Crime
Mississippi Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence for Weed Possession
The Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for a man convicted of possessing less than two ounces of pot.
The Mississippi Supreme Court voted last week to uphold a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a man who was convicted of possessing less than three ounces of weed. The court voted 6-3 to confirm the penalty for the defendant, Allen Russell, who was sentenced under Mississippi’s habitual offender statute.
“Because the trial judge followed the law to the letter, we affirm,” Justice Robert P. Chamberlin wrote in the majority opinion quoted by the Epoch Times. “The trial judge did not have sentencing discretion in this case.”
Russell was arrested in 2017 for possessing five bags of cannabis weighing a combined total of 79.5 grams (just over 2.5 ounces) that police discovered while executing a search warrant. Lab analysis of two of the bags determined they contained 43.71 grams (about 1.54 ounces) of cannabis, and Russell was indicted on one charge of possessing more than 30 grams but less than 250 grams of cannabis.
Normally, a conviction on such a charge would carry a sentence of up to three years in prison. But Russell was also charged with being a violent habitual offender, subjecting him to a mandatory life sentence without parole upon conviction.
Sentenced Under Mississippi Habitual Offender Law
During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Russell had three prior felony convictions, two for burglary and one for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Under Mississippi state law, a burglary is considered a violent offense, even if no evidence of actual violence against a person is presented in a case.
Russell had pleaded guilty to the burglary charges in 2004 and was given two concurrent 15-year sentences. He spent a little more than 8.5 years in prison and was released in 2014, the same year that Mississippi law was changed to classify burglary as a violent crime, even if no evidence of violence is presented in court.
A jury found Russell guilty of the possession charge in 2019 and the court found that he was a violent habitual offender under the law, sentencing him to life behind bars. Russell then sued to overturn the sentence, arguing it violated his right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and his constitutional right not to be subjected to ex post facto laws.
Chief Justice Michael Randolph wrote in a separate concurring opinion that Russell’s life sentence was not solely for cannabis possession and that he had been treated leniently by the courts in previous criminal cases, noting that the defendant “is no stranger to the criminal justice system.”
“Russell has received a harsh punishment not because he possessed a small amount of marijuana, but because he has repeatedly refused to abide by the laws enacted to protect all the citizens of our state,” Randolph wrote.
The chief justice added that it is “pertinent to note that the arrest came while law enforcement was attempting to serve another drug-related warrant on Russell as well as execute a search warrant on his premises.”
Justice Josiah Coleman wrote in a dissenting opinion that Russell has been poorly treated by the courts. He noted that there is uncertainty regarding Russell’s criminal history, writing that “burglary was not considered a per se crime of violence until” state law was changed in 2014. The defendant “pled guilty to two counts of burglary in 2004,” 10 years after the change. But “burglary was only considered a crime of violence if actual violence took place during the burglary” before the law was changed. The dissenting judges questioned if Russell actually had a violent criminal history.
“Prior to July 1, 2014, burglary was only considered a crime of violence if actual violence took place during the burglary,” reads the dissenting opinion. “We do not know whether Russell’s burglaries involved actual violence, but the fact that he was allowed the opportunity by the sentencing court to participate in the Regimented Inmate Discipline Program tends to indicate they did not.”
Appeals Court Confirmed Sentence Last Year
Last year, an appeals court voted 5-5 in Russell’s case, with the tie vote not enough to overturn the sentence. In an opinion upholding the penalty, the judges wrote that the sentence is in accordance with state law. But several dissenting judges wrote that courts can and should make exceptions when warranted.
“The purpose of the criminal justice system is to punish those who break the law, deter them from making similar mistakes, and give them the opportunity to become productive members of society,” appeals court Judge Latrice Westbrooks wrote in the 2021 dissenting opinion. “The fact that judges are not routinely given the ability to exercise discretion in sentencing all habitual offenders is completely at odds with this goal.”
The case was then appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which upheld the sentence in last week’s decision.
