Choctaw Burglar Gets 7 Months Federal Time

JACKSON, MS – Shelton Shane Chapman Jr., 20, of Leake County, Mississippi, is trading local jail for federal prison after being sentenced to 7 months behind bars for a brazen burglary of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Procurement Office. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves handed down the sentence today, alongside a 3-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, Chapman broke into the Procurement Office on November 7, 2017, making off with a Dell bag, along with several iPhones and iPads. The stolen goods weren’t kept long. Chapman quickly fenced the electronics, selling them to two individuals who then pawned the items at a local shop. The total loss to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians tallied $4,334.43, an amount Chapman is now ordered to repay in restitution.

This wasn’t a first-time offense. Chapman initially faced federal indictment by a grand jury on November 27, 2018, and ultimately pled guilty on February 13, 2019, before Judge Reeves. But even *before* facing federal charges, Chapman was already a guest of the state, serving a seven-year sentence imposed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for a separate burglary of a business in Neshoba County. It appears Chapman enjoys a pattern of targeting businesses.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze jointly announced the sentencing, highlighting the collaborative effort to bring Chapman to justice. The investigation was a joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Police Department, demonstrating a unified front against crime within the tribal community.

Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case, building a solid case that ultimately led to Chapman’s conviction. The seven-month sentence, while relatively short, sends a message that federal authorities will not tolerate theft targeting tribal lands and resources. It remains to be seen how this latest sentence will be served in relation to Chapman’s existing state sentence.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The Choctaw Nation, like many tribal communities, faces unique challenges when it comes to crime, and this case underscores the importance of robust law enforcement and federal cooperation to protect their sovereignty and economic interests.