Meridian, MS – Former Meridian Police Officer Royric ‘Roy’ Benamon, 27, has been embroiled in a scandal after pleading guilty to federal extortion under color of right in a shocking turn of events that has left the community stunned.
According to sources, in April 2020, Officer Benamon pulled over a driver at night in Lauderdale County and solicited and received a cash payment from the driver in exchange for not issuing a ticket.
This brazen act of corruption was met with swift action from the authorities, and Benamon was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on July 28, 2020, on two counts of extortion under color of right, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a).
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst has spoken out against the case, stating, ‘There is almost no greater threat to our society than when public servants, especially law enforcement, betray the trust of the people and abuse their authority for their own personal gain. Bringing corrupt officials to justice is one of the highest priorities of this office, and we will continue to ensure that the public is protected and that criminals answer for their crimes.’
Benamon is set to be sentenced on March 3, 2021, before Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III in Jackson, where he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, who investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and the need for transparency and trust in our justice system.
Related Federal Cases
- Royric Benamon, Extortion Under Color of Official Right, MS 2020 · Mississippi
- Robert F. Arnold, Wire Fraud, Honest Services Fraud, Extortion, TN · Washington
- Pearl Cop, Urine Humiliation, Mississippi 2024 · Arkansas
- Mississippi Man Pays $100,000 in Bribes to Military Base Officials · Washington
- Calvin Louis Smith, Bribery, Mississippi 2024 · Mississippi
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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