A petition on Change.org organized by the group Check Your Privilege is calling on Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves to commute Russell’s life sentence. As of Tuesday, the petition had garnered more than 100,000 signatures.
“There is no amount of cannabis that should land someone a life sentence,” reads the petition. “Allen Russel was found guilty of possession in 2019 over just an ounce of weed, meanwhile laws around recreational use are softening all across the US.”
Mason Tvert, a longtime cannabis activist and partner at cannabis policy firm VS Strategies, criticized the sentence, suggesting it should be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“It is tragically ironic that this man’s life is being taken away from him for possessing a substance which, used alone, has never taken a life,” Tvert wrote in an email to High Times. “This case certainly warrants further review and ought to be reversed.”
Source: https://hightimes.com/news/mississippi-supreme-court-upholds-life-sentence-for-weed-possession/
Gadag: Authorities in Karnataka have dismantled a cyber fraud network accused of exploiting students by opening bank accounts in their names and using them to channel illicit funds. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, police confirmed.
The operation, uncovered in Gadag district, involved the seizure of 11 mobile phones and eight “bank kits,” including passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards, and online banking credentials.
Students Targeted With Scholarship Promise
Investigators revealed that the accused allegedly targeted students by offering assistance in securing government scholarships. Under this pretext, they persuaded students—particularly those staying in hostels—to open bank accounts.
Once the accounts were created, the suspects reportedly took control of all associated banking materials, including login details and SIM cards, effectively gaining full access.
Small Deposits Used to Build Trust
To avoid suspicion, the accused allegedly deposited around ₹2,000 into each account during the setup phase. This initial transaction was used to create legitimacy and reassure victims before the accounts were misused.
Police believe these accounts were later used as “mule accounts” to route money obtained from cyber fraud operations conducted across multiple regions.
Arrests Made During Goa Operation
The investigation began earlier this month and quickly led authorities to track the suspects’ movements to Goa. Police intercepted the group while they were allegedly attempting to hand over collected bank kits to other members of the network.
The main accused—identified as Raja (23) and Vakdoth Vakeel (24)—are residents of the Vijayanagara district. During interrogation, they reportedly admitted to coordinating with other associates for commission-based transactions.
Additional Suspects and Seizures
Further arrests included individuals working and residing in Goa, such as a hotel employee and a DJ. Authorities also seized multiple bank kits linked to accounts opened in different districts, including Haveri and Gadag, primarily in branches of Bank of Maharashtra.
One key suspect remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to track additional members of the network.
Larger Network Under Investigation
Officials suspect the operation may be part of a wider, multi-state cybercrime network. Forensic analysis of seized devices and bank transactions is underway to determine the scale of the fraud and identify links to other cases.
Cybersecurity experts note that the use of mule accounts has become a widespread tactic in financial fraud schemes. By using accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals, criminals can obscure money trails and evade detection.
Rising Concern Over Student Exploitation
The case highlights a growing trend where students and vulnerable individuals are manipulated into unknowingly participating in financial crimes. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid sharing banking details or opening accounts on behalf of others without full understanding.
Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected as police continue to unravel the network.
Corporate Crime
Patna-Based Cyber Fraud Ring Busted for Crores-Scale Gas Connection Scam Targeting Mumbai Residents
Patna/Mumbai: Law enforcement authorities have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud network operating from Bihar’s capital Patna that allegedly cheated victims out of crores of rupees by posing as gas service providers. Four suspects, including the alleged mastermind, were arrested during a police raid conducted at a rented apartment in the city.
Investigators say the group specifically targeted residents of Mumbai while running its operations from Patna for several months, exploiting online communication platforms and social engineering techniques to deceive victims.
Cyber Fraud Operation Run from Patna Apartment
According to police officials, the accused had been running the fraudulent operation for nearly five to six months from a flat in the New Jaganpura locality under the jurisdiction of Ramkrishna Nagar police station.
Based on a tip-off, a cybercrime investigation team raided the apartment and arrested four individuals identified as Shridhar, Gultan Yadav, Arun Mandal, and Pankaj Kumar.
