Crossburning Sentence Handed Down

Graham Williamson, 38, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in a hate crime that targeted a predominantly African-American residential area in Seminary, Mississippi.

On October 24, 2017, Williamson and a co-conspirator burned a wooden cross near the home of a juvenile victim, M.H. The burning of the cross was intended to threaten, frighten, and intimidate M.H. and other African-American residents due to their race and color.

Williamson pleaded guilty to one count of interference with housing rights and one count of conspiring to use fire to commit a federal felony.

The Honorable Judge Keith Starrett, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, handed down the sentence.

Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband stated, "The defendant invoked a terrifying symbol of racial violence to threaten and intimidate the victims for no other reason than their race and where they lived."

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst added, "Those who terrorize our people and commit crimes based on the color of someone’s skin will receive swift and certain prosecution from this office."

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi Field Office, including the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Jackson Public Corruption Task Force. Special Litigation Counsel Julia Gegenheimer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Mayberry prosecuted the case.

Williamson’s co-conspirator, Louie Bernard Revette, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

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