADA as his supporters claim, he'll find a new gig. Well, if he's not disbarred.
12:31 - you are correct. But are you forgetting that the Fibbies are involved as well as some already brought federal indictments? They certainly know how to use the misimprisonment theory
To the first poster: this ceased to be "fun" when McBride was made part of the charges (although no none can figure out what the hell he's charged with specifically in terms of any acts). It will not be fun until at least he's been cut loose. And I'm no relative.
2:20 cross that bridge when and if he gets there but Misprisonment still requires the Gov't to prove the person had knowledge of the actual commission of a felony...
Still don't know if 1) there was knowledge OR 2) how the feds would have jurisdiction over McBride since they already said they didn't which is why they referred to the AG's office.
Ivon and RSS were taking money to drop charges.. why is it so hard to believe that McBride was doing the same? After all Ivon, by all accounts, was wearing a wire for at least 6 months and already plead guilty and is snitching. McBride is more disgusting because he was in charge of prosecuting child molesters. Did he take money to drop charges against child molester and child porn watchers?
Those who have an interest in child porn would be advised to move to Ridgeland. I hear the judge will let them out of jail.
3:11 / 4:35. I don't think this whole deal is 'fun' at all. I think it is disgusting. Just as I thought Dickie Scruggs' purchasing judges and judgments throughout the state and screwing the legal system was disgusting. (I also find those that are saying Dickie is redeeming himself now with his newfound concerns over GED's - I guess to better educate the jury pools now that he can't use them any more - is disgusting. He gave up a few years of his life and also his license to screw other people, but he didn't give up his billions made out of the pockets of honest people.)
RSS, Ivon and whoever else is involved disgust me. McBride has been accused but many people are defending him saying he is too good a guy to have done anything like this. People also said the same about Dickie, Zach and DeLaughter - don't think anybody accused Peters, Balduchi, or Patterson of being good folks, but I digress.
If McBride really had nothing to do with this he will be exonerated. (I understand the problem of being innocent but charged, but that happens to the best of us at times.) But if he did have anything to do with it, either as a participant or a bystander that only watched and allowed it to continue this 'really nice guy' has a problem. I'm not finding him guilty yet, but I'm not buying into the 'turn him loose cause we all say he is good' crap either. Tell that to Dickie and Ed Peters - see what advice they can give him.
You people remember Louis Nobles, president of Mississippi College twenty years ago? Honest as the day was long. Religious. Impeccable character. Unimpeachable morals. Stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from Mississippi College and spent it on whore-houses out in the southwest. You McBride moaners remind me of Nobles' fan club back then.
I think it's so ironic that indictments are written this way every day all over the state, and they are.routinely found sufficient because.they "state the elements of the crime." But let a prosecutor get indicted and everybody screams, "we don't even know.what they say he did."
I think there must be two kinds of due process: one for the criminals and one for the rest of good people.
5:09
YOU ARE SICK AND AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!
7:13. You obviously did not read McBride's Motion to Dismiss. Point One is that this indictment alleges NONE of the enumerated bad acts listed by statute are alleged in this indictment. Just a conclusory allegation that alone does not reveal a crime. Not only no fire alleged, but no smoke either as to Mr. McBride.
All of you commenters are just plain STUPID. Has it not occurred to any of you morons that there is MUCH more to come, and you are being spoon fed what the feds and the AG want to spoon feed you (and the Ledger I might add).
All acting so damn smug and smart. Hold on to your horses. I doubt Waide/Smith have even gotten discovery yet on all the charges that will be coming.
8:09 can you please re-read the 5:09 comment and explain your "sick and idiot" comment? Just curious what part of the comment was "sick" and why the person is and "idiot"?. I agree with the commenters post 100% so I'm wondering what exactly offendeded you so...
8:42, not only did I read it, I've filed several just like it in probably a dozen counties across the state. It has never been granted. The State usually says to the trial judge something like, "the indictment meets due process if it tracks the language of the statute." And trial judges say, "yup, that's the state of the case law, motion denied." That's the reason I say it's ironic that a prosecutor is asking for this indictment to be dismissed (although I believe quashal is the proper remedy). If it is granted then we can be quite certain there are two types of justice. One for the criminals; one for just us.
For the record, I would love for Jamie to win this motion on appeal. It would be nice for the State to be required to notify ALL defendants of the actions they took that are supposedly criminal.
10:45 see 9:37.
You mean at this point we are all left, defendants included, only to speculate as to what unlawful acts the criminal indictment charges? Is that how the system is supposed to work for an indictment? Scary and wholly arbitrary for all law abiding citizens if that is true.
It's on like a pot of neckbones!
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/09/28/text-messages-show-das-interest-inmate/91216696/
Where was it charged that RSS and Mcbride took money. I. Johnson said he got paid off but do any of the unsealed files talk about money they took? If anyone knows .
5:48! 9:37 here. What did I tell all of you morons?? This shit has only just begun. Trial will never start Dec. 5.
5:48 here and am not at all surprised there was more. All you had to do was read that March 17 2016 post and the transcript and you know there isn't a rug big enough.
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