The Department of Justice announced that Graham Williamson
pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges related to the commission of a
crossburning on Oct. 24, 2017, in Seminary, Mississippi. Specifically,
Williamson, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with housing
rights, a federal civil rights violation, and one count of conspiring to use
fire to commit a federal felony.
In his plea, Williamson admitted that he and a
co-conspirator planned and carried out a racially motivated crossburning in a
predominantly African-American residential area of Seminary, Mississippi.
Specifically, Williamson admitted that he and the co-conspirator constructed a
cross using materials from in and around the co-conspirator’s residence, placed
the cross near the home of African-American residents of that area, including
the home of a juvenile victim identified as M.H., and lit the cross on fire.
Williamson further admitted that he built and burned the cross to threaten,
frighten, and intimidate M.H. and other African-American residents because of
their race and color of their skin, and because those individuals lived in the
Keys Hill area of Seminary, Mississippi. Williamson acknowledged that he knew
burning crosses have historically been used to threaten, frighten, and
intimidate African-Americans.
Williamson faces a maximum total sentence of 30 years in
prison and a $500,000 fine on the two charges. Sentencing has been scheduled
for Nov. 5.
“The defendant used a violent symbol of racial intimidation
to threaten these victims and inspire fear, while they resided in the security
of their own homes,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil
Rights Division. “The Department of Justice does not tolerate these hateful and
historically egregious acts, and will continue to vigorously prosecute
criminals who violate the civil rights of peaceful community members.”
“Those who commit criminal acts based on race to intimidate
and scare our fellow citizens will face swift and certain justice from this
U.S. Attorney’s Office. These types of hateful actions have no place in our
communities, and we will continue to fight for and uphold the civil rights of
all throughout our State,” said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern
District of Mississippi.
“Crimes motivated by hate are intended to intimidate their
victims and spread fear in the community, undermining societal values,” said
FBI Jackson Division Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin. “The FBI will
continue its aggressive investigations of acts like these in pursuit of justice
for the victims and the integrity of civil rights for all.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s
Hattiesburg Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Gregory Mayberry
for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer
from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
For more information about Department of Justice’s work to
combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop
portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law
enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other
organizations and individuals.
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