Authorities believe Shridhar, a resident of Pune in Maharashtra, orchestrated the scheme. The other suspects — Gultan Yadav, Arun Mandal, and Pankaj Kumar — are reportedly from Madhupur in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district.
Police suspect the group deliberately operated from Patna while focusing on victims in other states, particularly Mumbai, to avoid drawing local attention to their activities.
How the Gas Connection Scam Worked
Preliminary investigations reveal that the gang impersonated representatives of gas distribution agencies. Victims were approached with offers to help with new gas connections, transfers of existing connections, or disconnection services.
In several cases, victims were informed that their gas service would soon be suspended unless they made an immediate payment. The urgency created by the fraudsters reportedly pressured many individuals into transferring money without verifying the legitimacy of the request.
Authorities believe dozens of people may have fallen victim to the scam, with the total amount defrauded estimated to be in the crores.
Telegram Used to Find and Contact Victims
Investigators revealed that the gang used messaging platforms, particularly Telegram, to locate and communicate with potential victims. The suspects reportedly operated multiple channels and groups advertising assistance related to gas services and customer support.
Once a victim responded to these posts, the accused would initiate conversations and convince them to send payments through bank transfers or digital payment platforms.
Police say the scammers relied heavily on urgency and impersonation tactics to build trust and quickly obtain money before victims realized the fraud.
18 Mobile Phones Seized as Evidence
During the raid, police recovered 18 mobile phones from the suspects. Authorities believe the devices may contain critical digital evidence, including communication logs, transaction details, and data related to other potential victims.
Forensic examination of the devices is currently underway to trace the financial trail, identify bank accounts used in the fraud, and determine whether additional accomplices were involved.
Investigators are also exploring possible links between this group and other cybercrime networks operating across different states.
Cybersecurity Experts Warn About Social Engineering Scams
Cybersecurity experts caution that such fraud schemes often rely on social engineering, where criminals manipulate victims by creating urgency or fear related to essential services.
Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh explained that scammers frequently send alarming messages regarding services such as gas, electricity, banking, or KYC updates.
He advised citizens to verify any payment requests directly through official customer support channels or company websites before transferring money online.
Experts say confirming information through legitimate sources remains one of the most effective ways to prevent cyber fraud.
Corruption
Excess Spending Exposes Irregularities: Corruption Case Filed Against Police Constable Driver
A police constable driver in Lucknow has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after an investigation revealed that his expenditure significantly exceeded his declared income, raising serious allegations of financial misconduct.
Investigation Reveals Major Income-Expenditure Discrepancy
The case concerns Constable Driver Rahul Kumar Shukla, posted in the BBD area of Lucknow. Authorities reported that during the period under review, his legitimate income was approximately ₹35.73 lakh, including salary, allowances, and arrears. However, his total expenditure was found to be ₹68.26 lakh, 91% higher than his known sources of income.
The investigation was triggered by a confidential complaint alleging accumulation of assets and spending far beyond lawful means. Authorities collected detailed information regarding Shukla’s bank transactions, assets, and financial activity. The analysis confirmed a ₹32.53 lakh gap between income and expenditure, prompting the registration of a formal corruption case.
Background of the Accused
Records indicate that Rahul Kumar Shukla, originally from Shahabpur village in Pratapgarh district, joined the Uttar Pradesh Police as a constable driver on April 26, 2003. He currently resides in Meera Vihar Colony, Panchamkheda, Lucknow.
Authorities are now examining his property records, bank accounts, and other financial documents to determine the source of the additional funds.
Possible Further Revelations
Investigators noted that in cases of disproportionate assets, financial scrutiny often spans several years. Investigators typically verify:
- Salary and allowance records
- Property purchases
- Bank and investment transactions
- Other financial activities
Authorities expect that further irregularities may emerge as the probe continues. Legal proceedings have already begun, and strict action could be taken if the allegations are confirmed.
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